The month of June is upon us, which means one thing – it’s time for the Daytona International Speedway racing season! If you’re unfamiliar, the Daytona International Speedway is the site of some of the most iconic races in American sports history, such as the Daytona 500, the Grand Prix of America, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and the Festival Season! It’s no wonder so many people have such affection for NASCAR – the entire month of June at the Daytona Speedway is PACKED with racing! Here’s a short list of the events that are going on in June at the Speedway…
Daytona 500
The biggest race of the year at the Daytona International Speedway is the Daytona 500! It’s America’s most prestigious automobile race and the longest stock car race in history. The race is usually held in early June and has been going on since 1959. It’s the final event of the NASCAR season and the start of the summer vacation for thousands of American families.
The race has been shortened to 500 miles due to the increased popularity of NASCAR races in recent years. It used to be that they would only run 200 miles due to the size of the track. The race used to be called the Grand American Race due to its historical connection with the Boston and New York City Grand Prix races. In 1960, it was the first 500-mile race to feature a standing start, which means the engines would revolve before the start of the race. This added an additional 10 laps to the race! The standing start was eventually retired after the 2017 season.
Daytona 600
The Daytona 600 is the name of the race that used to be held in February at the Daytona International Speedway. It was first held in 1960 and replaced the Grand Annual Race, which was first held in 1955. The 600-mile race is now the longest NASCAR race of the year and is the second-oldest continuous race in the history of the sport (the other is the Daytona 500).
The 600-mile race was originally called the Florida 600 due to its connection with the Florida Grand Prix. In 1960, the name was changed to the Daytona 600 to avoid trademark conflicts with the Florida Grand Prix. The name change didn’t take long, as less than a year later the entire state of Florida had changed its name to the “Great State of Daytona”! This must have been an exciting time for the citizens of Florida, as well as for the drivers, fans, and teams who attended the race.
Daytona Beach Road Race
If you’re looking for an off-weekend race and can’t make it to the Daytona 500 or Daytona 600, don’t despair – the Daytona Beach Road Race is just what you’re looking for! This is a 10-lap sprint race that takes place each year just before the Daytona 500. It started in the 1960s before the existence of NASCAR and is named after the city of Daytona Beach, which is located in Central Florida. This is one of the most historic races in American sports and is the second-oldest road-racing tournament in the United States (the Indy 500 is the oldest).
A lot of people consider the Daytona Beach Road Race to be the “little brother” of the Daytona 500 and the Daytona 600. This is mainly because of the fact that tickets are much cheaper and easier to get for the Daytona Beach Road Race than they are for the other two big races. Plus, most people who go to the Daytona 500 also go to the Daytona Beach Road Race. It’s like going to a barbecue sponsored by the Yankees: you’re guaranteed to have fun, but you probably won’t learn much about baseball!
Mazda MX-5 Cup
The Mazda MX-5 Cup is one of the top-level divisions in NASCAR and is raced at the Daytona International Speedway. It was created in 2009 and named after the original Mazda RX-5, which was first sold in 1955. The division is currently overseen by Brian France, the former CEO of NASCAR and part of the “French Family” of Motorsports. The championship is split among drivers who have at least two wins and up to four losses during the season. The races are usually held in the late summer and the start of the season is in early June. This year, the first race is set for July 12th!
Mazda MX-5 Miata Invitational
If you’re looking to learn more about Mazda and its impact on racing, then the Mazda MX-5 Miata Invitational is the race you need to see! This invitational is unlike any other race in NASCAR as it features a variety of cars from different eras, including Formula One cars, Tiki-Tokers, and even a few motorbikes! It’s not just about racing though – the entire event is a celebration of motorsports and its many accomplishments!
The race is named after the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which was first sold in 1989 and became incredibly popular worldwide. In fact, so much popularity existed that they had to create a special class of vehicles for the 2018 edition! The entire event is a celebration of all things Mazda, including their impact on the sports of racing and auto-racing!
LEADERSTATS Racing Tour
If you want to learn more about racing in the United Kingdom, then look no further! The LEADERSTATS Racing Tour is the brand new series that is set to make its debut this year. It’s named after the company that owns the rights to the leaderboards in all races on the Snavenger platform, which is an AI-powered racing-simulation game! The series will feature 10 races across the UK in June and July – including a double-header at the legendary Silverstone Circuit!
The entire series will be streamed online via the Motorsport TV platform, so British racing fans can follow the action live. Additionally, the series will be broadcast on ESPN in the United States. If you’re a fan of motorcycle racing, then this is the must-see event of the year! The UK is a leading manufacturer of custom bikes and motorbikes, so fans will get the opportunity to see the latest technological advances in motorbikes and race them at the end of each month. This is one of the key ways that the UK promotes its motorcycle industry.
Whelen Eurotunnel Series
The Whelen Eurotunnel Series is named after Tim Whelan, an Irishman who was the CEO of the Eurotunnel Group from 2000 to 2016. The series is a championship for drivers of stock cars, which are cars that are not modified for a particular purpose. The stock cars are categorized according to their size: small, mid-size, and large. Most of the races in the series are held at night and on weekends, which is when the traffic is at its lowest. This makes the races safer and more convenient for all concerned!
The series was created in 2001 and is generally considered one of the most popular single-seater-racing series in Europe. The events are usually run over several days and end with a classic “rivals’ race” – a head-to-head battle that sees drivers from all three series competing against each other! The winner is the person who accumulates the most points during the season – 25 for first place, 22 for second place, and so on. As you would expect, the competition is extremely fierce and one of the biggest draws is that all drivers are treated equally – there’s no favorites among the competitors!
One of the most famous tracks in the Whelen Eurotunnel Series is the Rouen Circuit, which is located just outside Paris. This 6.8-mile track was originally built in the 1960s and has been used for numerous motorsports events ever since! If you’ve never been to the City of Lights, then this is the perfect opportunity to visit one of France’s most historic venues!
Elise Christie Trophy
The Elise Christie Trophy is a former ladies’ tennis tournament that was first held in 1926 and named after the Scottish tennis star and aviation pioneer, Elise Christie. In the 1930s and ‘40s, the tournament was considered to be one of the most important in the world. In the 1950s, the event was named one of the WCC Finals (Women’s World Championship Final) and was considered to be part of the “Golden Era” in ladies’ tennis. The finals were often referred to as “The Battle of Britain” due to the fact that many of the greatest players of the era were British!