Daytona 300
File:PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona logo.png | |
NASCAR Xfinity Series | |
---|---|
Venue | Daytona International Speedway |
Location | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States |
Corporate sponsor | Invesco PowerShares |
First race | 1959 |
First Xfinity Series race | 1982 |
Distance | 300 miles (480 km) |
Laps | 120 (Stage 1: 30 Stage 2: 30 Stage 3: 60) |
Previous names | Modified Sportsman Race (1959–1965) Permatex 300 (1966–1977) Sportsman 300 (1978–1981) Goody's 300 (1982–1995) Goody's Headache Powder 300 (1996) Gargoyles 300 (1997) NAPA Auto Parts 300 (1998–2001) EAS/GNC Live Well 300 (2002) Koolerz 300 (2003) Hershey's Kisses 300 (2004) Hershey's Take 5 300 (2005) Hershey's Kissables 300 (2006) Orbitz 300 (2007) Camping World 300 (2008–2009) DRIVE4COPD 300 (2010–2014) Alert Today Florida 300 (2015) |
Most wins (driver) | Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart (7) |
Most wins (team) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (8) |
Most wins (manufacturer) | Chevrolet (30) |
Circuit information | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
Turns | 4 |
The PowerShares QQQ 300 is the first race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, 300-mile-long (483 km) annual race held at Daytona International Speedway. It is held the day before the Daytona 500, and is considered the most prestigious event of the Xfinity Series. Until 2002, it was the only event of the Xfinity Series to be annually held at Daytona International Speedway. Ryan Reed is the defending race winner after winning the race in 2017.
History
The race originates from races held at the Daytona Beach Road Course during the 1948 NASCAR Modified series season, the first sanctioned races held by the organization. Between 1950 and 1958, the race was held as part of the Modified/Sportsman Series, at the Daytona Beach Road Course. It was held the Friday or Saturday before the track's Grand National Series race.
In 1956–1959, a race in the short-lived NASCAR Convertible Division was also held.
The race moved to the new 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for 1959. It was scheduled the day before the Daytona 500, and ran a distance of either 200 or 250 miles. In 1966, the race became known as the Permatex 300, making it only the second race on the NASCAR schedule to be named for a corporate sponsor (the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside being the first). In 1968 the Permatex 300 was shifted from the Modifieds division to the newly organized NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division. In 1982, the Late Model Sportsman Division was reorganized into the modern day NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the race was sponsored by Goody's for several years.
Incidents
In the 1970s and early 1980s, the race was often ridiculed and exploited by local media for its frequent crashes and massive pileups. Several major accidents and fires over the years were blamed on the low level of experience by several of the drivers, and the older equipment used. The level of prestige held by the event, along with the relatively large purses, attracted numerous independent and one-off entries, contributing to the inexperience of drivers in the field.
Under current NASCAR rules, drivers must be cleared to race at Daytona and Talladega (added to the second tier series in 1992), requiring enough experience at intermediate tracks to be cleared by NASCAR to participate at Daytona. Drivers who intend to run the 300 will often enter other lower-tier shorter support races, whether it was the former Dash Series race (which ended after 2004 -- it used less powerful cars) or in recent years, the ARCA race the week prior to gain NASCAR clearance, especially if a driver has turned 18 after the preceding October Talladega Camping World Truck Series race the previous October. (Drivers must be 18 to participate in any NASCAR national series race on a track 1.366 miles or longer.)
Inclement weather also plagued many early runnings.
The 1960 race is notable for having the largest pileup in NASCAR history. On the first lap, 37 cars crashed in turn four (out of a starting field of 68).
In 1981 and 2004, the race started on Saturday, but was halted by rain, and finished Monday, the day after the Daytona 500. The 1969 race was red flagged three times for rain and also saw the fatal crash involving Don McTavish.
The 1979 running was shortened by rain and won by Darrell Waltrip. A brutal crash erupted off Turn Two where fire exploded from the Preacher Cox Mercury of Joe Frasson; driver Don Williams was gravely injured in the crash and would die ten years later from the incident.
