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Daytona 300

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United Rentals 300
NASCAR Xfinity Series
VenueDaytona International Speedway
LocationDaytona Beach, Florida, United States
Corporate sponsorUnited Rentals[1]
First race1959
First Xfinity Series race1982
Distance300 miles (480 km)
Laps120
Stages 1/2: 30 each
Final stage: 60
Previous namesModified Sportsman Race (1959–1965)
Permatex 300 (1966–1977)
Sportsman 300 (1978–1981)
Goody's 300 (1982–1995)
Goody's Headache Powder 300 (1996)
Gargoyles 300 (1997)
NAPA Auto Parts 300 (1998–2001)
EAS/GNC Live Well 300 (2002)
Koolerz 300 (2003)
Hershey's Kisses 300 (2004)
Hershey's Take 5 300 (2005)
Hershey's Kissables 300 (2006)
Orbitz 300 (2007)
Camping World 300 (2008–2009)
DRIVE4COPD 300 (2010–2014)
Alert Today Florida 300 (2015)
PowerShares QQQ 300 (2016–2018)
NASCAR Racing Experience 300 (2019–2020)[2]
Beef. It's What's for Dinner. 300 (2021–2023)
Most wins (driver)Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart (7)
Most wins (team)Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (8)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chevrolet (35)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Turns4

The Daytona 300, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the United Rentals 300, is the first race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, 300-mile-long (483 km) held at Daytona International Speedway. It is held the day before the Daytona 500, and is considered the most prestigious event of the Xfinity Series. Until 2002, it was the only event of the Xfinity Series to be annually held at Daytona International Speedway. Austin Hill won the three most recent races, in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

History

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The race originates from races held at the Daytona Beach Road Course during the 1948 NASCAR Modified series season, the first sanctioned races held by the organization. Between 1950 and 1958, the race was held as part of the Modified/Sportsman Series, at the Daytona Beach Road Course. It was held the Friday or Saturday before the track's Grand National Series race.

In 1956–1959, a race in the short-lived NASCAR Convertible Division was also held.

The race moved to the new 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for 1959. It was scheduled the day before the Daytona 500, and ran a distance of either 200 or 250 miles. In 1966, the race became known as the Permatex 300, making it only the second race on the NASCAR schedule to be named for a corporate sponsor (the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside being the first). In 1968 the Permatex 300 was shifted from the Modifieds division to the newly organized NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division. In 1982, the Late Model Sportsman Division was reorganized into the modern day NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the race was sponsored by Goody's for several years.

Incidents

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In the 1970s and early 1980s, the race was often ridiculed and exploited by local media for its frequent crashes and massive pileups. Several major accidents and fires over the years were blamed on the low level of experience by several of the drivers, and the older equipment used. The level of prestige held by the event, along with the relatively large purses, attracted numerous independent and one-off entries, contributing to the inexperience of drivers in the field.

By the time the race had become part of a NASCAR touring series race, NASCAR tightened driver eligibility requirements, and the number of incidents has drastically been reduced. Under current NASCAR rules, drivers must be cleared to race at Daytona, Talladega (added to the second tier series in 1992), and Atlanta (after 2022 circuit changes) requiring enough experience at intermediate tracks to be cleared by NASCAR to participate at Daytona. Drivers who intend to run the 300 or the Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 will enter other lower-tier shorter support races, whether it was the former Dash Series race (which ended after 2004—it used less powerful cars) or until 2020, the ARCA race the week prior to gain NASCAR clearance, especially if a driver has turned 18 after the preceding October Talladega Camping World Truck Series race (the ARCA race was moved to the Xfinity race day in 2021). NASCAR will also require the driver first test in the January ARCA test at Daytona if they will turn 18 prior to the ARCA race or any national series race they intend to enter at Daytona or Talladega during a season before they are allowed to participate in an ARCA, Truck, or Xfinity race at either circuit and there are no intermediate tracks beforehand. (Drivers must be 18 to participate in any NASCAR national series race on a track 1.366 miles or longer; 16 and 17 year old drivers may enter a Truck race on shorter tracks.)

Inclement weather also plagued many early runnings.

The 1960 race is notable for having the largest pileup in NASCAR history. On the first lap, 37 cars crashed in turn four (out of a starting field of 68).

In 1981 and 2004, the race started on Saturday, but was halted by rain, and finished Monday, the day after the Daytona 500. The 1969 race was red flagged three times for rain and also saw the fatal crash involving Don MacTavish, which his whole front of the car ripped off.

