Next weekend, the 2021 NASCAR Cup season kicks off with the Daytona 500. In light of that, Austin Dillon spoke about what the iconic event means to him. It is worth mentioning that he won the race in the 2018 season, his first career win in the Cup Series. Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he said, “I don’t know if it is confidence. Or a feeling of love for the place. You drive through there and I start smiling. It’s like something else deep in your heart that gets you going. “It’s a cool place, it’s exciting to have some of the best memories I’ve ever had at the track. Just this past weekend in the 24-hour race, that was a blast,” he added [https://mobile.twitter.com/SiriusXMNASCAR/status/1357094012587450369]. Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon drives during the NASCAR Cup Series [https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1128428612.jpg]LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 02: Austin Dillon (3) Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 on March 2, 2019, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Tami Pope/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The Daytona International Speedway holds a lot of fond memories for the driver. Other than that, the feeling of just being at the track is an incredible one. It also helped that he visited Victory Lane on one occasion. CAN AUSTIN DILLON TAKE A SECOND DAYTONA 500 WIN? Considering that the race is well-known for producing surprise winners, no one can rule out Dillon. Of course, the driver boasts of an impressive record at the race and has never finished lower than 19th since the 2014 season, when he made his full-time Cup debut. The Richard Childress Racing driver was in excellent form in the 2020 season. Now, he will be aiming to carry it forward into the 2021 Cup Series campaign. The best part is that he will be racing at the Daytona International Speedway on three straight race weekends. It also helps that he competed in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-watch-dale-earnhardt-jr-funny-take-on-austin-dillon-bizarre-mistake-during-rolex-24-at-daytona-practice/] last week. First and foremost, there is the Busch Clash at the track, followed by the Daytona 500 and later on the Go Bowling 235. Of course, in the case of the latter, the drivers will race on the road course. READ MORE – Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick Set Expectations of Strong NASCAR Season With Richard Childress Racing [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-austin-dillon-tyler-reddick-set-expectations-of-strong-nascar-season-with-richard-childress-racing/]

Ahead of the 2021 Daytona 500, Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon spoke
about the race's significance, especially since he won there.

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“Gets You Going” – Austin Dillon Explains Importance of the NASCAR Daytona 500
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<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ <em>"the duels".Â </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daytona 500

What is the Daytona 500? For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial &#8220;birthplace of speed&#8221;, Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races. Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America &#8211; ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx Origins of the Daytona 500 While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year. And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps. The first-ever Daytona 500, called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650. Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™ As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR&#8217;s crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven&#8217;t been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl. The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President&#8217;s Day weekend in every NASCAR fan&#8217;s heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President&#8217;s Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that&#8217;s definitely a win-win! While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn&#8217;t any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure. One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway. Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme &#8211; (ZUMAse4) Highlights of the Daytona 500 The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty&#8217;s father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions. &nbsp; Lee Petty&#8217;s son isn&#8217;t much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981. While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn&#8217;t see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison&#8217;s car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne. Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011. Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks. The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While &#8216;Captain America&#8217; famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event&#8217;s grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively. Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500 Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter. In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ &#8220;the duels&#8221;.Â The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels. The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of Dale Earnhardt&#8216;s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt&#8217;s death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today. US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564Image Credits &#8211; Imago &nbsp; The changes of the name of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt&#8217;s passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that&#8217;s the very name that has stuck around. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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Ahead of the 2021 Daytona 500, Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon spoke about the race's significance, especially since he won there.

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[caption id="attachment_455766" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-455766" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-133408425.jpg" alt="Austin Dillon posing with his Truck Series trophy in Homestead" width="1920" height="1280" /> HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet, poses with the championship trophy after winning the 2011 Series Championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2>Austin Dillon: 2021 Net Worth, Salary and Endorsements</h2>
Austin Dillon is an American stock car racer. Dillon drives the #3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

He is additionally a part-time driver with the #3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Dillon was named the NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 2010 in the Truck Series. He at that point won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title in 2011.
<h2>Austin Dillon: Stats and Championship</h2>
Dillon additionally won the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year in 2012 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series title in 2013. He set the precedent for the most successive pole positions in the Nationwide Series at four.

In 2018 Dillon won the Daytona 500. He was the 2014 Daytona 500 pole sitter and the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 victor. Austin won the 2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.
<h2>Austin Dillon: Sponsors</h2>
Sponsors of Austin Dillon are Coca-Cola, Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol, Symbicort, Chevrolet.

