10 LITTLE KNOWN DAYTONA 500 FACTS

1. In 1959, the inaugural Daytona 500 was run caution-free.
2. The 1967 Daytona 500 was the only NASCAR win for racing superstar Mario Andretti.
3. Tiny Lund won the 1963 Daytona 500 on one set of tires. His pit crew, the famous Wood Brothers known for their lightning-fast pit stops, did not have to change a single tire all day.
4. Paul Bass drove an Edsel convertible in the inaugural Daytona 500. It was the only appearance of an Edsel in NASCAR competition.
5. The 1974 Daytona 500 was actually the “Daytona 450.” NASCAR cut the distance of their races by 10 percent in the early part of the season due to America’s energy crisis.
6. In 1989, Darrell Waltrip finally won the Daytona 500 in his 17th attempt. He drove car No. 17 that day and pitted in pit stall No. 17.
7. Upon seeing the mammoth Daytona Int’l Speedway for the first time, in preparation for the first Daytona 500, driver Jimmy Thompson said, “There have been other tracks that separated the men from the boys. This is the track that will separate the brave from the weak after the boys are gone.”
8. Curtis Turner’s 1967 Daytona 500 pole speed of 180.831 mph was the first time a NASCAR stock car had qualified at over 180 mph.
9. Loy Allen, Jr. and Mike Skinner both won the pole for the Daytona 500 in their rookie seasons.
10. Six drivers have scored their first NASCAR Sprint Cup win in the Daytona 500. They are Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994) and Michael Waltrip (2001).
    

THE TROPHIES

Named after Harley J. Earl, a famous General Motors designer and friend of NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr., the Harley J. Earl Perpetual Trophy rests year round inside Daytona USA and bears the name of every Daytona 500 champion.
While the Daytona 500 champion doesn’t take home the Harley J. Earl trophy, the winner of the Great American Race is awarded a replica Harley J. Earl trophy (hoisted here by 2007 winner Kevin Harvick), which has a black base with a scaled-down replica of the Firebird One that Earl created in 1954 at the peak of his career with General Motors.
For the 50th Daytona 500, that trophy will be painted gold.
The Harley J. Earl trophy is just one of three trophies awarded on the day of the Daytona 500.
The winning crew chief of the Daytona 500 champion is awarded the Cannonball Baker trophy, which is named after the famous coast-to-coast racer who was elected the first national commissioner of NASCAR in 1948 while the owner of the winning Daytona 500 champion is awarded the Governor’s Cup.

RACE DAY IN AMERICA

The United States Senate recently designated Feb. 17, 2008, — the date of the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 — as Race Day in America. The resolution, introduced during the 110th Congress by Florida senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, highlights the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 and festivities surrounding the event.

FLAG WAVER

Seven-time Daytona 500 winner Richard Petty (left)  will be the honorary starter for Sunday’s 50th annual Daytona 500.

QUICK HITS

• Jeff Gordon is starting his 16th season with Hendrick Motorsports, while Tony Stewart and Greg Zipadelli are starting their 10th season together.
• Dave Marcis made 33 starts in the Daytona 500, more than any other driver.
• Bobby Allison is the oldest Daytona 500 winner. He was 50 years, two months and 11 days old when he won in 1988.

BOY WONDER

Jeff Gordon became the youngest driver to win the Daytona 500 (25 years, six months and 12 days) in 1997.

FIRSTS

• Englishman Brian Naylor was the first foreign-born driver to compete in the Daytona 500, finishing 42nd in 1961.
• Wendell Scott was the first African-American to race in the Daytona 500. He finished 26th in 1963.
• Janet Guthrie was the first female driver to race in the Daytona 500, finishing 12th in 1977.

LAST TIME AROUND...

Kevin Harvick set several records in winning the 2007 Daytona 500. He tied Benny Parsons for fewest laps led by a Daytona 500 winner, leading only four tours of the 2.5-mile superspeedway. He also started 34th, the lowest starting position for any Daytona 500 victor.

DAYTONA 500 WINNERS

    Year    Driver        Make

    2007    Kevin Harvick    Chevrolet
    2006    Jimmie Johnson    Chevrolet
    2005    Jeff Gordon        Chevrolet
    2004    Dale Earnhardt, Jr.    Chevrolet
    2003    Michael Waltrip    Chevrolet
    2002    Ward Burton    Dodge
    2001    Michael Waltrip    Chevrolet
    2000    Dale Jarrett        Ford
    1999    Jeff Gordon        Chevrolet
    1998    Dale Earnhardt    Chevrolet
    1997    Jeff Gordon        Chevrolet
    1996    Dale Jarrett        Ford
    1995    Sterling Marlin    Chevrolet
    1994    Sterling Marlin    Chevrolet
    1993    Dale Jarrett        Chevrolet
    1992    Davey Allison    Ford
    1991    Ernie Irvan        Chevrolet
    1990    Derrike Cope        Chevrolet
    1989    Darrell Waltrip    Chevrolet
    1988    Bobby Allison    Buick
    1987    Bill Elliott        Ford
    1986    Geoffrey Bodine    Chevrolet
    1985    Bill Elliott        Ford
    1984    Cale Yarborough    Chevrolet   
    1983    Cale Yarborough    Pontiac
    1982    Bobby Allison    Buick
    1981    Richard Petty    Buick
    1980    Buddy Baker        Oldsmobile
    1979    Richard Petty    Oldsmobile
    1978    Bobby Allison    Ford
    1977    Cale Yarborough    Chevrolet
    1976    David Pearson    Mercury
    1975    Benny Parsons    Chevrolet
    1974    Richard Petty    Dodge
    1973    Richard Petty    Dodge
    1972    A.J. Foyt        Mercury
    1971    Richard Petty    Plymouth
    1970    Pete Hamilton    Plymouth
    1969    Lee Roy Yarbrough    Ford
    1968    Cale Yarborough    Mercury
    1967    Mario Andretti    Ford
    1966    Richard Petty    Plymouth
    1965    Fred Lorenzen    Ford
    1964    Richard Petty    Plymouth
    1963    Tiny Lund        Ford
    1962    Fireball Roberts    Pontiac   
    1961    Marvin Panch    Pontiac
    1960    Junior Johnson    Chevrolet
    1959    Lee Petty        Oldsmobile