The 1979 running was shortened by rain and won by Darrell Waltrip. A brutal crash erupted off Turn Two where fire exploded from the Preacher Cox Mercury of Joe Frasson; driver Don Williams was gravely injured in the crash and would die ten years later from the incident.

The 2013 race featured two large accidents. With five laps remaining, Michael Annett and Austin Dillon collided and a multi-car crash erupted in the first turn. The race was halted as a red flag was given to clean up the debris. Annett was hospitalized overnight after sustaining bruises on his chest, but was released the following day in time for the Daytona 500, but was ruled out for the following race at Phoenix because of a sternum injury. Following the red flag the race had two laps remaining. Regan Smith and Brad Keselowski moved into the lead on the final lap, but off the fourth turn, Keselowski turned Smith into the wall head on, causing the field to pile in. Kyle Larson had the most significant impact, as his No.32 Chevrolet flew into the tri-oval catch fence, causing its nose to snag a crossover gate, which tore open. The force of the collision dug the engine in, ripping it out of the car. The car's entire front half disintegrated and one front wheel lodged onto the engine and another flew approximately ten rows into the grandstand, injuring 30 spectators (two in critical condition). A total of twelve cars were involved in the crash, but all were unharmed.[3] The two spectators that were seriously injured by the debris from Larson's crash were treated at the nearby Halifax Medical Center and were later released.

In 2015, two cautions in the final forty laps were caused by separate collisions that included eleven cars. In the first collision, Regan Smith's car flipped over once in the tri-oval, while in the second collision, Kyle Busch collided into a concrete wall head on, suffering a fracture in his leg and foot. As a result of his injuries, Busch was forced to miss the first 11 races of the Sprint Cup Series season however he would still manage to win the season championship.

The 2018 race produced the closest finish in any of NASCAR's top three series, when Tyler Reddick edged Elliott Sadler by 0.0004 seconds, making it the closest finish in NASCAR history. Since NASCAR scoring and timing does not measure beyond thousands of a second, the margin of victory was officially listed as 0.000 seconds (with video review which declared Reddick the winner by less than three inches). Analysis after the race by NASCAR timing and scoring officials placed Reddick's margin of victory at 0.0004 seconds.[4] This race also had a record five overtime finishes, extending the race length to 143 laps.

On the final lap of the 2022 Beef. It's What's For Dinner 300 (under the National Livestock and Meat Board sponsorship, the event was also alternatively known as "Beef 300" in NASCAR media), Myatt Snider flipped into the catchfence coming into turn 3 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2022. The driver of the 31 TaxSlayer Chevy walked away from the crash. This gave former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Hill his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win.

Participation by Cup Series drivers

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Since its inception, due to its prestige and prominent position on the Speedweeks calendar, the race has long attracted NASCAR Cup Series regulars. NASCAR Cup Series regulars have dominated the race since 1981, winning all but nine runnings. Notable Cup regulars who have won the race multiple times include Dale Earnhardt (7 wins), Tony Stewart (7), Darrell Waltrip (5), and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (3).

On four occasions, the driver of the race has gone on to win the Daytona 500, which is typically run on the following day: Bobby Allison (1988), Darrell Waltrip (1989), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2004), Kevin Harvick (2007).

Because of current NASCAR rules, Cup driver participation has been reduced drastically. A five-race limit per year is in effect, and drivers would want to participate in events that would help them at certain circuits or sponsor's requests. Furthermore, after Kyle Busch's injuries from the 2015 crash, most teams do not want Cup drivers in the Xfinity race at Daytona (they are prohibited from both Talladega races because of bonus race rules in the spring and playoff races in the fall). The last Cup driver to win this race was Chase Elliott in 2016, a Cup Series rookie at the time.

Past winners

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Daytona Beach Road Course

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Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
1948 February 15 22 Red Byron Ray Parks Ford 68 149.6 (240.757) 1:58:29 75.757
August 8 1 Fonty Flock Ford 68 149.6 (240.757) 2:01:25 73.92
1949 January 16 8 Marshall Teague Ford 47 202.1 (325.248) 2:16:08 88.23
1950 February 4 Gober Sosebee Ford
1951 February 10 50 Gober Sosebee Ford 39 159.9 (257.334) 1:56:37 82.27
1952 February 9 91 Tim Flock Ford 1:08:39 87.39
1953 February 14 30 Cotton Owens Plymouth 24 98.4 (158.359) 1:05:33 91.54
1954 February 20 30 Cotton Owens Plymouth 30 123 (197.949) 93.87
1955 February 26 49JR Banjo Matthews Melvin Joseph Ford 19* 77.9 (125.367) 98.04
1956 February 24 47A Tim Flock Joe Wolf Chevrolet 31 127.1 (204.547) 1:25:17 89.41
1957 February 15 30 Speedy Thompson Lester Hunter Plymouth 31 127.1 (204.547) 1:15:41 99.097
1958 February 21 M4 Banjo Matthews Ford 31 127.1 (204.547) 1:17:01 97.381
  • 1955: Shortened from 125 kilometers (77.9 miles) due to a large crash and fire on the 17th lap which injured 3 drivers and 3 spectators.

