Driving in circles for 50 years, 10,000 laps and 25,000 miles

Start your engines because today I'm celebrating the 50th running of the Daytona 500!

In 1959, the Daytona International Speedway hosted the first Daytona 500. The posted awards totaled $67,760 and a field of 59 cars took the green flag for the start of the 200-lap race. A crowd of 41,000 came (and there were only 20,000 seats) to witness the beginning of the history of racing at Daytona. The three-wide photo finish was also one for the history books, with one too close to call. Johnny Beauchamp celebrated in Victory Lane to learn 61 hours later that Lee Petty was really the winner by a few feet.

Here are some Daytona 500 records that may interest you:

• most victories: 7 by Richard Petty
  
• most career starts: 33 by Dave Marcis
  
• most pole positions: 4 by both Cale Yarborough and Buddy Baker
  
• most wins from the pole positions: 2 by both Cale Yarborough and Bill Elliott
  
• longest span between the first and last victory: 17 years, by Richard Petty (1964-81)
  
• most starts before winning: 20 by Dale Earnhardt
  
• most races led: 20 by Richard Petty
  
• most times completing all 500 miles: 14, by Dale Earnhardt
  
• most miles completed: 12,150 miles and 4,860 laps by Richard Petty
  
• most laps led in career: 780 by Richard Petty
  
• most laps led in a race: 184 by Richard Petty in 1964
  
• most times led in race: 21 by Bobby Allison in 1981
  
• driver leading the fewest laps and winning: 4 by Benny Parsons in 1975 and Kevin Harvick in 2007
  
• most differest leaders in a single race: 15 in 1974, 89, and 96
  
• fewest different leaders in a single race: 3 in 1972
  
• most lead changes in a single race: 60 in 1974
  
• lowest starting position by a winner: 34th by Kevin Harvick in 2007
  
• widest winning margin: 2 lap by Richard Petty in 1973
  
• closest winning margin: 2 feet by Lee Petty in 1959
  
• fastest winning speed: 177.602 mph by Buddy Baker in 1980
  
• slowest winning speed: 124.750 mph by Junion Johnson in 1960
  
• youngest winner: Jeff Gordon at 25 years, 6 months, 12 days in 1997
  
• oldest winner: Bobbly Allison at 50 years, 2 months, 11 days in 1988

The Daytona 500 grand marshalls have included politicians, CEOs, and actors. You may recall hearing James Garner, John Travolta, Matthew McConaughey, James Caan and Nicholas Cage give the command to start the engines. Both George Bush (while CIA Director prior to his presidency) and George W Bush have given the command for the Daytona 500. Recent National Anthem vocalists have included Engelbert Humperdinck, O-Town, Mariah Carey, LeAnn Rimes, Vanessa Williams, Fergie and Big and Rich.

After fifty years, the Daytona 500 is Nascar's biggest, richest, and most prestigious event and is recognized as "The Great American Race." Awards should exceed $18 million with the race winner earning about $1.5 million. Brooks & Dunn are headlining the pre-race show today and Trisha Yearwood is performing the National Anthem. Today, the 24 living Daytona 500 Champions will serve as Grand Marshals for the historic running of the Daytona 500 giving the command "Gentleman, Start your engines" to get the race underway. Richard Petty will drop the green flag. A field of 43 will start the race but 10 drivers did not qualify in today's race driving the Nascar Car of Tomorrow, which is now the car of today. This year, more open-wheel racers (including Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr joining Juan Montoya) are racing at Daytona, without Villeneuve which lacked the sponsorship in the end. Jimmie Johnson, 2006 Daytona 500 winner and two-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, driving the No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports, captured the pole position with a speed of 187.075 mph. This year, approximately 250,000 fans will witness the 50th running of the Daytona 500 and it will be seen on television in 150 countries.

I've actually been around the track at Daytona but have not had the pleasure of attending a Daytona 500 race in person. However, I have not missed seeing many of those televised races during my lifetime. I hope to one day join the crowd and witness the event.

Today I hope that you join me in celebrating The Great American Race on this historic day.

Reference: Daytona500.com
Image credit: afterthecheckeredflag.com