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10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Daytona 500
Everyone knows the Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious race. And everyone knows that the upcoming historic 50th running of “the Great American Race” is the most anticipated event in motorsports history. But, here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about the Daytona 500:
- In 1959, the inaugural Daytona 500 was run caution-free.
- The 1967 Daytona 500 was the only NASCAR win for racing superstar Mario Andretti.
- Tiny Lund won the 1963 Daytona 500 on one set of tires. His pit crew, the famous Wood Brothers known for their lightning-fast pit stops, did not have to change a single tire all day.
- Paul Bass drove an Edsel convertible in the inaugural Daytona 500. It was the only appearance of an Edsel in NASCAR competition.
- The 1974 Daytona 500 was actually the “Daytona 450”. NASCAR cut the distance of their races by 10% in the early part of the season due to America’s energy crisis.
- In 1989 Darrell Waltrip finally won the Daytona 500 in his 17th attempt. He drove car number 17 that day and pitted in pit stall number 17.
- Upon seeing the mammoth Daytona International Speedway for the first time, in preparation for the first Daytona 500, driver Jimmy Thompson said, “There have been other tracks that separated the men from the boys. This is the track that will separate the brave from the weak after the boys are gone.”
- Curtis Turner’s 1967 Daytona 500 pole speed of 180.831 mph was the first time a NASCAR stock car had qualified at over 180 mph.
- Jimmie Johnson, Loy Allen Jr. and Mike Skinner all won the pole for the Daytona 500 in their rookie seasons.
- A total of six drivers have scored their first NASCAR Sprint Cup win in the Daytona 500. They are Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994) and Michael Waltrip (2001).
To get your tickets for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 or any other 2008 DIRECTV Speedweeks at Daytona events, visit www.racetickets.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
