The Great American Race Begins Sunday
Stephen M. Dowell
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is interviewed during NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, Thursday, February 16, 2012. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)
Sarfaraz Gul and Thada Khiev, Reporter
February 23, 2012
Filed under Sports
The Daytona 500 is a two-hundred lap race. It has been around for more than 50 years and it first started on February 22, 1959 at the Daytona International Speedway. It is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held for Stock Car Racers.
The first Daytona 500 only had $67,760 in posted awards and a crowd of approximately 41,000. The winner of the race received $19,050 and defeated Johnny Beauchamp in a very unique matter. When the race first ended Johnny Beauchamp was announced winner, but after reviewing the tapes, Lee Petty was awarded as the winner.
The Daytona 500 is sometimes referred to as” The Great American Race.” It is usually held every year on the second or third Sunday of February. The Daytona 500 marks the beginning of the racing season.
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