The 50th Anniversary of the Daytona 500

February 17^th, 2008 holds a special significance to fans of NASCAR. The 50^th Daytona 500 will be held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, ushering in the 2008 NASCAR season. The Daytona 500 is a race steeped in history and tradition, and boasts one of the largest attendances of any sporting event in the country.

The story of the Daytona 50 began in 1959, when the inaugural run of the infamous race was held. Early races at the Detroit racetrack were run on a partially asphalt, partially sand track, which made for many exciting moments. Lee Petty, an infamous figure in the NASCAR industry took first place in this historic race, after 3 days of reviewing and controversy as to the proper winner. The Daytona 500 has touted many infamous NASCAR faces in its historical lineup, including Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, Benny Parsons, and Buddy Baker among others. The 500 seems to be a magnet for fights and controversies, with races often concluding under dispute.

Daytona International Speedway and the 500 has always been a track plagued by wrecks and car troubles, as are many of the tracks on the NASCAR circuit. Daytona holds a special significance in that aspect however, as it is place which claimed the life of one of the most popular and well known figures ever to grace the sport, Dale Earnhardt. The Daytona 500 was a race which had caused Earnhardt undue grief and strife over the years, as it was a track at which he seemed unable to conquer. 20 years of battle with the monster track finally yielded a win for Earnhardt in 1998, as he crossed the finish line victorious. Fans and enemies of Earnhardt alike lined up to shake his hand as he drove down pit road, marking one of the most memorable moments in the sport's history. This however, would be eclipsed by the tragedy of the race of 2001. Earnhardt was tragically killed in a freak accident, forever hanging a cloud over the race.

Despite all of the trouble and tragedy on the track, the Daytona 500 is one of the most popular races held today. It frequently boasts attendance of 150,000+ spectators, who flock to the racetrack early in the week, to attend the Budweiser Shootout, the Tuck and Busch series races, as well as the infamous Cup race. Many die-hard NASCAR fans try for years to attend this race, as it often sells out months in advance. Drivers and fans alike enjoy the warm Florida weather and crowd the venue, eating, drinking and celebrating the unique culture that is NASCAR.

The 50^th anniversary of "The great American Race" will be held on Sunday, February 18^th, and will celebrate the victory of legendary Lee Petty in the race's inaugural 1959 running. The traditional Harley J. Earl trophy, presented to the winner, will be gold plated this year in honor of the occasion. A host of celebrities have offered their talents to promote the race this year, including Tony Hawk, Kelly Ripa and Jason Lee, in addition to the NASCAR drivers and crewmen. The event promises to be a memorable day for NASCAR lovers around the world, and is certainly an event not to be missed.