[caption id="attachment_455769" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-455769" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-166331227.jpg" alt="Austin Dillon in NASCAR Cup Series" width="1920" height="1312" /> FORT WORTH, TX - APRIL 11: Austin Dillon, driver of the #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet, pulls into the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 Testing at Texas Motor Speedway on April 11, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2>Austin Dillon: 2021 Net Worth</h2>
As indicated by <a href="https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-athletes/race-car-drivers/austin-dillon-net-worth/">celebrity net worth</a>, he has a net worth of $12 million. Austin has 3 Cup Series triumphs.
<h2>Austin Dillon: Family</h2>
Austin was born in Lewisville, North Carolina in April 1990. He is from a racing family. His dad Mike Dillon, brother Ty Dillon, and granddad Richard Childress are involved in NASCAR.

Dillon is married to previous NFL cheerleader Whitney Ward. He likewise played in the 2002 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

In 2019, Dillon made an appearance in the film Stuber with sibling Ty and Daniel Suárez.

Dillon also appeared on the TV show SEAL Team.
<h2>How to contact Austin Dillon</h2>
Dillon is very active and highly popular on social media. As a result, it's the most accessible and easiest method to keep in touch with the Cup Series driver.

Austin is on all the popular social media platforms such as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/austindillon3/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf_XZ9jAt6_tqna4XdvW8oA">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/austindillon3">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/austindillon3/">Facebook</a>. While these serve as an excellent platform for fan requests and interactions, Dillon also has his own <a href="https://austindillon.com/">official website</a>.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="301">Age</td>
<td width="301">30 Years</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Residence</td>
<td width="301">Welcome, North Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Nationality</td>
<td width="301">American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Team</td>
<td width="301">Richard Childress Racing</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Endorsements</td>
<td width="301">Coca-Cola, Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol, Symbicort, Chevrolet</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Net Worth</td>
<td width="301">$12 Million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Birthday</td>
<td width="301">April 27, 1990</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2></h2>

Austin Dillon

HOMESTEAD, FL &#8211; NOVEMBER 18: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet, poses with the championship trophy after winning the 2011 Series Championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Austin Dillon: 2021 Net Worth, Salary and Endorsements Austin Dillon is an American stock car racer. Dillon drives the #3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He is additionally a part-time driver with the #3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Dillon was named the NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 2010 in the Truck Series. He at that point won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title in 2011. Austin Dillon: Stats and Championship Dillon additionally won the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year in 2012 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series title in 2013. He set the precedent for the most successive pole positions in the Nationwide Series at four. In 2018 Dillon won the Daytona 500. He was the 2014 Daytona 500 pole sitter and the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 victor. Austin won the 2020 O&#8217;Reilly Auto Parts 500. Austin Dillon: Sponsors Sponsors of Austin Dillon are Coca-Cola, Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol, Symbicort, Chevrolet. FORT WORTH, TX &#8211; APRIL 11: Austin Dillon, driver of the #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet, pulls into the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 Testing at Texas Motor Speedway on April 11, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Austin Dillon: 2021 Net Worth As indicated by celebrity net worth, he has a net worth of $12 million. Austin has 3 Cup Series triumphs. Austin Dillon: Family Austin was born in Lewisville, North Carolina in April 1990. He is from a racing family. His dad Mike Dillon, brother Ty Dillon, and granddad Richard Childress are involved in NASCAR. Dillon is married to previous NFL cheerleader Whitney Ward. He likewise played in the 2002 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In 2019, Dillon made an appearance in the film Stuber with sibling Ty and Daniel Suárez. Dillon also appeared on the TV show SEAL Team. How to contact Austin Dillon Dillon is very active and highly popular on social media. As a result, it&#8217;s the most accessible and easiest method to keep in touch with the Cup Series driver. Austin is on all the popular social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. While these serve as an excellent platform for fan requests and interactions, Dillon also has his own official website.  Age 30 Years  Residence Welcome, North Carolina  Nationality American  Team Richard Childress Racing  Endorsements Coca-Cola, Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol, Symbicort, Chevrolet  Net Worth $12 Million  Birthday April 27, 1990

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<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>The Daytona 500 2025</b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it is featured on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races, and it also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called the Great American Race?</strong></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 takes the cake as NASCAR's creme de la creme. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen on that description and have placed the crown-jewel raceway above the Super Bowl.

