How many laps is the Daytona 500: All the facts and details explained

How many laps is the Daytona 500: All the facts and details explained

Lenah Ann
November 19, 2023 at 10:39 AM

The Daytona 500 is the most prominent stock-car racing event in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR. The event has often been staged at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida every February since its inception in 1959. However, the question is, how many laps is the Daytona 500?

How many laps is the Daytona 500 race?
Drivers lead the field to start the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on 19 February 2023 in Florida. Photo: Chris Graythen (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Over the past few decades, NASCAR has grown in popularity and has reached unparalleled heights, becoming one of the most-attended and highest-rated sporting events in the United States of America. Some of the greatest legends who have won in the event include Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt.

How many laps is the Daytona 500 race?

The 2.5-mile Speedway of the Great American Race track features 200 laps. NASCAR divides the race into three portions, known as stages, and awards playoff and stage points after each.

The event features the following stage lengths: stages 1 and 2, which are both 65 laps, and the final stage, which has 70 laps.

Stage racing debuted in 2019. Extra points are awarded to the top 10 finishers in the first two stages. First place winner receives 10 points, second place receives 9 points, third place receives 8 points, and so on down to 10th place.

Is the Daytona 500, 500 laps?

The 500 in the event name stands for the mileage, not the laps. So, how many miles is the Daytona 500? The event covers 500 miles or 804 kilometres on a 2.5-mile or 4 kilometres track, which equates to 200 laps.

How many laps are there in the Daytona 500
Three drivers are seen spinning after an on-track NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway on 19 February 2023 in Florida. Photo: Mike Ehrmann
Source: Getty Images

How long does the Daytona 500 usually take?

While answering the question of how many laps are there in the Daytona 500, fans have also wondered how long the event usually takes. For the drivers to complete the race, they take three and a half hours.

How fast do drivers go at Daytona?

The drivers participating in the event race their cars around a 2.5-mile track at speeds approaching 200 miles per hour for a total distance of 500 miles. The insane thing is that the vehicles will only be inches apart despite the high racing speeds.

How do you qualify for the Daytona 500?

Participants qualify for the event if they finish with the highest points in the Open team Duel race. The next quickest Open vehicle in qualifying will compete in the prestigious event if the top-finishing Open squad has already secured a seat in qualifying.

What is the longest Daytona 500 in history?

How many laps is the Daytona 500?
Alex Bowman walks onstage prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual race at Daytona International Speedway on 19 February 2023 in Florida. Photo: Courtney Culbreath
Source: Getty Images

The longest Great American Race in history happened when Stenhouse won the title in double overtime and under caution. Two overtimes extended the 65th edition of the race to a record 212 circuits, twelve more laps above the planned distance, and an astounding 530 miles or 850 kilometres.

What is the winner of the Daytona 500 awarded?

The famous Great American Race winner is awarded a trophy known as The Harley J Earl Perpetual Trophy, which permanently resides inside the Daytona International Speedway and bears the name of all champions in the event.

What drivers have the most Daytona 500 wins?

The renowned annual event has had a share of its champions. Here are the top 3 drivers with the most wins in the race tracks: Richard Petty with a record of 7 wins, Cale Yarborough with four, and Denny Hamlin with three wins.

What is the fastest-ever lap in Daytona 500 qualifying?

The fastest-ever lap to be completed in qualifying for the Great American Race was set by Bill Elliott in 1987, clocking in at 42.782 seconds. This record translates to an average speed of 210.364 miles per hour, unprecedented in NASCAR today.

How many laps is the Daytona 500 race?
Two racers race during the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual race at Daytona International Speedway on 19 February 2023 in Florida. Photo: James Gilbert
Source: Getty Images

How to watch the Daytona 500?

Fans can watch the NASCAR event on FOX Sports. They can also stream it live on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app. YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, FuboTV, and Sling TV are other options for watching.

Final word

The fans who were wondering how many laps is the Daytona 500 and how long it lasts have now gotten their answer. The race is considered the most significant and prestigious in the NASCAR season, with the highest payoff. Because of its popularity, it has a massive fan following and has one of the highest worldwide live TV audiences of any sporting event.

READ ALSO: What size is a Premier League football? Find out more here

Sports Brief recently published an article explaining the size of a Premier League football. Over the years, the PL has amassed massive fan bases globally, and like any other sport, it has its preference for the type, shape, and size of the ball it uses.

The type of materials used to make the ball has changed over the years, from wrapped-up animal sinew to the current synthetic fibre, but the size has always remained the same. Click on the link above to find more details about the size of a Premier League football.

Authors
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Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.