History of Daytona 500 in Timeline

The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile NASCAR Cup Series race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. As one of two Cup races held at Daytona each year, it is a prominent event in motorsports. From 1988-2019, it was a restrictor plate race. The inaugural race occurred in 1959, coinciding with the speedway's opening. Since 1982, the Daytona 500 has marked the start of the NASCAR Cup Series season.

1949: NASCAR Grand National

NASCAR Grand National winners at Daytona from 1949 at Daytona Beach and Road Course.

1958: NASCAR Grand National

NASCAR Grand National winners at Daytona until 1958 at Daytona Beach and Road Course.

1959: Qualifying Races Distance

From 1959, the qualifying races distance was 100 miles.

1959: Race Considered Official After Halfway Point

From 1959, the race was considered official after halfway (100 laps/250 miles) had been completed.

1959: First 500-Mile Race at Daytona International Speedway

In 1959, the first 500-mile stock car race was held at Daytona International Speedway, marking the second 500-mile NASCAR race.

1959: Inaugural Daytona 500

In 1959, the inaugural Daytona 500 was held, coinciding with the opening of the Daytona International Speedway.

1961: Race Referred to as "Daytona 500"

By 1961, the race began to be commonly referred to as the Daytona 500.

1965: Race Shortened Due to Rain

In 1965, the Daytona 500 was shortened due to rain.

1966: Race Shortened Due to Rain

In 1966, the Daytona 500 was shortened due to rain.

1967: Qualifying Races Distance

Until 1967, the qualifying races distance was 100 miles.

1968: Qualifying Races Canceled

In 1968, the qualifying races were not held due to rain.

1969: Qualifying Races Distance

From 1969, the qualifying races distance was 125 miles.

1971: Association with Presidents Day Weekend

From 1971, the Daytona 500 has been associated with Presidents Day weekend.

1974: Race Shortened Due to Energy Crisis

In 1974, the Daytona 500 was shortened in response to the energy crisis.

1976: Provisional Starting Spot

From 1976, the driver with the championship provisional was added to the race.

1979: Race Start Time

From 1979, the Daytona 500 race started at 12:15 p.m. EST.

1979: First Live Flag-to-Flag Telecast

In 1979, the Daytona 500 became the first 500-mile auto race to be televised live flag-to-flag on network television by CBS.

1980: Fastest Daytona 500 Record

In 1980, Buddy Baker set the record for fastest Daytona 500 before the stages era at 177.602 mph.

1982: Daytona 500 Becomes Season Opener

Since 1982, the Daytona 500 has been the season-opening race for the NASCAR Cup Series.

1985: No Car Eligible for Provisional Spot

1985 marked the only time that happened in the Daytona 500 from when the provisional was added in 1976 through 2004.

1988: Restrictor Plate Races

From 1988, the Daytona 500 was one of the four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule.

1994: Fox Affiliate Switches

In 1994, then-broadcaster CBS had lost well-established VHF (channels 2–13) affiliates in major markets as a result of the Fox affiliate switches.

1994: Fastest Cars Added to Field

Until 1994, 10 fastest cars which do not advance from the qualifying race are added.

1995: Fastest Cars Added to Field

From 1995, eight fastest cars which do not advance from the qualifying race are added.

1995: Daytona 500 TV Ratings Surpass Indy 500

Starting in 1995, U.S. television ratings for the Daytona 500 began to surpass those of the Indianapolis 500.

1997: Introduction of the Harley J. Earl Trophy

Since 1997, the winner of the Daytona 500 has been presented with the Harley J. Earl Trophy in Victory Lane.

1998: Fastest Cars Added to Field

From 1998, six fastest cars which do not advance from the qualifying race are added.

1998: Installation of Lighting System

The installation of the lighting system at Daytona International Speedway in 1998 resulted in the race starting and ending much later.

2000: End of CBS Coverage

Until 2000, CBS aired the Daytona 500.

2000: Race Start Time

Until 2000, the Daytona 500 race started at 12:15 p.m. EST.

