Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway

The Daytona International Speedway Logo.
Location 1801 West International Speedway Blvd,
Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
Time zone GMT-5
Capacity 101,000 seats
Owner International Speedway Corporation (Leased from Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District)
Operator International Speedway Corporation
Broke ground 1957 (1957)
Opened 1959 (1959)
Construction cost $3 million
Architect Charles Moneypenny
William France, Sr.
Major events
NASCAR Tri-Oval
Surface Asphalt
Length 2.5 mi (4 km)
Turns 4
Banking Turns: 31°
Tri-oval: 18°
Back straightaway: 2°
Lap record 0:40.364 (Colin Braun, Michael Shank Racing, 2013, Roush Yates Ford EcoBoost 3.5L GDI V6tt Daytona Prototype)
Sports Car Course (1959–83)
Surface Asphalt
Length 3.81 mi (6.18 km)
Turns 7
Sports Car Course (1984)
Surface Asphalt
Length 3.87 mi (6.23 km)
Sports Car Course (1985–present)
Surface Asphalt
Length 3.56 mi (5.73 km)
Turns 12
Banking 31° in oval turns
18° in tri-oval
Lap record 1:33.875 (P.J. Jones, Toyota Eagle MkIII, 1993, IMSA GTP)
Motorcycle Course
Surface Asphalt
Length 2.95 mi (4.75 km)
Turns 12
Banking 31° in oval turns
18° in tri-oval
Lap record 1:37.546 (Ben Spies, Suzuki, 2007, AMA Superbike)
Dirt Flat Track
Surface Dirt
Length .25 mi (.40 km)
Turns 4
Banking Flat
Short Oval
Surface Asphalt
Length .40 mi (.64 km)
Turns 4
Banking Flat
Lap record 0:20.129 (Nate Monteith, Monteith Racing, 2013, Whelen All-American Series)

Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross. The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.5 miles (4.0 km) high speed tri-oval, a 3.56 miles (5.73 km) sports car course, a 2.95 miles (4.75 km) motorcycle course, and a .25 miles (0.40 km) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William "Bill" France, Sr. to host racing that was held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course. His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars. Lights were installed around the track in 1998, and today it is the third-largest single lit outdoor sports facility. The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved in 1978 and 2010.

On January 22, 2013, the track unveiled artist depictions of a renovated speedway. On July 5, 2013, ground was broken on the project that will remove backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating. The renovation to the speedway is being completed by Design-Builder Barton Malow Company in partnership with Rossetti Architects. The project, named "Daytona Rising", was completed in January 2016, and cost US $400 million, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called "injectors"), as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands. After the renovations were completed, the track's grandstands include 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000.[1][2] The project was finished before the start of Speedweeks in 2016.

Track history

Construction

NASCAR founder William France Sr. began planning for the track in 1953 as a way to promote the series, which at the time was racing on the Daytona Beach Road Course.[3] France met with Daytona Beach engineer Charles Moneypenny to discuss his plans for the speedway. He wanted the track to have the highest banking possible to allow the cars to reach high speeds and to give fans a better view of the cars on track. Moneypenny traveled to Detroit, Michigan to visit the Ford Proving Grounds which had a high speed test track with banked corners. Ford shared their engineering reports of the track with Moneypenny, providing the needed details of how to transition the pavement from a flat straightaway to a banked corner. France took the plans to the Daytona Beach city commission, who supported his idea and formed the Daytona Beach Speedway Authority.[4]

The tri-oval after the 2010-2011 repaving

The city commission agreed to lease the 447 acres (181 ha) parcel of land adjacent to Daytona Beach Municipal Airport to France's corporation for $10,000 a year over a 50-year period. France then began working on building funding for the project and found support from a Texas oil millionaire, Clint Murchison. Murchison loaned France $600,000 along with the construction equipment necessary to build the track. France was also able to secure funding from Pepsi-Cola, General Motors designer Harley Earl, a second mortgage on his home and selling 300,000 stock shares to local residents. Ground broke on construction of the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) speedway on November 25, 1957.[4]

To build the high banking, crews had to dig out millions of tons of soil from the track's infield. Because of the high water table in the area, the excavated hole filled with water to form what is now known as Lake Lloyd, named after Joseph "Sax" Lloyd, one of the original six members of the Daytona Beach Speedway Authority. (The lake would be stocked with 65,000 fish, and France would arrange speedboat races on it.)[5] 22 tons of lime mortar had to be brought in to form the track's binding base, over which asphalt would be laid. Because of the extreme degree of banking, Moneypenny had to come up with a way to pave the incline. He connected the paving equipment to bulldozers anchored at the top of the banking. This would allow the paving equipment to pave the banking without slipping or rolling down the incline. Moneypenny subsequently patented his construction method and later designed Talladega Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway. By December 1958, France had begun to run out of money and started relying on race ticket sales to complete construction.[4]

The tri-oval during the 2015 Daytona 500.