Daytona International Speedway

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Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph) 		Full Results
Laps Miles (km)
1959 February 21 49 Banjo Matthews Ford 80 200 (321.868) 1:29:07 134.65
1960 February 13 81 Bubba Farr Roy Cook Ford 100 250 (402.336) 2:08:38 116.610
1961 February 25 50 Jimmy Thompson Marion Cox Ford 100 250 (402.336) 1:45:50 141.732
1962 February 17 9 Lee Roy Yarbrough Ford 100 250 (402.336) 1:42:14 146.723
1963 February 23 70 Lee Roy Yarbrough Studebaker 100 250 (402.336) 1:42:02 147.01
1964 February 22 55 Tiny Lund Ford 80* 200 (321.868) 1:54:49 104.506
1965 February 13 50 Marvin Panch Marion Cox Ford 100 250 (402.336) 1:55:48 129.533
1966 February 27 87 Curtis Turner Andy Hotton Ford 120 300 (482.803) 2:04:33 144.52
1967 February 25 04 Jim Paschal Plymouth 120 300 (482.803) 2:01:28 148.188
1968 February 24 3 Bunkie Blackburn Ray Fox Dodge 120 300 (482.803) 2:08:11 140.423
1969* February 22 29 Lee Roy Yarbrough Bondy Long Ford 120 300 (482.803) 2:49:13 105.365
1970 February 21 29 Tiny Lund Bondy Long Ford 120 300 (482.803) 2:15:01 133.316
1971 February 13 97 Red Farmer Ford 120 300 (482.803) 2:27:43 140.936
1972 February 19 90 Bill Dennis Junie Donlavey Mercury 120 300 (482.803) 2:12:43 135.627
1973 February 17 90 Bill Dennis Junie Donlavey Mercury 120 300 (482.803) 2:14:10 134.161
1974 February 16 90 Bill Dennis Junie Donlavey Mercury 108* 270 (434.522) 1:55:20 140.462
1975 February 15 11 Jack Ingram Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:10:20 138.107
1976 February 14 04 Joe Millikan Petty Enterprises Dodge 120 300 (482.803) 2:03:26 145.828
1977 February 19 21 Donnie Allison Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:56:36 154.396
1978 February 18 88 Darrell Waltrip DiGard Racing Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:50:39 162.675
1979 February 17 88 Darrell Waltrip DiGard Racing Chevrolet 69* 172 (276.807) 1:50:22 93.778
1980 February 16 94 Jack Ingram Junie Donlavey Ford 120 300 (482.803) 2:19:44 128.817
1981 February 14/16* 21 David Pearson Joel Halpern Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 2:19:05 129.419
1982 February 13 15 Dale Earnhardt Robert Gee Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 1:56:29 154.529
1983 February 19 17 Darrell Waltrip DarWal, Inc. Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 2:01:55 147.642
1984 February 18 17 Darrell Waltrip DarWal, Inc. Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 1:54:56 156.613
1985 February 16 5 Geoffrey Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 1:54:33 157.137
1986 February 15 8 Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 2:00:52 148.924
1987 February 14 15 Geoffrey Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:56:03 155.106
1988 February 13 12 Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Buick 120 300 (482.803) 2:15:09 132.825
1989 February 18 17 Darrell Waltrip DarWal, Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:17:11 131.211
1990 February 17 3 Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:00:31 149.357
1991 February 16 3 Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:04:50 144.192
1992 February 15 3 Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:15:55 132.434
1993 February 13 3 Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:02:55 146.440
1994 February 19 3 Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:04:53 144.135
1995 February 18 23 Chad Little ppc Racing Ford 120 300 (482.803) 1:59:25 150.732
1996 February 17 29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:07:52 140.722
1997 February 15 74 Randy LaJoie BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:00:15 149.688
1998 February 14 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:11:11 137.213
1999 February 13 1 Randy LaJoie Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:10:04 138.391
2000 February 19 17 Matt Kenseth Reiser Enterprises Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:07:54 140.735
2001 February 17 7 Randy LaJoie Evans Motorsports Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 2:13:11 135.152
2002 February 16 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:01:54 147.662
2003 February 15 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chance 2 Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:05:12 143.770
2004 February 14/16* 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:21:32 127.179
2005 February 19 33 Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:59:59 150.021
2006 February 18 33 Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:23:49 125.159
2007 February 17 21 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:55:13 156.227
2008 February 16 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 120 300 (482.803) 1:56:46 154.154
2009 February 14 80 Tony Stewart Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:09:59 138.479
2010 February 13 4 Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:25:32 123.683 Report
2011 February 19 4 Tony Stewart* Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:08:52 139.679 Report
2012 February 25 30 James Buescher Turner Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:18:51 129.636 Report
2013 February 23 33 Tony Stewart Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:08:37 139.951 Report
2014 February 22 7 Regan Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 121* 302.5 (486.826) 2:02:28 148.204 Report
2015 February 21 16 Ryan Reed* Roush Fenway Racing Ford 120 300 (482.803) 2:00:59 148.781 Report
2016 February 20 88 Chase Elliott JR Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:59:04 151.176 Report
2017 February 25 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford 124* 310 (498.897) 2:38:47 117.141 Report
2018 February 17 9 Tyler Reddick* JR Motorsports Chevrolet 143* 357.5 (575.34) 3:00:06 119.1 Report
2019 February 16 1 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:58:41 151.664 Report
2020 February 15 9 Noah Gragson JR Motorsports Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:11:44 136.64 Report
2021 February 13 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 122* 305 (490.849) 2:34:12 118.677 Report
2022 February 19 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:11:46 136.605 Report
2023 February 18 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 125* 312.5 (502.919) 2:21:30 132.524 Report
2024 February 19* 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:46:29 108.119 Report

