If you are a dedicated race fan then you are certainly familiar with the Daytona 500. However, do you know the history behind this renowned racing event? Did you know that it began with a group of local boys racing home built muscle cars up and down the sandy sea side? Well, I use the term “muscle” lightly as they were as muscled as a car came in the early 1950′s. The affair was more of a brag event to see whose car held the most horses, and whose horse could run the hardest on the hard packed sands of Ormand Beach. At any rate, it was an event that would catch on quickly and grow for years to come, eventually becoming what is known as todays Daytona 500. This racing event bringing thousands of spectators each year. Below is some Daytona 500 history which you may find interesting.

The idea of racing cars up and down the beaches of Florida dates all the way back to the early 1900′s. That’s right. Some of the first built cars were taken to the beaches to see how they would perform on the hard packed sands. Now its true that this probably was not much of a race. I am sure that even the most mediocre cyclist from today, could pass the top speed car of those times. The bicycle being pedaled by human power, out matching all the horse power of that day. Still, it was a pass time which brought sheer excitement to every local who watched these horseless cars making their way up and down the seashore.

In 1934 these beach races caught the attention of a mechanic by the name of “Big Bill” France. Big Bill was a native of Washington DC, who had recently made Florida his home. France was immediately drawn to the beach races. This local pass time sparked a vision within him. For the next 20 plus years he watched the sport with growing enthusiasm, each race adding more vision to his dreams.

France was no procrastinator of dreams. He would make his vision a reality in 1955. It was in that year that he made public his plans to bring organization to the local sporting event. He would build a huge speed way. This speed way was to be called the Daytona Beach Motor Speedway. The Daytona Beach Motor Speedway is what is now known as the Daytona International Speedway. It took him four years to bring the speedway to life. In 1959 the first Daytona 500 race was ran. Little did anyone know, that this race would become iconic in the years to follow.

From the Daytona 500, and the Daytona Beach Motor Speedway, came the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. France founded this association to promote fellowship amoung his race car drivers. NASCAR was helping to tame what had once been a free reign sport, conducted with wild abandon, and governed only by the rules of local boys on the beach. This sport now had a depth and nationwide notoriety.

I hope that you found this Daytona 500 history to be interesting. The next time you watch as Dale JR. and Tony Stewart whirl around the high end track, you can remember that this masterful sport once had a humble beginning. Though multi million dollar drivers now occupy the strip, it was once home to a group of small town boys with home built street cars, who took great pride in their cars and ability.