Daytona 500

The Daytona 500, also known as "The Great American Race", is the official inaugural race of the NASCAR season, held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 2010 race was held on February 14 and was won by Jamie McMurray. The payouts for the race are the greatest amounts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; the winner is presented the Harley J. Earl Trophy. The winning car is then put on exhibit in the Daytona 500 Experience, and the winner's autograph, hand prints, and right foot are imprinted in cement at the Daytona 500 Champion's Walk of Fame. The win usually guarantees a number of TV appearances and corporate contracts.http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/News/DAYTONA-500-History.aspx

The 2011 Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 20, 2011. The race ceremonies will start at approximately 1:00 p.m. eastern time. The race will be televised by the FOX Network.http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/?homepage=true

Driver Jamie McMurray won the 2010 Daytona 500, edging out Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the final lap of the race for the victory. The race was delayed twice due to potholes that appeared in the first turn during the race. The delays lasted over two hours, leading to the race concluding under the lights. Drivers Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer and David Reutimann rounded out the top five finishers in the race.http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=4914488

The first Daytona 500 was held on February 22, 1959, with award money totaling $67,760. 41,000 people were in attendance to watch the 59 cars vie for the win. Johnny Beauchamp was declared the unofficial winner, but 61 hours later, after reviewing newsreel footage, Lee Petty, patriarch of the Petty racing dynasty, was declared the winner by a few feet.http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/News/DAYTONA-500-History.aspx

The Daytona 500 Experience was the first stop for the new "Women in the Winner's Circle" traveling exhibition, focusing on the contributions of women to the racing world. The exhibit is the brain child of Lyn St. James. and was on display in Daytona through March 2010. Janet Guthrie was the first of only two women to drive in the Daytona 500, finishing a respectable 12th in 1977. Guthrie raced again in 1980, finishing 11th. http://www.janetguthrie.com/Biography.htm It wasn't until 2002 that another woman, Shawna Robinson, raced in the Daytona. She finished 24th. http://sports.jrank.org/pages/3995/Robinson-Shawna-Winston-Cup.html

• 2010: Jamie McMurray
• 2009: Matt Kenseth
• 2008: Ryan Newman
• 2007: Kevin Harvick
• 2006: Jimmie Johnson
• 2005: Jeff Gordon
• 2004: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• 2003: Michael Waltrip
• 2002: Ward Burton
• 2001: Michael Waltrip
• 2000: Dale Jarrett
• 1999: Jeff Gordon
• 1998: Dale Earnhardt
• 1997: Jeff Gordon
• 1996: Dale Jarrett
• 1995: Sterling Marlin
• 1994: Sterling Marlin
• 1993: Dale Jarrett
• 1992: Davey Allison
• 1991: Ernie Irvan
• 1990: Derrike Copehttp://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/News/DAYTONA-500-History/DAYTONA-500-Winners.aspx