History

·        Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.

·        The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959 – won by Bob Welborn.

·        The first summer race at Daytona International Speedway was held on July 4, 1959 – won by Fireball Roberts (140.581 mph).

·        NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.

·        Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the July race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under the lights ever since.

·        The track underwent a repave in 2010.

Notebook

·        There have been 132 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona International Speedway since the track hosted its first race in 1959:  55 have been 500 miles, 50 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.

·        436 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ July race at Daytona International Speedway; 273 in more than one.

·        Richard Petty leads the series in July race starts at Daytona with 32. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers with 29 starts; followed by Mark Martin with 26.

·        Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole for the July race at Daytona in 1959 with a speed of 144.997 mph.

·        36 drivers have Coors Light poles at Daytona for the July event, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough with eight. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in poles, with three.

·        Three drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles for the July race at Daytona: Cale Yarborough (1970-’71; 1980-’81, 1983-’84), Sterling Marlin (1991-’92) and Dale Earnhardt (1994-’95).

·        Youngest Daytona pole winner: Jeff Gordon (07/06/1996 – 24 years, 11 months, 2 days).

·        Oldest Daytona pole winner: Mark Martin (07/02/2011 – 52 years, 5 months, 23 days).

·        33 different drivers have won the July race at Daytona International Speedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson with five wins. Tony Stewart leads all active drivers with four.  

·        Five drivers have posted consecutive wins in the July race at Daytona International Speedway, including three consecutive by David Pearson (1972 - 1974). Tony Stewart (2005-’06) is the only active driver to win consecutive July races at Daytona.

·        Youngest Daytona winner: Trevor Bayne (02/20/2011 – 20 years, 0 months, 1 day).

·        Oldest Daytona winner: Bobby Allison (02/14/1988 – 50 years, 5 months, 23 days).

·        The Wood Brothers have the most wins at Daytona in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 15.

·        Seven different manufacturers have won the July NSCS race at Daytona; led by Chevrolet with 17 victories; followed by Ford with 16.

·        A driver has swept both races (Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400) at Daytona only four times, most recently - Bobby Allison in 1982. Jimmie Johnson won the 2013 Daytona 500.

·        Eight of the 54 (14.8%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Kevin Harvick in 2010.

·        The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (eight) than any other starting position in the July race at Daytona International Speedway.   

·        15 of the 54 (27.7%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from the front row: eight from the pole and seven from second-place.

·        40 of the 54 (48.1%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Daytona have been won from a top-10 starting position.

·        Four of the 54 (7.4%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Dover was 42nd, by Tony Stewart in last season’s race. 

·        Buddy Baker leads the series in runner-up finishes in the July race at Daytona with five; followed by Richard Petty and Sterling Marlin with four. Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Terry Labonte lead all active drivers with two each.

·        NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the series in top-five finishes in the July race at Daytona with 13; followed by Richard Petty with 12. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with seven.   

·        David Pearson leads the series in top-10 finishes in the July race at Daytona with 19; followed by Dale Earnhardt with 18. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers with 14.

·        Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Daytona with a 9.609.

·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Daytona with a 14.037.

·        Nine of the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July race winners at Daytona International Speedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Greg Biffle won the July race at Daytona in his first appearance.     

·        Michael Waltrip competed in the July race at Daytona International Speedway 16 times before winning in 2002; the longest span of any the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.

·        Terry Labonte leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Daytona without visiting Victory Lane at 60; followed by Mark Martin with 55.

·        Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway for the July race was the July 7, 2007 race won by Jamie McMurray over Kyle Busch with a MOV of 0.005 second.

·        Three of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July races have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish at Daytona International Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): 2008 (160/162), 2010 (160/166) and 2011 (160/170).

·        Only one of the 54 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July races at Daytona International Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions – July 6, 1996 – the race was called on Lap 117, 43 circuits shy of the 160 scheduled laps.   

