| Isn't it odd that just when all the other sports are | | | | from the previous year automatically qualify for the |
| ending their respective seasons, NASCAR kicks their | | | | Daytona 500 - the remaining drivers then fight it out |
| season off with their biggest race - there is no doubt | | | | for the remaining eight slots. |
| that I am referring to the Great American Race | | | | Those drivers who were the first to qualify for the |
| known as the Daytona 500 which started off way | | | | race are placed in the very first row. Positions 40-43 |
| back in the 1959 and was won by none other than | | | | are populated by those drivers that were not in the |
| Lee Petty in a heart stopping and nail biting finish. | | | | top 35 but had the fastest lap times. |
| Many drivers would gladly opt to swap one of their | | | | The other positions are determined by the two 150 |
| championship wins for a win in this race which is by | | | | mile qualifying races. The top two from both of |
| far the most exalted of all NASCAR races. Also, | | | | these qualifying races are then given a place on the |
| another reason why all the NASCAR drivers are hell | | | | starting line. In case a previous year's NASCAR |
| bent on winning the Daytona 500 is that the winning | | | | champion does not qualify for any reason, he is then |
| car is proudly displayed in the Daytona Museum for | | | | given the forty third starting position. |
| the whole of next year. | | | | When the Daytona 500 kicks off with an explosion |
| A little more about the coveted Daytona races: As | | | | of fireworks, it's similar to the wave of fireworks |
| the name suggests these take place at the great | | | | that go off when the clock strikes 12 on New Year's |
| Daytona International Speedway which is about two | | | | Day. On the 3rd Sunday of February, the deafening |
| and a half miles in length and forms an overall "D" | | | | noise of the crowds and the roars of tens and |
| shape - what's more, the extended length of the | | | | hundreds of stock car engines mark the start of |
| track makes it a super speedway. These races are | | | | America's greatest racing event. NASCAR's |
| held on the 3rd Sunday of February before which the | | | | extravagant kick off event is pretty dissimilar to |
| drivers undergo extremely intense preparations. To | | | | other racing events but it is the perfect event to get |
| add to that, the Daytona Speedway has a capacity | | | | the hearts pumping, the expectations sky-rocketing |
| to hold a staggering one hundred and sixty eight | | | | and the adrenalin racing. No other sporting event ever |
| thousand fans - all of which contribute to an | | | | gets close to starting off their season this |
| explosive atmosphere. | | | | explosively. It is no wonder that fans follow NASCAR |
| The drivers need to go through a unique qualifying | | | | events with cult like passion and make their way to |
| stage that is totally different from any other racing | | | | the Daytona International Speedway on the 3rd |
| event. | | | | Sunday of February as if they are on a sacred |
| Based on a points system, the top thirty five drivers | | | | pilgrimage. |