The first race was held on the beach in Daytona. Racers would
drive their cars to Daytona, race & then drive them home (provided they didn't wreck).
Daytona Speedway opened February 1959 & Lee Petty won the race. The track is a 2.5 mile
"tri-oval".
Richard Petty won Daytona seven times.
Cale Yarbourgh was the first driver to qualify over 200mph in 1984 & I was there.
I was so impressed I immediatly bought a 1984 Monte Carlo SS.
Bill
Elliot holds the fastest qualifying lap @ 210.364 set on February 9, 1987 & I was there.
Unfourtunalty on February 11, 1994 I said hi (in passing) to Neil Bonnett the morning before he
died in a practice crash.
Dale Earnhardt died February 18, 2001
on the final lap of the 2001 race while leading the race & protecting Dale Jr. & Mike Waltrip. (see
photo below)
Click for Dale Earnhardt & Terry Bradshaw Pace Car pre-race ride!
Click for Dale Earnhardt's Fatal Crash with George's Pace Car in the last frame.
Check out the site for more links to Daytona, GMMG and other cool sites.
How many 2000 Daytona Pace Cars were built?
Only four cars were built plus one non-graphics car.
Lead Camera Car is #0031
Split-Field Car is George's #0029
Split-Field Car is owned by George #0029
Lead Pace Car - Camera Car #0031 - Owned by Pontiac Racing
Buster Auton was the Pace Car driver.
#0045 & #0058 owned by Jim & Sandy Smith
2 of 2 CORRECT REAL Pace Cars (The only two in the world!)
Click for 0045 @ BIR 40th Anniversary.
The First Daytona 500
On February 22, 1959, Daytona International Speedway hosted the first Daytona
500. The posted awards for the “500-Mile International Sweepstakes” totaled $67,760. A field of 59 cars took the
green flag for the start of the 200-lap race. A crowd of 41,000 was on hand to witness the beginning of another chapter in
the history of racing in Daytona.
The finish of the race also went into the history
books. The finish was too close to call, but Johnny Beauchamp went to Victory Lane and savored the celebration although the
results were posted as “unofficial.”
Sixty-one hours later, Lee
Petty was the winner in what appeared to be a dead heat between Petty and Beauchamp – with the lapped car of Joe Weatherly
making it a three-wide finish at the checkered flag. A clip of newsreel footage proved that Petty was the winner by a few
feet.
The Daytona 500 – 50 Years And Still Growing
Fifty years later, the Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s
biggest, richest and most prestigious race.
“The Great American Race,”
which traditionally hosts a sell out crowd, has the biggest total payout in prize money for any motorsports event in the United
States, surpassing the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. The 2007 Daytona 500 posted awards exceed more than $18 million
with race winner Kevin Harvick pocketing more than $1.5 million.
The perks
of winning the Daytona 500 are more than just collecting the largest payout in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or hoisting the
prestigious Harley J. Earl trophy. Winning stock car racing’s greatest prize also brings fame and fortune.
“It’s the ultimate race,” said three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon following
his 2005 Daytona 500 victory. “There’s just no better place to win at than Daytona. You know the sport’s
getting more competitive. It’s getting bigger and it’s just one of those races if you pick one, this is the one
you want to win.”
Traditionally, following a victory in the Daytona 500,
the winner goes on a whirlwind media tour that includes visits to New York City and Los Angeles with appearances on such a
high-profile shows like “Late Show with David Letterman” and “Live with Regis and Kelly.”
In addition, the Daytona 500 winning car rests inside Daytona 500 Experience, “The Official
Attraction of NASCAR,” for a year for race fans to view and the winning driver has his hand prints, right foot and autograph
immortalized in cement at the Daytona 500 Champion’s Walk Of Fame.
Bill
Davis Racing reaped a huge benefit after their 2002 Daytona 500 win with then-driver Ward Burton in the form of a sponsorship
deal.
Caterpillar, who was in the final year of a sponsorship contract on the No.