The 2013 race featured two large accidents. With five laps remaining, Michael Annett and Austin Dillon collided and a multi-car crash erupted in the first turn. The race was halted as a red flag was given to clean up the debris. Annett was hospitalized overnight after sustaining bruises on his chest, but was released the following day in time for the Daytona 500, but was ruled out for the following race at Phoenix because of a sternum injury. Following the red flag the race had two laps remaining. Regan Smith and Brad Keselowski moved into the lead on the final lap, but off the fourth turn, Keselowski turned Smith into the wall head on, causing the field to pile in. Kyle Larson had the most significant impact, as his No.32 Chevrolet flew into the tri-oval catch fence, causing its nose to snag a crossover gate, which tore open. The force of the collision dug the engine in, ripping it out of the car. The car's entire front half disintegrated and one front wheel lodged onto the engine and another flew approximately ten rows into the grandstand, injuring 30 spectators (two in critical condition). A total of twelve cars were involved in the crash, but all were unharmed.[1] The two spectators that were seriously injured by the debris from Larson's crash were treated at the nearby Halifax Medical Center and were later released.
In 2015, two cautions in the final forty laps were caused by separate collisions that included eleven cars. In the first collision, Regan Smith's car flipped over once in the tri-oval, while in the second collision, Kyle Busch collided into a concrete wall head on, suffering a fracture in his leg and foot. As a result of his injuries, Busch was forced to miss the first 11 races of the Sprint Cup Series season.
Signal Pirates
Since its inception, due to its prestige and prominent position on the Speedweeks calendar, the race has long attracted Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regulars, known as Buschwhackers (Anheuser-Busch, 1982-2006), Claim Jumpers (Nationwide, 2007-14), or Signal Pirates. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regulars have dominated the race over the past 30 years, winning all but three runnings since 1981. Notable Cup regulars who have won the race multiple times include Dale Earnhardt (7 wins), Tony Stewart (7), Darrell Waltrip (5), and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (3).
Several Cup Signal Pirates have swept the weekend, winning both the 300 and the Daytona 500: Bobby Allison (1988), Darrell Waltrip (1989), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2004), Kevin Harvick (2007).
Despite NASCAR's new 2017 limits on Signal Pirates, Daytona is the first race of the season and the limits on Signal Pirates will not affect this race. Furthermore, some Xfinity Series regulars will be replaced by Signal Pirates because of regulations regarding driver experience that prohibit a driver from participating in this race, but not in the next race in Atlanta Motor Speedway. Some younger drivers have often used the more experienced drivers as mentors for this race, especially during drafting practice.
Television
In the early-1990s, ESPN began airing the race same-day tape delay. From 1997 to 2000, the race was shown live on CBS, which also held broadcast rights to the Daytona 500 at the time. From 2001 to 2006, the live television rights to the race were held by Fox (odd years) and NBC/TNT (even years). The race was shown on ESPN or ESPN2 and was the only event of Speedweeks not shown on the Fox family of networks between 2007 and 2014. Fox Sports 1 started broadcasting the race in 2015 under the current NASCAR television contract.
- Jarrett was the guest commentator for the race since Dallenbach was running in the race. Before the rain hit, Wally was caught up in the big one early and dropped out. Since the race didn't get restarted until Monday, Dallenbach took back over since Jarrett left to race the Daytona 500 and head off to Rockingham.
Past winners
Daytona Beach Road Course
Year | Date | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laps | Miles (km) | ||||||||
1948 | February 15 | 22 | Red Byron | Ray Parks | Ford | 68 | 149.6 (240.757) | 1:58:29 | 75.757 |
August 8 | 1 | Fonty Flock | Ford | 68 | 149.6 (240.757) | 2:01:25 | 73.92 | ||
1949 | January 16 | 8 | Marshall Teague | Ford | 47 | 202.1 (325.248) | 2:16:08 | 88.23 | |
1950 | February 4 | Gober Sosebee | Ford | ||||||
1951 | February 10 | 50 | Gober Sosebee | Ford | 39 | 159.9 (257.334) | 1:56:37 | 82.27 | |
1952 | February 9 | 91 | Tim Flock | Ford | 1:08:39 | 87.39 | |||
1953 | February 14 | 30 | Cotton Owens | Plymouth | 24 | 98.4 (158.359) | 1:05:33 | 91.54 | |
1954 | February 20 | 30 | Cotton Owens | Plymouth | 30 | 123 (197.949) | 93.87 | ||
1955 | February 26 | 49JR | Banjo Matthews | Melvin Joseph | Ford | 19* | 77.9 (125.367) | 98.04 | |
1956 | February 24 | 47A | Tim Flock | Joe Wolf | Chevrolet | 31 | 127.1 (204.547) | 1:25:17 | 89.41 |
1957 | February 15 | 30 | Speedy Thompson | Lester Hunter | Plymouth | 31 | 127.1 (204.547) | 1:15:41 | 99.097 |
1958 | February 21 | M4 | Banjo Matthews | Ford | 31 | 127.1 (204.547) | 1:17:01 | 97.381 |
- 1955: Shortened from 125 kilometers (77.9 miles) due to a large crash and fire on the 17th lap which injured 3 drivers and 3 spectators.