·        Qualifying for the July race has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway three times: 2007, 2009, and 2010.   

·        Six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Daytona International Speedway, though none were during the July race: Tony Stewart (2/14/99), Casey Mears (2/16/03), Scott Riggs (2/15/04), Kasey Kahne (2/15/04), Brian Keselowski (2/20/11) and Danica Patrick (2/27/12).

·        Five active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Daytona International Speedway: Greg Biffle (2/15/04), Kevin Harvick (7/6/02), Jimmie Johnson (2/17/02), Paul Menard (7/5/08) and Danica Patrick (2/24/13).     

·        Four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Daytona International Speedway: Trevor Bayne (2/20/11), Greg Biffle (7/5/03), David Ragan (7/2/11) and Michael Waltrip (2/18/01).

·        Tony Stewart leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Daytona with 665 laps led in 29 starts. 

·        Five female drivers have competed in the July event at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Christine Beckers, Lella Lombardi, Patty Moise and Shawna Robinson.

Driver	Starting Position	Finishing Position	Date
Janet Guthrie	33	15	7/4/1976
Christine Beckers	37	37	7/4/1977
Janet Guthrie	20	40	7/4/1977
Lella Lombardi	29	31	7/4/1977
Janet Guthrie	36	11	7/4/1978
Patty Moise	33	26	7/2/1988
Patty Moise	35	39	7/1/1989
Shawna Robinson	27	40	7/6/2002

NASCAR in Florida

·        There have been 172 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Florida.

Track Name	City	NSCS
Daytona International Speedway	Daytona Beach	132
Homestead-Miami Speedway	Homestead	14
Daytona Beach & Road Course	Daytona Beach	10
Palm Beach Speedway	W. Palm Beach	7
Speedway Park	Jacksonville	6
Five Flags Speedway	Pensacola	1
Golden Gate Speedway	Tampa	1
Titusville-Cocoa Speedway	Titusville	1

·        168 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Florida; 10 of the 168 have recorded at least one victory in NASCAR national series competition.

·        Of the seven Florida native drivers who have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, only Fireball Roberts and LeeRoy Yarborough have won the July race at Daytona International Speedway.

Driver	NSCS	NNS	NCWTS
Fireball Roberts	33	0	0
LeeRoy Yarbrough	14	0	0
Marshall Teague	7	0	0
Joe Nemechek	4	16	0
Bobby Johns	2	0	0
David Reutimann	2	1	1
Shorty Rollins	1	0	0
Rick Wilson	0	2	0
Aric Almirola	0	1	2
Joey Coulter	0	0	1

 

 

DAYTONA-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

 

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid Toyota)

·        Two top fives, six top 10s

·        Average finish of 15.5

·        Average Running Position of 15.9, seventh-best

·        Driver Rating of 86.6, seventh-best

·        68 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

·        3,123 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

·        Average Green Flag Speed of 188.593 mph, fourth-fastest

·        1,747 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 13th-most

 

Jeff Burton (No. 31 Kwikset Chevrolet)

·        One win, nine top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole

·        Average finish of 17.4

·        Average Running Position of 15.9, eighth-best

·        Driver Rating of 84.9, ninth-best

·        68 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

·        Series-high 3,588 Green Flag Passes

·        Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 188.739 mph

·        1,685 Laps in the Top 15 (54.8%), eighth-most

·        2,069 Quality Passes, sixth-most

 

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row/Sealy Chevrolet)

·        10 top fives, 12 top 10s

·        Average finish of 18.4

·        Average Running Position of 16.7, 11th-best

·        Driver Rating of 88.0, sixth-best

·        64 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

·        3,026 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

·        1,808 Laps in the Top 15 (58.8%), sixth-most

·        2,171 Quality Passes, fifth-most

 

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota)

·        One win, five top fives, six top 10s

·        Average finish of 18.9

·        Series-best Average Running Position of 12.4

·        Series-best Driver Rating of 97.0

·        75 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·        3,173 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