Notes

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  • 1964: Race shortened due to late start caused by three-hour rain delay.
  • 1974: Race scheduled for 108 laps (270 miles) due to energy crisis.
  • 1979: Race shortened due to rain.
  • 1981, 2004, & 2024: Races postponed from Saturday to Monday due to rain.
  • 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023: Races extended due to NASCAR overtime.

Multiple winners (drivers)

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# Wins Driver Years Won
7 Dale Earnhardt 1982, 1986, 1990–1994
Tony Stewart 2005, 2006, 2008–2011, 2013
5 Darrell Waltrip 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1989
3 Banjo Matthews 1955, 1958, 1959
LeeRoy Yarbrough 1962, 1963, 1969
Bill Dennis 1972–1974
Randy LaJoie 1997, 1999, 2001
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2002–2004
Austin Hill 2022–2024
2 Gober Sosebee 1950, 1951
Cotton Owens 1953, 1954
Tim Flock 1952, 1956
Tiny Lund 1964, 1970
Jack Ingram 1975, 1980
Geoff Bodine 1985, 1987
Ryan Reed 2015, 2017

Multiple winners (teams)

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# Wins Team Years Won
8 Dale Earnhardt, Inc./Chance 2 1986, 1990–1994, 2003–2004
6 Richard Childress Racing 2002, 2007, 2013, 2022–2024
5 JR Motorsports 2014, 2016, 2018–2020
4 Junie Donlavey 1972–1974, 1980
Kevin Harvick Incorporated 2005–2006, 2010–2011
3 DarWal, Inc. 1983–1984, 1989
Hendrick Motorsports 1985, 1987, 2009
2 Bondy Long 1969–1970
DiGard Racing 1978–1979
Roush Fenway Racing 2015, 2017

Manufacturer wins

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# Wins Make Years Won
36 Chevrolet 1956, 1975, 1977–1979, 1987, 1989, 1990–1994, 1996–2000, 2002–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018–2020, 2022–2024
22 Ford 1948–1952, 1955, 1958–1962, 1964–1966, 1969–1971, 1980, 1995, 2015, 2017, 2021
7 Pontiac 1981–1986, 2001
4 Plymouth 1953, 1954, 1957, 1967
3 Mercury 1972–1974
2 Dodge 1968, 1976
1 Studebaker 1963
Buick 1988
Toyota 2008

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "United Rentals sponsoring 2024 Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (January 29, 2019). "NASCAR Racing Experience to sponsor 2019 Xfinity opener at Daytona". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  3. ^ Associated Press, February 23, 2013
  4. ^ "Tyler Reddick wins in five overtimes at Daytona | NASCAR.com". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
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