The first practice run on the new track began on February 6, 1959. On February 22, 1959, 42,000 people attended the inaugural Daytona 500,[4] and its finish was as startling as the track itself: Lee Petty beat Johnny Beauchamp in a photo finish that took three days to adjudicate.[6] When the track opened it was the fastest race track to ever host a stock car race, until Talladega Superspeedway opened 10 years later. April 4, it would host a 100 mi (160 km) Champ Car event, also, which saw Jim Rathmann beat Dick Rathmann and Rodger Ward, and, with an average speed 170.26 mph (274.01 km/h), was at the time the fastest motor race ever.[6] It was also the occasion of Daytona's first fatality: George Amick, attempting to overtake for third late in the race, hit a wall and was killed.[6] April 5, a scheduled 1,000 km (620 mi) sports car event (shortened to 560 mi (900 km) by darkness) was won by Roberto Mieres and Fritz d'Orey, who shared a Porsche RSK, which proved more durable than more potent competition.[6]

Lights were installed around the track in 1998 to run NASCAR's July race, the Coke Zero 400 at night. The track was the world's largest single lighted outdoor sports facility until being surpassed by Losail International Circuit in 2008. Musco Lighting installed the lighting system, which took into account glare and visibility for aircraft arriving and departing nearby Daytona Beach International Airport, and costs about $240 per hour when in operation.[7]

Layouts

Tri-Oval

Map of the speedway

Daytona's tri-oval is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long with 31° banking in the turns and 18° banking at the start/finish line. The front straight is 3,800 feet (1,200 m) long and the back straight (or "superstretch") is 3,000 feet (910 m) long. The tri-oval shape was revolutionary at the time as it greatly improved sight lines for fans. It is one of the two tracks on the Sprint Cup Series circuit that uses restrictor plates to slow the cars down due to the high speeds, the other being Talladega Superspeedway.[8]

On July 15, 2010, repaving of the track began. This came almost a year earlier than planned due to the track coming apart during the 2010 Daytona 500. The project used an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave 1,400,000 square feet (130,000 m2) including the racing surface, apron, skid pads and pit road. Because of good weather, the project was completed ahead of schedule.[9]

On October 9, 2013, Colin Braun drove a Daytona Prototype car prepared by Michael Shank Racing to set a single-lap record on the tri-oval configuration of 222.971 miles per hour (358.837 km/h).[10]

Road courses

Map of the 24-hour road course configuration

The 3.81-mile (6.13 km) road course was built in 1959 and first hosted a three-hour sports car race called the Daytona Continental in 1962.[11] The race length became 2,000 km (1,200 mi) in 1964,[6] and in 1966 was extended to a 24-hour endurance race known as the Rolex 24 at Daytona. It was shortened again to six hours in 1972 and cancelled entirely in 1974.[6]

In 1973, a sharp chicane was added at the end of the backstretch, approaching oval turn three.

In 1984[12] and 1985,[13] the layout was modified, re-profiling turns 1 and 2, and moving what is now turn 3 closer to its adjacent turns. In addition, the chicane on the backstretch was modified. A new entry leg was constructed approximately 400 feet (120 m) earlier, resulting in a longer, three-legged, "bus stop" shape. Cars would now enter in the first leg, bypass the second leg, and exit out of the existing third leg. Passing would now be possible inside the longer chicane. The construction resulted in a final length of 3.81 miles (6.13 km) for the complete road course.

In 2003, the chicane was modified once again. The middle leg was repaved and widened, and now cars would enter through the first leg, and exit out of the second leg. The existing third leg was abandoned. This allowed cars a cleaner entry into oval turn three. After favorable results, in 2010 the third leg was dug up, and removed permanently.

Start of the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona

While the more famous 24 Hours of Le Mans is held near the summer solstice, Daytona's endurance race is held in winter (meaning more of the race is run at night). The track's lighting system is limited to 20% of its maximum output for the race to keep cars dependent on their headlights.[14]

Map of the Moto-Course

In 2005, a second infield road course configuration was constructed, primarily for motorcycles. Due to fears of tire wear on the banked oval sections, oval turns 1 and 2 were bypassed giving the new course a length of 2.95 miles (4.75 km). The Daytona SportBike that runs the Daytona 200 however, uses the main road course except for the motorcycle Pedro Rodríguez Hairpin (tighter than the one used for cars; the car version is used as an acceleration lane for motorcycles).[15]