Daytona International Speedway
Year | Date | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laps | Miles (km) | ||||||||
1959 | February 21 | 49 | Banjo Matthews | Ford | 80 | 200 (321.868) | 1:29:07 | 134.65 | |
1960 | February 13 | 81 | Bubba Farr | Roy Cook | Ford | 100 | 250 (402.336) | 2:08:38 | 116.610 |
1961 | February 25 | 50 | Jimmy Thompson | Ford | 100 | 250 (402.336) | 1:45:50 | 141.732 | |
1962 | February 17 | 9 | Lee Roy Yarbrough | Ford | 100 | 250 (402.336) | 1:42:14 | 146.723 | |
1963 | February 23 | 70 | Lee Roy Yarbrough | Studebaker | 100 | 250 (402.336) | 1:42:02 | 147.01 | |
1964 | February 22 | 55 | Tiny Lund | Ford | 80* | 200 (321.868) | 1:54:49 | 104.506 | |
1965 | February 13 | 50 | Marvin Panch | Marion Cox | Ford | 100 | 250 (402.336) | 1:55:48 | 129.533 |
1966 | February 27 | 87 | Curtis Turner | Andy Hotten | Ford | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:04:33 | 144.52 |
1967 | February 25 | 04 | Jim Paschal | Plymouth | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:01:28 | 148.188 | |
1968 | February 24 | 3 | Bunkie Blackburn | Ray Fox | Dodge | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:08:11 | 140.423 |
1969* | February 22 | 29 | Lee Roy Yarbrough | Bondy Long | Ford | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:49:13 | 105.365 |
1970 | February 21 | 29 | Tiny Lund | Bondy Long | Ford | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:15:01 | 133.316 |
1971 | February 13 | 97 | Red Farmer | Ford | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:27:43 | 140.936 | |
1972 | February 19 | 90 | Bill Dennis | Junie Donlavey | Mercury | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:12:43 | 135.627 |
1973 | February 17 | 90 | Bill Dennis | Junie Donlavey | Mercury | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:14:10 | 134.161 |
1974 | February 16 | 90 | Bill Dennis | Junie Donlavey | Mercury | 108* | 270 (434.522) | 1:55:20 | 140.462 |
1975 | February 15 | 11 | Jack Ingram | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:10:20 | 138.107 | |
1976 | February 14 | 04 | Joe Millikan | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:03:26 | 145.828 |
1977 | February 19 | 21 | Donnie Allison | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:56:36 | 154.396 | |
1978 | February 18 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | DiGard Racing | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:50:39 | 162.675 |
1979 | February 17 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | DiGard Racing | Chevrolet | 69* | 172 (276.807) | 1:50:22 | 93.778 |
1980 | February 16 | 94 | Jack Ingram | Junie Donlavey | Ford | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:19:44 | 128.817 |
1981 | February 14/16* | 21 | David Pearson | Joel Halpern | Pontiac | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:19:05 | 129.419 |
1982 | February 13 | 15 | Dale Earnhardt | Robert Gee | Pontiac | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:56:29 | 154.529 |
1983 | February 19 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | DarWal, Inc. | Pontiac | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:01:55 | 147.642 |
1984 | February 18 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | DarWal, Inc. | Pontiac | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:54:56 | 156.613 |
1985 | February 16 | 5 | Geoffrey Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Pontiac | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:54:33 | 157.137 |
1986 | February 15 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Pontiac | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:00:52 | 148.924 |
1987 | February 14 | 15 | Geoffrey Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:56:03 | 155.106 |
1988 | February 13 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Bobby Allison | Buick | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:15:09 | 132.825 |
1989 | February 18 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | DarWal, Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:17:11 | 131.211 |
1990 | February 17 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:00:31 | 149.357 |
1991 | February 16 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:04:50 | 144.192 |
1992 | February 15 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:15:55 | 132.434 |
1993 | February 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:02:55 | 146.440 |
1994 | February 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:04:53 | 144.135 |
1995 | February 18 | 23 | Chad Little | ppc Racing | Ford | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:59:25 | 150.732 |
1996 | February 17 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:07:52 | 140.722 |
1997 | February 15 | 74 | Randy LaJoie | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:00:15 | 149.688 |
