Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races for ARCA, AMA Superbike, IMSA, SCCA, and Motocross. The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.500 mi (4.023 km) high-speed tri-oval, a 3.560 mi (5.729 km) sports car course, a 2.950 mi (4.748 km) motorcycle course, and a 1,320 ft (402.3 m) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (72.8 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (11.7 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is operated by NASCAR pursuant to a lease with the City of Daytona Beach on the property that runs until 2054.[4]Dale Earnhardt is Daytona International Speedway's all-time winningest driver, with a total of 34 career victories (12- Daytona 500 Qualifying Races) (7- NASCAR Xfinity Series Races) (6- Busch Clash Races) (6- IROC Races) (2- Pepsi 400 July Races) (1- The 1998 Daytona 500).
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver
(i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points
* – Mike Harmon, Robert Richardson Jr., and Blake Koch all had to start at the rear of the field. Richardson and Harmon missed the drivers meeting and Koch had adjustments outside impound.
Race
The race was marred by two crashes. On lap 116, 13 cars were involved in the first one. It started when Austin Dillon tried to turn down infront of Michael Annett but misjudged it and got turned by Annett in turn 1. Dillon turned down into Elliott Sadler and he and Annett went back up the track taking out more cars with them. Annett pounded the outside wall head on which led to Annett suffering a bruised sternum,[6] which kept him out of the next eight races of the season.[7] During the wreck, Dillon was riding the outside wall and took a couple of driver side hits in the process from Kasey Kahne and Jeffery Earnhardt. The wreck collected Elliott Sadler, Austin Dillon, Danny Efland, Kasey Kahne, Michael Annett, Hal Martin, Mike Bliss, Johanna Long, Jamie Dick, Jason White, Jeffery Earnhardt, Joe Nemechek, and Matt Kenseth, who spun late to avoid the crash. Dick, Long, and Martin were also treated and were released. This crash brought out a 20-minute red flag.[8] The second crash occurred on the final lap. This one started when Regan Smith got turned while trying to block Brad Keselowski. Kyle Larson, who was collected in the crash, got the worst of it, as his car went airborne into the catchfence, ripping out everything from its firewall forward, except for the hood, most of which flew into the grandstand (including its engine and both wheels), as did some debris into the second level.[9] Ultimately, 28 fans were injured, with two of them in critical condition.[10] In the midst of the chaos, Tony Stewart escaped the wreck,[11] and won the race, tying Dale Earnhardt for the most Nationwide Series wins at the track with seven.[10]Alex Bowman; Dale Earnhardt Jr.; and Parker Kligerman closed out the Top 5 while Brian Scott, Justin Allgaier, Eric McClure; Robert Richardson Jr.; and Travis Pastrana rounded out the Top 10.[12]
Much of the near tragedy was due to the car hitting a crossover gate in the catch fence, where the fence is not as strong. In the aftermath of the incident, Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway added cables and tethers to the crossover gates, with Daytona's being installed in time for the Sprint Cup Series' Coke Zero 400 in July.[13] The crash also resulted in a rule prohibiting teams from making consistent contact during drafting in turns ("locking bumpers") in turns at superspeedway circuits.[14]
The picture of Larson's car getting shredded by the catch fence remains as one of the most well-known and reproduced images in the sport's history.