22 car, opted to extend its sponsorship agreement and the Daytona 500 victory was a major factor in the decision.
“You hope it wasn't the only thing it was based on, but it probably made a difference,”
Davis said. “The team that they believed in, the team they had been with for four years, had done them a good enough
job that they would look at five more years.
“Certainly, winning the
biggest race, winning the Super Bowl, winning the Masters, winning the World Series, didn't hurt.”
Besides the financial aspect of winning the Daytona 500, the victory can also elevate a driver’s
status in the sport.
“Winning a race during Speedweeks, it makes you
quite a bit more valuable, I think, in the sport as a driver,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 winner.
“Winning any race at Daytona, it’s like going into Yankee Stadium and winning a game. It further solidifies you
as a driver.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Elliott Sadler has
yet to win a Daytona 500 but knows the impact would be huge for his career.
“If
you win the Daytona 500, it will stay with you throughout your racing career,” Sadler said. “It’s really
helped a lot of people catapult their careers up to the next level. There are a few races that if a driver wins, owners and
sponsors really pay attention too.”
Said 1990 Daytona 500 champion
Derrike Cope: “When you say you have a Daytona 500 win, that’s like a Super Bowl ring.”
#0031 Lead Camera Car @ Topeka
Owned by Pontiac Racing
#0043 Non-Graphic Car (Never prepared
- the fifth car)
Owned by Daytona Speedway
Joe Kelly from Daytona informed me that the #0043 car had the graphics
package installed & it was later removed.
When George I
& visited the Daytona Archives in 2006 we looked at the car & took photos. We saw no indication that the graphics
were ever on the car. Can anyone provide information that will support the theory that the car had or never had
the graphics?
We were also informed that the car was currently
being used as a 'daily-driver' @ Daytona in 2006.
#0029 (George's Car)
at Daytona USA
(Note graphics have been changed)
Checkered & Yellow Flag ending the race.
Dale Jarrett is the winner of the 2000 Daytona 500.
There was a rumor that Dale Jarrett was given a Pace Car for winning the race BUT I got
a call from his people on January 30, 2006 saying it's ONLY a rumor!
Jeff Chew (Pontiac Racing)
wrote me a note on May 11, 2006 documenting the FIVE 'REAL' Daytona Pace Cars.
-
The 2000 Grand
Prix GTP & 2000 Monte Carlo SS were the official Pace Cars of NASCAR in 2000.
-
Thirteen races used the Monte
Carol SS
(which were NOT
street legal & WERE NOT released to the public).
-
The rest of the 2000 NASCAR
Races used the Grand Prix GTP's.
-
NASCAR used 29 special prepared Grand Prix GTP Pace Cars in 2000
for the Winston Cup Series & they ALL had the same 'Pontiac Racing' graphics package.
-
FIVE
special 'silver' Daytona Cars were used ONLY at Daytona & 24 'white' cars were used at other
tracks.
The FIVE special silver Daytona Pace Cars were built
to commerate the 'First Race of the New Millenium'.
The FIVE 'silver' cars were modified by TDM as "Daytona
500 Pace Car Editions" (sun roof delete) 0029, 0031, 0043, 0045, 0058
2000 Replica Pace Cars were built & they all had sun roofs.
The 'white' Pace Cars DID NOT have some of the features
unique to the "FIVE Daytona 500 Cars". (Roof rail fences, the Daytona 500 embroidered seats,
etc.)
Other tracks used the 'white'
for multiple races BUT the silver Daytona 500 Cars were ONLY USED for 2000 Speed Weeks.
| 1 of 24 'white' cars used @ other tracks in 2000 |

|
| Jim's Car @ Daytona |

|
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. died in a last lap racing accident February
18, 2001 @ Daytona. These photos (taken by David Saad) of Dale, Sr. getting in the car before the race were some of
the very last photos.
DO NOT COPY
OR DUPLICATE THESE PHOTOS!