1998 | February 14 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:11:11 | 137.213 |
1999 | February 13 | 1 | Randy LaJoie | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:10:04 | 138.391 |
2000 | February 19 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Reiser Enterprises | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:07:54 | 140.735 |
2001 | February 17 | 7 | Randy LaJoie | Evans Motorsports | Pontiac | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:13:11 | 135.152 |
2002 | February 16 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:01:54 | 147.662 |
2003 | February 15 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:05:12 | 143.770 |
2004 | February 14/16* | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:21:32 | 127.179 |
2005 | February 19 | 33 | Tony Stewart | Kevin Harvick Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:59:59 | 150.021 |
2006 | February 18 | 33 | Tony Stewart | Kevin Harvick Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:23:49 | 125.159 |
2007 | February 17 | 21 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:55:13 | 156.227 |
2008 | February 16 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:56:46 | 154.154 |
2009 | February 14 | 80 | Tony Stewart | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:09:59 | 138.479 |
2010 | February 13 | 4 | Tony Stewart | Kevin Harvick Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:25:32 | 123.683 |
2011 | February 19 | 4 | Tony Stewart* | Kevin Harvick Inc. | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:08:52 | 139.679 |
2012 | February 25 | 30 | James Buescher | Turner Motorsports | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:18:51 | 129.636 |
2013 | February 23 | 33 | Tony Stewart | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:08:37 | 139.951 |
2014 | February 22 | 7 | Regan Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 121* | 302.5 (486.826) | 2:02:28 | 148.204 |
2015 | February 21* | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 2:00:59 | 148.781 |
2016 | February 20 | 88 | Chase Elliott | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 120 | 300 (482.803) | 1:59:04 | 151.176 |
2017 | February 25 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 124* | 310 (498.897) | 2:38:47 | 117.141 |
- 1964: Race shortened due to late start caused by three-hour rain delay.
- 1969: Three red flags during the race due to rain. 1966 Sportsman Champion Don MacTavish was killed in one of the most violent crashes in NASCAR history.
- 1974: Race scheduled for 108 laps (270 miles) due to energy crisis.
- 1979: Race shortened due to rain.
- 1981 and 2004: Race started on Saturday but finished on Monday due to rain.
- 2011: Tony Stewart wins his 4th straight February race edging Clint Bowyer by 0.007 seconds.
- 2014 and 2017: Race extended due to a NASCAR Overtime finish.
- 2015: Ryan Reed became the first NASCAR driver with type 1 diabetes to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race. The race was decided by a last-lap pass.
Multiple winners (drivers)
# Wins | Driver | Years Won |
---|---|---|
7 | Dale Earnhardt | 1982, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
Tony Stewart | 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 | |
5 | Darrell Waltrip | 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1989 |
3 | Banjo Matthews | 1955, 1958, 1959 |
LeeRoy Yarbrough | 1962, 1963, 1969 | |
Bill Dennis | 1972, 1973, 1974 | |
Randy LaJoie | 1997, 1999, 2001 | |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2002, 2003, 2004 | |
2 | Gober Sosebee | 1950, 1951 |
Cotton Owens | 1953, 1954 | |
Tim Flock | 1952, 1956 | |
Tiny Lund | 1964, 1970 | |
Jack Ingram | 1975, 1980 | |
Geoff Bodine | 1985, 1987 | |
Ryan Reed | 2015, 2017 |
Multiple winners (teams)
# Wins | Team | Years Won |
---|---|---|
8 | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2004 |
4 | Junie Donlavey | 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980 |
Kevin Harvick Inc. | 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011 | |
3 | DarWal, Inc. | 1983, 1984, 1989 |
Hendrick Motorsports | 1985, 1987, 2009 | |
Richard Childress Racing | 2002, 2007, 2013 | |
2 | Bondy Long | 1969, 1970 |
DiGard Racing | 1978, 1979 | |
JR Motorsports | 2014, 2016 | |
Roush Fenway Racing | 2015, 2017 |
Manufacturer wins
# Wins | Make | Years Won |
---|---|---|
30 | Chevrolet | 1956, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
21 | Ford | 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1995, 2015, 2017 |
7 | Pontiac | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2001 |
4 | Plymouth | 1953, 1954, 1957, 1967 |
3 | Mercury | 1972, 1973, 1974 |
2 | Dodge | 1968, 1976 |
1 | Studebaker | 1963 |
Buick | 1988 | |
Toyota | 2008 |
See also
References
- ^ Associated Press, February 23, 2013
- http://racing-reference.info
- Orlando Sentinel; microfilm; (1959–1981)