·        Average Green Flag Speed of 188.625 mph, second-fastest

·        Series-high 2,172 Laps in the Top 15 (70.6%)

·        Series-high 2,334 Quality Passes

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet)

·        Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole

·        Average finish of 14.0

·        Average Running Position of 14.6, fourth-best

·        Driver Rating of 89.3, fourth-best

·        79 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

·        3,435 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

·        Average Green Flag Speed of 188.596 mph, third-fastest

·        1,958 Laps in the Top 15 (63.7%), second-most

·        2,297 Quality Passes, second-most

 

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Subway Ford)

·        Four top fives, eight top 10s; one pole

·        Average finish of 17.5

·        Driver Rating of 82.7, 12th-best

·        59 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most

·        3,438 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

·        Average Green Flag Speed of 188.485 mph, 13th-fastest

·        1,647 Laps in the Top 15 (53.5%), ninth-most

·        2,230 Quality Passes, third-most

 

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Axalta Coating Systems Chevrolet)

·        Six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles

·        Average finish of 16.1

·        Average Running Position of 14.6, fifth-best

·        Driver Rating of 88.3, fifth-best

·        2,974 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

·        1,804 Laps in the Top 15 (58.6%), seventh-most

·        1,913 Quality Passes, 11th-most

 

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota)

·        Two top fives, two top 10s

·        Average finish of 20.5

·        Average Running Position of 16.3, 10th-best

·        Driver Rating of 84.5, 10th-best

·        72 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

·        Average Green Flag Speed of 188.568 mph, sixth-fastest

 

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet)

·        Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole

·        Average finish of 16.5

·        Driver Rating of 82.6, 13th-best

·        Series-high 82 Fastest Laps Run

·        3,081 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

·        Average Green Flag Speed of 188.583 mph, fifth-fastest

 

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Dover White Chevrolet)

·        Two wins, seven top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles

·        Average finish of 18.2

·        Average Running Position of 14.5, third-best

·        Driver Rating of 85.3, eighth-best

·        1,919 Laps in the Top 15 (62.4%), fourth-most

·        2,040 Quality Passes, seventh-most

 

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Home Depot Husky Toyota)

·        Two wins, six top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

·        Average finish of 17.0

·        Average Running Position of 14.1, second-best

·        Driver Rating of 93.2, second-best

·        73 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

·        1,952 Laps in the Top 15 (63.5%), third-most

·        1,983 Quality Passes, ninth-most

 

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet)

·        One win, four top fives, five top 10s

·        Average finish of 20.5

·        Average Running Position of 17.3, 12th-best

·        Driver Rating of 82.8, 11th-best

·        62 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

·        3,191 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

·        Average Green Flag Speed of 188.488 mph, 12th-fastest

·        1,561 Laps in the Top 15 (50.7%), 11th-most

·        1,780 Quality Passes, 12th-most

 

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Brass Pro Shops/Ducks Unlimited Chevrolet)

·        Four wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

·        Average finish of 17.0

·        Average Running Position of 15.3, sixth-best

·        Driver Rating of 93.1, third-best

·        68 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

·        1,836 Laps in the Top 15 (59.7%), fifth-most

 

Chase Contenders

The Top 10

Following Race 17 of 36

                                                                                Rank          Season

                                                                                                    Last            Driver

Driver                                    Points    Wins       Poles         Week         Rating

1. Jimmie Johnson          610       3           1              1           114.2

2. Carl Edwards               572       1           1              2             93.8

3. Clint Bowyer                569       0           0              3             95.9

4. Kevin Harvick              544       2           0               4             95.4

5. Matt Kenseth               528       4           2               5           114.0

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.        512       0           1               7            94.3

7. Kyle Busch                  500       2           2               8           101.9

8. Martin Truex Jr.            490       1           0            10             96.8

9. Greg Biffle                  489       1           0               6             82.3

10. Joey Logano               479       0           0            14             88.1

    ___________________________________________________________

 