Photos
in memory of David Saad & Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

|
| DO NOT COPY OR DUPLICATE |
| Dad giving a pep talk to Jr. just before the start |

|
| The last father son talk. We miss you Dale! |
| David Saad & Dale, Sr. |

|
| Maybe the last handshake - ever! |
| Dale, Jr. @ 2000 Talledaga |

|
| DO NOT COPY OR DUPLICATE |
| Daytona Pace Cars | | | | | | | |
| From Past | Pace Car | | | | | | |
| Year | Type of car | Driver | Race Winner | Speed | Winnings | Car | Grand Marshal | Honoray Starter |
| | | | | | | | |
| 1959 | Pontiac Bonneville Convert | | Lee Petty | 135.521 | $19,050 | Oldsmobile | | |
| 1960 | Buick Convertible | | Junior Johnson | 124.74 | $19,600 | Chevrolet | | |
| 1961 | Pontiac Bonnevile Convertible | | Marvin Panch | 149.601 | $21,050 | Pontiac | | |
| 1962 | Pontiac Bonneville Convertible | | Fireball Roberts | 152.529 | $24,190 | Pontiac | | |
| 1963 | Buick Convertible | | Tiny Lund | 151.566 | $24,550 | Ford | | |
| 1964 | Dodge Coronet Convertible | | Richard Petty | 154.334 | $33,300 | Plymouth | | |
| 1965 | Dodge Coronet Convertible | | Fred Lorenzen | 141.539 | $27,100 | Ford | | |
| 1966 | Plymouth Belvedere Convertible | | Richard Petty | 160.627 | $28,150 | Plymouth | | |
| 1967 | Pontiac Firebird | | Mario Andretti | 146.926 | $48,900 | Ford | Mike Womer, Chief
Marshal | |
| 1968 | Chevy Camaro Convertible | | Cale Yarborough | 143.251 | $47,250 | Mercury | Alan S. Boyd,
Secretary of Transportation | |
| 1969 | Chevy Camaro Convertible | Enoch Staley | LeeRoy Yarbrough | 157.95 | $38,950 | Ford | Fred Hartley,
Union Oil President | |
| 1970 | Ford Torino GT Convertible | | Pete Hamilton | 149.601 | $44,850 | Plymouth | Semon
E. Knudsen, President of Ford Motor Company | |
| 1971 | Porsche Audi 914 | | Richard Petty | 144.462 | $45,450 | Plymouth | ? | |
| 1972 | Pontiac LeMans | | AJ Foyt | 161.55 | $44,600 | Mercury | James Garner,
Actor | |
| 1973 | Pontiac LeMans | | Richard Petty | 157.205 | $33,500 | Dodge | Governor George
C. Wallace, Alabama Governor | Joe Littlejohn, Former NASCAR Driver |
| 1974 | Pontiac Gran Am | | Richard Petty | 140.894 | $34,100 | Dodge | Major Jacques
Maury, Le Mans, France | Brig. General Robert M. Montague |
| 1975 | Pontiac LeMans | | Benny Parsons | 153.649 | $40,900 | Chevrolet | Ambassador
Alejandro Orfila, Aregentina | Charlie Rich (C/W singer) |
| 1976 | Pontiac Grand Prix | | David Pearson | 152.181 | $46,800 | Mercury | George C. Wallace,
Presidental Candidate | ? |
| 1977 | Pontiac Grand Prix | | Cale Yarborough | 153.218 | $47,200 | Chevrolet | Dr. Joseph
Sisco, former Assistant Secretary of State | Ken Stabler, NFL Quarterback |
| 1978 | Pontiac
Grand Prix | | Bobby Allison | 159.73 | $44,300 | Ford | George Bush, CIA
Director and future President of the United States | James Michener, Author |
| 1979 | Pontiac
Trans-Am | | Richard Petty | 143.977 | $73,900 | Oldsmobile | Robert
C. Stempel, Pontiac | Ben Gazarra (actor) |
