Every year, hundreds of thousands of car racing enthusiasts and casual tourists make the pilgrimage to the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Join them in February to watch the Daytona 500: Feel the rush of racing cars and hear the roar of mighty engines. Marvel at the infamous 31-degree turns and admire the steeply banked tri-oval course that allows cars to move at higher speeds and gives spectators a better view of the race.
Opened in 1959 by National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) founder William France, the speedway is home to the Daytona 500, known as the “Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing.” This 500-mile (805-kilometre) race is NASCAR’s most prestigious competition and offers the most prize money of any NASCAR race.
Take a special tour to view the Daytona 500 Champion Car and explore other vehicles, trophies and memorabilia. Stand on the finish line, where history is made. Walk in the footsteps of champions down Victory Lane, where Daytona 500 winners stand before cheering crowds.
Get behind the wheel of a stock car or ride shotgun to experience firsthand the thrill of racing. Explore the garages where vehicles are fine-tuned before the race, peer inside the Drivers Meeting Room where racers discuss strategy, and visit Pit Road where crews work frantically during races to get cars back on the track.
Daytona Speedway offers more than just stock car racing. It has a sports car track, a motorcycle track and a flat track for go-karting. The speedway also features Lake Lloyd, a 29-acre (11.7-hectare) infield lake where you can watch powerboat races.
Take one of the behind-the-scenes tours that range in length from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Tickets for VIP tours and popular events such as the Daytona 500 should be pre-purchased, but tickets for other tours can be bought on the day of your visit from the on-site Speedway Ticket Office. There are discounts for children. Daytona International Speedway is a 10-minute drive from downtown Daytona Beach. Park in one of the speedway’s free parking lots and catch a shuttle directly to the speedway.