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

11. Kasey Kahne                      478          32. David Reutimann       249

12. Jeff Gordon                        477          33. David Stremme          236

13. Brad Keselowski                465          34. JJ Yeley                        225

14. Kurt Busch                          463          35. Travis Kvapil                207

15. Paul Menard                       459          36. AJ Allmendinger         180

16. Tony Stewart                      457          37. Michael McDowell        89

17. Aric Almirola                       457          38. Timmy Hill                      80

18. Ryan Newman                   448          39. Scott Speed                   75

19. Jamie McMurray                437          40. Michael Waltrip             63

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.          433          41. Ken Schrader                54

21. Jeff Burton                          428          42. Terry Labonte                52

22. Marcos Ambrose               411          43. Boris Said                       26

23. Juan Pablo Montoya         399          44. Ron Fellows                   22

24. Casey Mears                      360          45. Justin Marks                   14

25. Denny Hamlin                    329          46. Scott Riggs                     10

26. Mark Martin                         314          47. Tomy Drissi                      6

27. Danica Patrick                    313          48. Brian Keselowski            4

28. David Gilliland                   298          49. Alex Kennedy                  4

29. David Ragan                      294          50. Jacques Villeneuve        3

30. Bobby Labonte                  257          51. Jason Leffler                    1

31. Dave Blaney                       249         

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season. After race No. 26, the top 10 earn a berth in the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 – the Wild Cards – will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.

 

Daytona International Speedway Data

Season Race #: 18 of 36 (07-06-13)

Track Size: 2.5-mile

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 31 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 31 degrees

Banking/Straights: 3 degrees

Banking/Tri-Oval: 18 degrees

Frontstretch Length:  3,800 feet

Backstretch Length:  3,000 feet

Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles

 

Top 12 Driver Rating at Daytona

Kyle Busch................................. 97.0

Matt Kenseth.............................. 93.2

Tony Stewart.............................. 93.1

Dale Earnhardt Jr....................... 89.3

Jeff Gordon................................ 88.3

Kurt Busch................................. 88.0

Clint Bowyer............................... 86.6

Jimmie Johnson......................... 85.3

Jeff Burton................................. 84.9

Denny Hamlin............................. 84.5

Ryan Newman............................ 82.8

Carl Edwards............................. 82.7

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (17 total) among active drivers at Daytona International Speedway.

 

Qualifying/Race Data

2012 pole winner:

Matt Kenseth, Ford, 192.386 mph, 46.781 secs. 7-5-12

 

2012 race winner:

Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 157.653 mph, (02:32:14), 7-7-12

 

Track qualifying record (July race):

Cale Yarborough, Ford, 203.519 mph, 44.222 secs. 7-2-86

 

Track race record (July race): Bobby Allison, Mercury, 173.473 mph, (02:18:21), 7-4-80

 

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2013 Top 12 at Daytona International Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Jimmie Johnson	23	2	2	7	10	5	18.2	85.3
2	Carl Edwards	17	1	0	4	8	2	17.5	82.7
3	Clint Bowyer	15	0	0	2	6	2	15.5	86.6
4	Kevin Harvick	24	1	2	5	10	3	16.5	82.6
5	Matt Kenseth	27	1	2	6	13	5	17.0	93.2
6	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	27	1	2	10	15	3	14.0	89.3
7	Kyle Busch	17	0	1	5	6	4	18.9	97.0
8	Martin Truex Jr.	16	1	0	0	1	2	21.4	79.9
9	Greg Biffle	21	1	1	3	6	2	19.8	79.4
10	Joey Logano	9	0	0	2	3	2	18.8	80.1
11	Kasey Kahne	19	0	0	2	7	3	18.3	81.6
12	Jeff Gordon	41	3	6	12	19	5	16.1	88.3

* – Based on last 17 races at Daytona International Speedway.