Daytona

The self-styled “World Center of Racing,” Daytona Beach is the spiritual home of NASCAR, as well as the organisation’s headquarters. The season-opening Daytona 500 has been NASCAR’s most prestigious event since the speedway opened in 1959. Lee Petty’s Oldsmobile won the first race in a photo finish that took three days to decide, and the tradition of close racing at Daytona continues to this day. In 1979, a fight broke out between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison after they crashed on the last lap while disputing the lead of the Daytona 500, broadcast live on network television. Daytona will also be forever associated with the shocking loss of NASCAR stalwart Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in the closing laps of the 2001 race. In addition to stock car racing, Daytona also features a road course that has been used for the 24-hour sports car race since 1966. Excavating the dirt required to build the imposing 31-degree banking left an area that has since become Lake Lloyd, the 44-acre body of water located in the infield.