2008 Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 will turn 50 in 2008.

The 2008 Daytona 500 is the upcoming 50th annual running of "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. The race is scheduled to be run on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race will celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the first race run in 1959, won by Lee Petty. To commemerate the event, the Harley J. Earl Trophy, which goes to the winner of the race, will be plated in gold instead of silver. The race is scheduled to be the first Daytona 500 run using NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow, which was introduced in 2007.

DAYTONA 500 winners Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Mario Andretti, sitcom star Jason Lee, TV host Kelly Ripa, and action sport legend Tony Hawk, among others, will put their artistic talents to the test to help commemorate the 50th running of NASCAR’s crown jewel stock car race, the 2008 DAYTONA 500. Daytona International Speedway (DIS) today announced its “Celebrity Tickets for Charity” competition, where the design of the most sought-after ticket in motorsports history will be chosen from submissions provided by celebrities, with fans having a voice in the decision.

Voting begins Tuesday, May 1. Fans are encouraged to click on the “Celebrity Tickets for Charity” banner on daytona500.com as often as they like to view and vote for their favorite celebrity ticket designs.