| The Daytona International Speedway in Daytona | | | | added to the 35. Other top qualifiers will fill the |
| Beach, Florida is home to some of the most | | | | remaining spots to 43 and previous champions |
| significant NASCAR races there are. It is a 2.5-mile | | | | without a spot will be given priority. |
| track and can seat 168,000 fans. Other racing | | | | The Daytona International Speedway has seen its |
| associations share the track too so it is not | | | | share of exciting victories throughout its history. For |
| exclusively a NASCAR facility. It is home to the race | | | | example, take the Daytona 500 victory in 1976 |
| most Americans know because it has been around | | | | where David Pearson just barely beat out the King |
| for so long: The Daytona 500. NASCAR sponsors this | | | | of Racing Richard Petty. The two actually wrecked |
| event as the NEXTEL Cup - Daytona 500 - "The | | | | on their dart for the finish and both cars went into |
| Great American Race." | | | | spins. Richard Petty's car stalled out when it went |
| In 2008, the 50th Annual NEXTEL Cup Daytona 500 | | | | into the infield. Pearson managed to get his car over |
| race will be held. The NASCAR Daytona 500 is a | | | | the finish line at 30 mph. All this excitement happened |
| 500-mile race that consists of 200 laps. This race will | | | | just 20 yards from the finish line. |
| kick off the NASCAR season on February 17th. The | | | | The Daytona 500 has had its share of tragedies. In |
| winner of the Daytona 500 gets awarded the Harley | | | | 2001 Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash on the last |
| J. Earl Trophy. Harley J. Earl was an automobile | | | | turn of the last lap of the race. Dale Earnhardt had |
| designer who served as the second NASCAR | | | | won at this track 34 times. |
| commissioner. The Harley J. Earl Trophy will be plated | | | | It was suspected that some car modifications |
| in gold instead of silver for the 2008 race. | | | | allowing drivers to break faster caused this and they |
| The NASCAR Daytona 500 has a unique qualifying | | | | were discontinued in the rules after this fatal race. |
| procedure. The top 35 teams from the previous | | | | The modifications made the cars more aerodynamic |
| year's competition are automatically qualified to | | | | and allowed more cars to take the lead during a race. |
| compete in the current Daytona 500 race at the | | | | The idea was to inject more excitement into racing |
| Daytona International Speedway. There are 150-mile | | | | at the Daytona International Speedway as well as |
| qualifying races held one week before the big race | | | | other tracks. |
| and the two top drivers from the qualifications will be | | | | |