How Much Do You Get For Winning the Daytona 500?

NASCAR discontinued reporting winning prizes after the 2015 season, so it is unknown how much the 2022 race winner earned. However, the richest purse up to that point was the 2014 Daytona 500. The race-winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. won $1,505.363 at the event worth more than 18 million dollars. The first race of the Daytona 500 (1959) paid out $53,050. The winner's share was $19,050. if you take inflation into account, that's about $524,126 (total prize) and $188,211 (winner's prize). In 1964, Richard Petty received $33,300 (equal to $306,052 in 2022) for winning the Daytona 500. The total prize on that day reached six figures for the first time, with a total payout of $100,750 (equal to $934,388 in 2022). The first one million dollar purse was in 1985. By then, the winner's share had reached $185,500 (equal to $495,650 in 2022).

Who is the Greatest Driver in the History Of the Daytona 500?

Having won the Great American Race seven times, Richard Petty is considered as the greatest driver in the Daytona 500 history. His very first win was in 1964. On that day, in 3 hours and 14 minutes, Petty crossed the finish line in his Plymouth (number 43). He won six other races in 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, and 1981. 'The king,' as he's called, also holds the most records of the Daytona 500. Most points races won (10) Most starts (74) Top fives (28) Top 10s (37) Top 20s (48).

What is the Fastest Daytona 500 Ever Run?

Buddy Baker won the 1980 Daytona 500 at an average speed of 177.602 mph, setting the record despite there being five caution flags for 15 laps.

Everything You Need to Know About the Daytona 500

Q: How Long is the Daytona 500?

The Daytona 500 is 200 laps around a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) oval track for a total distance of 500 miles (805 km). The average time for a Daytona 500 race (in the past ten years) is 3h22m. In the past, there were some Daytona 500 races that were cut short (up to 100 laps) due to rain. NASCAR doesn't run in the rain like F1 and other forms of motorsport because NASCAR only uses one tyre compound. As rain tyres are not used in NASCAR, the racing would be very difficult and dangerous if the track was wet. In 1974, the Daytona 500 was cut back to 180 laps (450 miles) due to the oil crisis. The shortest Daytona 500 race (in terms of time and distance) was in 2003. In that year, the race was called off after only 109 laps (2h2m) due to rain. The longest one (in terms of length) was in 2020. In that race, the drivers had to drive 209 laps (522 miles). The extra laps were due to green-white-checkered finishes. And last but not least, the longest Daytona 500 in terms of time was the 1960 race. It took 4 hours to complete due to 32 laps being run under yellow flags and multiple crashes. The winner, Junior Johnson, only reached an average speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).

Q: How Many Stages Are in the Daytona 500?

The Daytona 500 is divided into three stages. The first two stages are each 65 laps long, and the final stage is 75 laps. At the end of the first two stages, points are awarded to the drivers who finish in the top 10. The winner of stage 1 and 2 gets 11 points (10 plus 1 playoff point). The second gets 9 points. The third gets 8 points and so forth. The final stage winner gets 45 points (40 plus 5 playoff points), the second gets 35 points, the third gets 34 points, and all the way down to the 35th place, which gets 2 points. The 36th to 40th drivers who finish the race get 1 point each. However, making it to the final finishing line is not an easy job. Only less than 60% of the field can finish the whole race due to wrecks in recent years. This number increased to 70% in Daytona 500 2022, where 28/40 cars reached the end of the race.

Q: How Many Cars Are in the Daytona 500?

The Daytona 500 field is composed of 40 cars. And this number has never gone lower than that. In the past, this race used to have 43 cars attending. This number had been unchanged until the 2016 season, when NASCAR switched to using a charter system. Under this system, 36 teams are given a 'guaranteed' spot in the field, while the other 4 spots are decided through the qualifiers. The biggest Daytona 500 field was in 1960, when 64 cars started the race. This was also the first Daytona 500 to be broadcast on live television. On that day, only 38 drivers made it to the finish line.

The Daytona 500 is an iconic NASCAR Cup Series season-opener race.

The race garners significant television viewership and media coverage, making it a great platform for drivers and teams to gain recognition.

If you’re a fan of stock car racing or just want to know what makes the Daytona 500 so special, read on to take a closer look at the big race.