On September 26 and 27, 2006, the IndyCar Series held a compatibility test on the 10-turn, 2.73-mile (4.39 km) modified road course, and the 12-turn 2.95-mile (4.75 km) motorcycle road course with 5 drivers. The drivers who tested at the track were Vitor Meira, Sam Hornish Jr., Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon. This marked the first time since 1984 that open wheel cars have taken to the track at Daytona.[16] On January 31 – February 1, 2007, IndyCar returned for a full test involving 17 cars.[17]

Supercross

During Daytona Beach Bike Week, a supercross track is built between pit road and the tri-oval section of the track. Historically the track has used more sand than dirt, providing unique challenges to riders. The 2008-2013 track configurations were designed by former champion, Ricky Carmichael.[18]

Daytona has hosted an AMA Supercross Championship round uninterruptedly since 1971.[19]

Daytona Flat Track and Infield Kart Track

Popular dirt-track races in karting and flat-track motorcycle racing had been held at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium but in 2009, the city announced the stadium was replacing its entire surface with FieldTurf, and thereby eliminating the flat-track racing at the stadium. To continue racing, speedway officials built the Daytona Flat Track, a new quarter-mile dirt track outside of turns 1 & 2 of the main superspeedway. It seats 5,000 in temporary grandstands and opened in December 2009 for WKA KartWeek.[20]

There is also a short paved kart/autocross track in the infield just inside of turn 3. The SCCA holds autocross on this track.

Short track

In February 2012, it was announced that a 0.4-mile (640 m) short track would be constructed along the backstretch of the Speedway's main course, for NASCAR's lower-tier series to compete at during Speedweeks called the UNOH Battle at the Beach, which is similar to the Toyota All-Star Showdown, formerly held at Irwindale Speedway.[21] The first races were held on that track in February 2013. The track was shorten to 0.375-mile (604 m) oval in 2014 by shorter straightaways. The future of racing at the short track is unknown after 2015 with the grandstands on the back straightaway being demolished as a part of the Daytona Rising project.

Football

In the fall of 1959, the track hosted several high school football games for the Father Lopez Green Wave in their first year of their football program.

The track hosted four college football games featuring the Daytona-based Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in 1974 and 1975. In early 2014 track president Joie Chitwood expressed a desire to bring football back to the track.[22]

Video games

In 1994, SEGA released an arcade game called Daytona USA, using their Model 2 hardware. It involved vocals by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi.

iRacing.com have laser-scanned the facility twice. The first in 2008, and 2011 once the repave was completed. Both are available in official racing series. There has been no word to when and if it will be re-scanned now that the Daytona Rising project has now been completed.[23]

In 2016, Electronic Arts released an update for the mobile game Real Racing 3 called "Daytona Update".

Fatalities

A total of 40 people have been fatally injured in on-track incidents: 23 car drivers, twelve motorcyclists, three go-kart drivers, one powerboat racer, and one track worker. The most notable death may have been that of Dale Earnhardt, who was killed on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001.[24]

Fan amenities

The former Earnhardt Grandstand at Daytona International Speedway, which was changed into one of the injectors after Daytona Rising

Sprint Fanzone

The Sprint Fanzone is an access package similar to pit passes for fans to get closer to drivers and race teams. The fanzone was built in 2004 as part of a renovation of the track's infield.[25] Fans are able to walk on top of the garages, known as the "fandeck", and view track and garage activity. Fans can also view race teams working in the garage, including NASCAR technical inspection, through windows. The garage windows also include slots for fans to hand merchandise to drivers for autographs. The fanzone also includes a live entertainment stage, additional food and drink areas and various other activities and displays.[26]

The 2004 renovation of the infield, headed by design firm HNTB,[27] was the first major renovation of the infield in the history of the track.[28] In addition to the fanzone, a new vehicle and pedestrian tunnel was built under turn 1. The tunnel posed a challenge to engineers because it was to be built under the water table. Another challenge came during construction when three named hurricanes passed by the track, flooding much of the excavation work. The infield renovation involved landscaping and hardscaping, such as a new walkway along the shore of Lake Lloyd, and the construction of 34 new buildings, including garages and fueling stations, offices and inspection facilities, and a club. The renovation project received a 2005 Award for Excellence from Design-Build Institute of America.[28] Following the success of the Sprint Fanzone at Daytona, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway each built a similar infield fanzone.

Budweiser Party Porch

The Budweiser Party Porch was a 46 feet (14 m) high porch located along the backstretch of the track. It was built on top of a portion of the backstretch grandstands and includes a 277 feet (84 m) wide, 33 feet (10 m) tall sign, the largest sign in motorsports. The porch featured tables, food and drinks, offering fans a "fun-filled" atmosphere that breaks fans away from the confines of grandstand seating without sacrificing on the view. Below the porch was an interactive fan zone featuring amusement rides, a go-kart track, show cars and merchandise trailers.[29] After the 2015 racing season, the Party Porch was torn down with the backstretch grandstands as part of the DAYTONA Rising project.