| 1980 | Pontiac Turbo Trans-Am | | Buddy Baker | 177.602 | $102,175 | Oldsmobile | August
A. Busch III, Anheuser Busch | Hugh A. Carter, Jr., Special Assistant to the President, Carter Admin. |
| 1981 | Pontiac Trans Am | | Richard Petty | 169.651 | $90,575 | Buick | Charles J. Pillod
Jr, Goodyear | William E. Hoglund (Pontiac |
| 1982 | Pontiac Trans Am | | Bobby Allison | 153.991 | $120,630 | Buick | Edward A. Horrigan
Jr., R.J. Reynolds | Joseph Block (Pepsi) |
| 1983 | Pontiac Trans-Am | | Cale Yarborough | 155.979 | $119,600 | Pontiac | Donald M. Kendall,
PepsiCo | Vice President George Bush |
| 1984 | Pontiac Trans-Am | | Cale Yarborough | 150.994 | $160,300 | Chevrolet | William
S. McConnor, Union Oil Company | William R. Howard (Piedmont) |
| 1985 | Pontiac Trans-Am | | Bill Elliott | 172.265 | $185,500 | Ford | F. James McDonald,
General Motors | Jere W. Thompson (Southland Corp.) |
| 1986 | Pontiac Trans-Am | | Geoffrey Bodine | 148.124 | $192,715 | Chevrolet | Michael
J. Roarty, Anheuser-Busch | Dick Stegemeier (Unocal) |
| 1987 | Pontiac Trans Am GTA | | Bill Elliott | 176.263 | $204,150 | Ford | F. Ross Johnson,
RJR Nabisco, Inc. | Jon Mills (FL Speaker of the House) |
| 1988 | Pontiac Grand Prix | | Bobby Allison | 137.531 | $202,940 | Buick | Dolph Von Arx,
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco USA | Roger Beech (Unocal) |
| 1989 | Pontiac Trans Am Turbo 20th
Ann. | Bobby
Unser | Darrell Waltrip | 148.466 | $184,900 | Chevrolet | Richard
Stegemeier, Unocal | Neal Pilson (CBS) |
| 1990 | Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo | | Derrike Cope | 165.761 | $188,150 | Chevrolet | George
J.Mitchell, Majority Leader, US Senate | Anthony J. Celebrezze (Ohio Attorney General) |
| 1991 | Pontiac Grand Prix GTP | | Ernie Irvan | 148.148 | $233,000 | Chevrolet | Jim Sasser,
Chairman of Senate Budget Committee, US Senate | Alfred E. Dudley (First Brands Corp.) |
| 1992 | Pontiac Grand Prix GTP | Kevin Schwantz | Davey Allison | 160.256 | $244,050 | Ford | Richard Petty,
seven-time Daytona 500 champion | Ray Pinion (First Brands Corp.) |
| 1993 | Pontiac
Trans-Am | | Dale Jarrett | 154.972 | $238,200 | Chevrolet | John
D. Dingell, Congressman, Michigan | NASCAR legend Richard Petty |
| 1994 | Pontiac 25th Anniv. Trans-Am | | Sterling Marlin | 156.931 | $258,275 | Chevrolet | Peter
S. P. Dimsey, President US Region, MasterCard International | NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman |
| 1995 | Pontiac Trans-Am | | Sterling Marlin | 141.71 | $300,460 | Chevrolet | Ed Woolard,
Chairman and CEO, DuPont | NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly |
| 1996 | Pontiac
Trans-Am Firehawk | | Dale Jarrett | 154.308 | $360,775 | Ford | Join R. Leach,
Chairman and CEO, Western Auto Supply | Lawrence M. Higby (Unocal) |
| 1997 | Pontiac Grand Prix GTP | | Jeff Gordon | 148.295 | $377,410 | Chevrolet | Bob Rewey,
Vice President of Sales and Marketing Worldwide, Ford Motor Co | Jim Keown (Pepsi) |
|