Page Contents

What Is the Daytona 500?
Daytona 500 Terminology
When Is the Daytona 500 in 2024?
How Much Are Tickets in 2024?
Who Is Performing This Year?
How Long Is the Daytona 500?
How Many Stages Are in the Daytona 500?
How Many Cars Are in the Daytona 500?
How Much Do You Get for Winning?
Who Has the Fastest Time?
Who Is the Greatest Driver in Its History?

What Is the Daytona 500?

The Daytona 500 – also known as the ‘Great American Race’ - is the biggest and most prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar.

The race has been held every February since 1959 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

It consists of 200 laps around a 2.5-mile (4 km) tri-oval track.

Daytona 500 Terminology

Caution Flag

The caution flag – or yellow flag – is waved when there is a hazardous situation on the track.

The pace car will go out, and no overtaking is allowed during this time.

In NASCAR races, the pace car’s speed limit will depend on the track.

It is 70mph for the Daytona International Speedway.

Green Flag

The green flag is waved to indicate the start of the race, the continuation of the race under normal conditions, or the restart of the race following a caution flag.

Green-white-checkered Flag Sequence

If a caution happens during the last two laps of the race, the race will continue under caution conditions with hopes of returning to green flag conditions.

When that happens, NASCAR will conduct a ‘two-lap run to the finish’.

The green flag will mark the restart of the race, followed by the white flag to mark one lap remaining.

The checkered flag then indicates that the race has ended.

Pace Car

The pace car leads the field around the track during caution periods and restarts.

When Is the Daytona 500 in 2024?

This year, the Daytona 500 starts on the 18th of February.

How Much Are Tickets in 2024?

Grandstand tickets to the Daytona 500 are sold out, but you can already sign up for pre-sale access to the 2025 event so that you don’t miss out next time round!

Who Is Performing This Year?

Grammy award winner and Trackhouse Racing co-owner Pitbull will be performing a pre-race show ahead of the 2024 Daytona 500.

How Long Is the Daytona 500?

The Daytona 500 is 200 laps around a 2.5 mile (4 km) oval track for a total distance of 500 miles (805 km).

In the past, some Daytona 500 races have been cut short to up to 100 laps due to rain.

As rain tyres are not used in NASCAR, racing would be difficult and dangerous if the track was wet.

In 1974, the Daytona 500 was cut back to 180 laps (450 miles) due to the oil crisis.

The shortest Daytona 500 race took place in 2003, when the race was shortened to 109 laps due to the rain.

The longest race in terms of length took place in 2020, when the drivers had to drive 209 laps (522 miles) due to green-white-checkered finishes.

In terms of time, the longest race was in 1960.

It took 4 hours to complete due to 32 laps being run under yellow flags and multiple crashes.

How Many Stages Are in the Daytona 500?

There are 3 stages in the Daytona 500 – the first 2 are each 65 laps long, and the last stage is 75 laps long.

At the end of the first 2 stages, points are awarded to the drivers who finish in the top 10.

The winner of stages 1 and 2 gets 11 points (10 plus 1 playoff point).

The second gets 9 points.

The third gets 8 points, and so on.

The final stage winner gets 45 points (40 plus 5 playoff points), the second gets 35 points, the third gets 34 points, all the way down to the person in 35^th place (who gets 2 points).

The 36^th to 40^th drivers who finish get 1 point each.

How Many Cars Are in the Daytona 500?

There are 40 cars in the Daytona 500, with 36 spots being reserved for drivers of teams that own charters – NASCAR's version of a franchise.

How Much Do You Get for Winning?

NASCAR stopped reporting on the winnings for the Daytona 500 after the 2015 season, so it is unknown how much the race winners have made in recent years.

The richest purse up to that point was the 2014 Daytona 500, where winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. took home $1,505.363 at the event.

Who Has the Fastest Time?

Buddy Baker won the 1980 Daytona 500 at an average speed of 177.602 mph – despite there being 5 caution flags for 15 laps.

This was before mandatory stage cautions were introduced in 2017.

Who Is the Greatest Driver in Its History?

Richard Petty holds the record for the most Daytona 500 victories, with 7 wins.

Interestingly, Petty also has the longest time between his first and last wins – with 17 years between the 1964 and 1981 races.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about the Daytona 500.

For more on the high-octane world of car racing, read all about the Le Mans 24 Hours or find a racing driving game to play right here at the BookMyGarage blog.