2001: Fox and NBC Alternate Broadcasts

From 2001, Fox broadcasted the Daytona 500 in odd-numbered years under the terms of a six–year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract.

2001: Race Start Time

From 2001, the Daytona 500 race start time was moved to 1:00 p.m EST.

2001: Timed Round of Qualifying

Prior to 2001, the timed round of qualifying was three.

2002: Fox and NBC Alternate Broadcasts

In 2002, NBC broadcasted the Daytona 500 under the terms of a six–year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract.

2003: Fox and NBC Alternate Broadcasts

In 2003, Fox broadcasted the Daytona 500 under the terms of a six–year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract.

2003: Race Shortened Due to Rain

In 2003, the Daytona 500 was shortened due to rain.

2003: Timed Round of Qualifying

Prior to 2003, the timed round of qualifying was two.

2003: Fastest Cars Added to Field

Until 2003, six fastest cars which do not advance from the qualifying race are added.

2004: Fox and NBC Alternate Broadcasts

In 2004, NBC broadcasted the Daytona 500 under the terms of a six–year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract.

2004: Fastest Cars Added to Field

In 2004, eight fastest cars which do not advance from the qualifying race are added.

2004: Adaptation of the Green-White-Checkered Finish Rule

Since the adaptation of the green–white–checkered finish rule in 2004, the race has gone past 500 miles on ten occasions.

2004: Earliest Ending Time Since 2004

The 2013 race marked a return to the race's past tradition of ending in the late afternoon, as it ended at about 4:40 p.m., the race's earliest ending time since 2004.

2004: Race Start Time

Until 2004, the Daytona 500 race start time was moved to 1:00 p.m EST.

2004: Qualifying Races Distance

Until 2004, the qualifying races distance was 125 miles.

2005: Qualifying Races Distance

Beginning in 2005, the qualifying races distance was 150 miles.

2005: Fox and NBC Alternate Broadcasts

In 2005, Fox broadcasted the Daytona 500 under the terms of a six–year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract.

2005: Race Start Time

In 2005, the Daytona 500 race start time was moved to 2:30 p.m EST.

2005: Race Went Past 500 Miles

In 2005, the Daytona 500 went past 500 miles due to the green-white-checkered finish rule.

2005: Cars Advance to the Field

Prior to 2005, after the top two cars were set, the top fourteen cars in the qualifying races advance to the field.

2006: Fox and NBC Alternate Broadcasts

In 2006, NBC broadcasted the Daytona 500 under the terms of a six–year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract.

2006: Race Start Time

In 2006, the Daytona 500 race start time was moved to 2:30 p.m EST and the race ended well after sunset.

2006: Race Went Past 500 Miles

In 2006, the Daytona 500 went past 500 miles due to the green-white-checkered finish rule.

2006: Sixth Largest Global TV Audience

The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth largest average live global TV audience of any sporting event that year with 20 million viewers.

2006: Races Ending Under the Lights

The 2006 Daytona 500 ended under the lights.

2007: New Television Contract

In 2007, a new television contract was signed, which made Fox the sole broadcaster of the Daytona 500 for eight years and the Daytona 500 race start time was moved to 3:30 p.m.

2007: Race Went Past 500 Miles

In 2007, the Daytona 500 went past 500 miles due to the green-white-checkered finish rule.

2007: First Daytona 500 in Prime-Time

The 2007 race was the first Daytona 500 to go into prime-time, ending at 7:07 p.m. Eastern time.

2009: Race Shortened Due to Rain

In 2009, the Daytona 500 was shortened due to rain.

2009: Race Start Time

Until 2009, the Daytona 500 race start time was moved to 3:30 p.m EST.

2010: Race Went Past 500 Miles

In 2010, the Daytona 500 went past 500 miles due to the green-white-checkered finish rule and it took two attempts to finish the race.

2010: Race Moves Back to Earlier Start Time

In 2010, the race moved back to a 1:00 p.m. start time, which should have resulted in it ending in daylight, but two red flags delayed the race into prime-time.

2011: Race Went Past 500 Miles

In 2011, the Daytona 500 went past 500 miles due to the green-white-checkered finish rule and it took two attempts to finish the race.