Events

Current

2.5 Mile Superspeedway

Road Course

0.375 Mile Paved Oval

Other

Former

Track records

As of February 2015, track records on the 2.5 miles (4.0 km) tri-oval are as follows.[36]

RecordYearDateDriverCar MakeTimeSpeed/Avg Speed
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Qualifying 1987February 9Bill Elliott Ford 42.783210.364 mph (338.548 km/h)
Race (500 miles) 1980February 17Buddy Baker Oldsmobile 2:48:55177.602 mph (285.823 km/h)
Race (400 miles) 1980July 4 Bobby AllisonOldsmobile2:18:21173.473 mph (279.178 km/h)
Race (250 miles) 1961July 4 David Pearson Pontiac 1:37:13154.294 mph (248.312 km/h)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Qualifying 1987   Tommy Houston Buick 46.298194.389 mph (312.839 km/h)
Race (300 miles) 1985February 16Geoff Bodine Pontiac 1:54:33157.137 mph (252.887 km/h)
Race (250 miles) 2003July 4Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 1:37:35153.715 mph (247.380 km/h)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Qualifying 2015February 20Spencer Gallagher Chevrolet 47.332190.146 mph (306.010 km/h)
Race (250 miles) 2006February 17Mark Martin Ford 1:42:18146.622 mph (235.965 km/h)

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Daytona International Speedway.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Reed, Steve (January 22, 2013). "Daytona International unveils plans for upgrade". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Daytona Rising". Daytona International Speedway. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  3. ↑ Hawkins, Jim (2003). "Big Bill's Dream for America's Speed Capital". Tales from the Daytona 500 (illustrated ed.). Sports Publishing LLC. pp. 13–14 of 200. ISBN 978-1-58261-530-1. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Aumann, Mark. "How Daytona International Speedway was created". Nascar.com.
  5. ↑ Kettlewell, Mike. "Daytona", in Northey, Tom, ed. World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 5, p.503.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kettlewell, p.503.
  7. ↑ "Daytona International Speedway". Musco Lighting. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Track Facts". Daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Goodyear Tire Test on Daytona's New Racing Surface Set For Dec. 15–16". Daytona International Speedway. November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Braun Sets Daytona Speed Record". Motor Racing Network. Concord, NC. October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Daytona International Speedway". na-motorsports.com. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  12. ↑ http://wsrp.ic.cz/imsa1984.html#1
  13. ↑ http://wsrp.ic.cz/imsa1985.html#1
  14. ↑ "Race Profile – 24 Hours of Daytona". Sports Car Digest. January 23, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  15. ↑ Adams, Dean (August 12, 2004). "Daytona Changes Course". Superbikeplanet.com. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  16. ↑ "IRL Begins Testing at Daytona Road Course". Daytona International Speedway. September 26, 2006. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  17. ↑ "IndyCar Series Kicks Off Two-Day Test at Daytona". Daytona International Speedway. January 31, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Ricky Carmichael Designs Daytona Supercross By Honda Course For Second Straight Year". Daytona International Speedway. January 30, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  19. ↑ 2015 AMA Supercross media guide
  20. ↑ "AMA FLAT TRACK: DIS To Construct Dirt Track". Speed. July 31, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  21. ↑ Haddock, Tim (February 15, 2012). "Source: Daytona building short track". ESPN. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  22. ↑ Newcomb, Tim (January 21, 2012). "Source: Daytona International Speedway hopes to host college football game after renovation". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  23. ↑ http://www.iracing.com/tracks/
  24. ↑ "Auto racing fatalities list". Usatoday.Com. February 18, 2001. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012.
  25. ↑ Hembree, Mike (July 28, 2009). "NASCAR fans get in the 'zone' at Daytona International Speedway". Scene. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Sprint FANZONE". Daytona international Speedway. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Daytona Speedway". HNTB. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  28. 1 2 Engdahl, David. "Daytona International Speedway Renovation". American Institute of Architects. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Budweiser Party Porch Is The Place To Be on the Superstretch for the 52nd Annual Daytona 500". The Catchfence. February 9, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  30. 1 2 3 "Daytona International Speedway – travel – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. January 14, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  31. 1 2 3 "Events Calendar". Daytona International Speedway. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200". Daytona International Speedway. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  33. ↑ "2011 Rolex Series". Grand-am.com. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Daytona Supercross by Honda". Daytona International Speedway. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  35. ↑ "2001 DaytonaUSA.com 150 - 51's Third Turn". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Race Results at Daytona International Speedway". racing-reference.info. Retrieved November 22, 2010.

External links

Coordinates: 29°11′8″N 81°4′10″W / 29.18556°N 81.06944°W / 29.18556; -81.06944

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