2011: Association with Presidents Day Weekend

Until 2011, the Daytona 500 has been associated with Presidents Day weekend.

2012: Race Went Past 500 Miles

In 2012, the Daytona 500 went past 500 miles due to the green-white-checkered finish rule.

2012: First Daytona 500 Postponed to Monday

The 2012 race was postponed to 7:00 p.m. EST on Monday, February 27, due to heavy rain, making it the first Daytona 500 to be postponed to a Monday, as well as the first (and only) Daytona 500 to be run as a night race. The race did not end until about 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28.

2013: Cars Advance to the Field

Beginning again in 2013, after the top two cars were set, the top fourteen cars in the qualifying races advance to the field.

2013: Fox Contract Extension

In 2013, Fox contract was extended, giving Fox every Daytona 500 from 2015 to 2024.

2013: Race Returns to Late Afternoon Finish

The 2013 race marked a return to the race's past tradition of ending in the late afternoon, as it ended at about 4:40 p.m., the race's earliest ending time since 2004.

2014: Rain Delay

Although the 2014 race started around 1:30 p.m. EST, heavy rain and a tornado warning red–flagged the race after 38 laps and it was delayed for a record six hours and 22 minutes; the race finished the entire 500–mile distance around after 11:00 p.m. the same day

2014: Fox Becomes Sole Broadcaster

In 2014, Fox was the sole broadcaster of the Daytona 500 for eight years.

2015: Fox Becomes Sole Broadcaster

In 2015, Fox every Daytona 500.

2015: Race Went Past 500 Miles

In 2015, the Daytona 500 went past 500 miles due to the green-white-checkered finish rule.

2015: Race Ends After 203 Laps

The 2015 race started on time around 1:00 p.m., and ended after 203 laps due to a Green–white–checkered finish.

2016: Race Considered Official After Halfway Point

Until 2016, the race was considered official after halfway (100 laps/250 miles) had been completed.

2017: Race Considered Official After Stage 2 Conclusion

From 2017, the race was considered official after the conclusion of Stage 2 (120 laps/300 miles) when stage-racing was introduced.

2018: Association with Presidents Day Weekend

Again since 2018, the Daytona 500 has been associated with Presidents Day weekend.

2018: Race Went Past 500 Miles

In 2018, the Daytona 500 went past 500 miles due to the green-white-checkered finish rule.

2019: End of Restrictor Plate Era

In 2019, the Daytona 500 was the last of the restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule.

2019: Race Considered Official After Stage 2 Conclusion

Until 2019, the race was considered official after the conclusion of Stage 2 (120 laps/300 miles) when stage-racing was introduced.

2020: Race Considered Official After Halfway Point or Stage 2 Conclusion

In 2020, the rule was revised to consider the race official at either halfway or the conclusion of Stage 2 (whichever comes first) and it took two attempts to finish the race.

2020: End of TV Ratings Dominance

Until 2020, U.S. television ratings for the Daytona 500 were the highest for any auto race of the year.

2021: Indy 500 Surpasses Daytona 500 in TV Ratings

In 2021, the Indianapolis 500 surpassed the Daytona 500 in TV ratings and viewership.

2021: Qualifying Session Held on Wednesday

Since 2021, the qualifying session is now held on the Wednesday evening leading up to the race.

2022: Daytona 500 held on NBA All-Star Game Day

Since 2022, the Daytona 500 was held on the same day that the NBA All-Star Game was held.

2023: Longest Daytona 500

The 2023 running is the longest Daytona 500 contested, lasting 212 laps/530 miles.

2024: Fox Becomes Sole Broadcaster

In 2024, Fox was the sole broadcaster of the Daytona 500 for eight years.

2024: Fastest Daytona 500 Record

In 2024, William Byron set the record for fastest Daytona 500 during the stages era at 157.178 mph.

2025: Television Coverage Cuts into Fox Shows

In 2025 Rain delays forced the Daytona 500 race to go on longer, with television coverage cutting into numerous Fox Animation Domination shows.

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