The race is also called 'The Great American Race' and given the storied history of the Daytona International Speedway and its roots in racing, the moniker is surely a well-deserved one. Notably, the iconic race has been the season opener since 1982.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>When is the Daytona 500 2025?</strong></h2>
The 2025 Daytona 500 <span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">will be held on <strong>Sunday, February 16,</strong></span> at<strong> 6:30 p.m. GMT/1:30 p.m. ET</strong>.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the format of the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
In its 66-year-long history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs to decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to as <em>"the duels". </em>The starting grid is eventually decided based on the duels.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Who are the past winners of the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

Since then, 43 drivers have won the iconic Harley J. Earl Trophy, and the most successful among them is Lee Petty’s son. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974, and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

[caption id="attachment_859313" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-859313 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1018179224.jpg" alt="Richard Petty" width="1920" height="1280" /> BRISTOL, TN - AUGUST 17: Team owner, Richard Petty, stands on pit road during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2018 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)[/caption]

Following 'The King' on the most-wins tally is Carl Yarborough with four wins in 1968, 1977, 1983, and 1984. The current vice-chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon also won the Daytona 500 thrice in 1997, 1999, and 2005. Apart from him, Bobby Allison (1978, 1982, and 1988) and Dale Jarrett (1993, 199,6 and 2000) have also won the prestigious race thrice. The Pied Piper of Daytona, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt-jr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dale Earnhardt Jr</a>, and seven-time Cup Series Champion <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/jimmie-johnson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jimmie Johnson</a> won the race on two occasions in 2004 and 2014, and 2006 and 2013, respectively.

Among the current batch of drivers, the one who clinched the most victory lane visits is <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denny Hamlin</a> with three wins, two of which were back-to-back (2016, 2019, and 2020). Notably, in 2024 Hendrick Motorsport's William Byron won the race by leading teammate Alex Bowman when Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric spun behind them. However, many talented drivers like two-time Cup Series champions <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-busch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Busch</a> and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-larson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Larson</a> are yet to get their hands on the elusive Trophy.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the eligibility of the Daytona 500 2025?</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars, constitute teams that do not own a charter. However, the newly introduced Open Exemption Provisional guarantees a “world-class driver” to race as the 41st car if he or she fails to qualify with the traditional method. Four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves will become the first beneficiary of this rule. The Brazilian superstar will drive under Project 91 for Trackhouse Racing.

While his participation attracts massive eyeballs, some NASCAR drivers aren’t excited about it. Veterans like Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. called out authorities for the move. Hamlin even called it a publicity stunt. <em>“My opinion on this was that it was desperate, I didn’t like it. I just thought that you’re really doing everything you can to try to get a headline, and I still believe it to be true,”</em> said Hamlin. Apart from drivers and fans, the vice president of Hendrick Motorsports <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/jeff-gordon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeff Gordon</a> also raised his concerns. While he didn’t oppose the decision but raised questions about the selection process. He asked NASCAR to clarify how they will determine a<em> “world-class driver.”</em>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The entry list for the Daytona 500 2025?</strong></h2>
The charter teams that will participate in the Daytona 500 2025 are:
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 53.0357%;height: 944px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px">
<h3>Owner-Manufacturer</h3>
</td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px">
<h3 style="text-align: center">Driver-Car Number</h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 144px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 144px;text-align: center"><strong>Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 144px;text-align: center">No. 5 - Kyle Larson<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 9 - Chase Elliott<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 24 - William Byron<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 48 - Alex Bowman</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 96px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 96px;text-align: center"><strong>Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 96px;text-align: center">No. 11 - Denny Hamlin<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 19 - Chase Briscoe<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 20 - Christopher Bell<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 54 - Ty Gibbs</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 96px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 96px;text-align: center"><strong>Haas Factory Team, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 96px;text-align: center">No. 41 - Cole Custer</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 72px;text-align: center"><strong>Team Penske, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 72px;text-align: center">No. 2 - Austin Cindric<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 12 - Ryan Blaney<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 22 - Joey Logano</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 3 - Austin Dillon<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 8 - Kyle Busch</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 16 - A.J. Allmendinger<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 10 - Ty Dillon</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Legacy Motor Club, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 43 - Erik Jones</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>RFK Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 6 - Brad Keselowski<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 17 - Chris Buescher
No. 60 - Ryan Preece</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Trackhouse Racing Team, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 1 - Ross Chastain
No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 99 - Daniel Suarez</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 23 - Bubba Wallace
No. 35 - Riley Herbst<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 45 - Tyler Reddick</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 72px;text-align: center"><strong>Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 72px;text-align: center">No. 7 - Justin Haley<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 71 - Michael McDowell<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 77 - Carson Hocevar</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 56px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 56px;text-align: center"><strong>Front Row Motorsports, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 56px;text-align: center">No. 4 - Noah Gragson
No. 34 - Todd Gilliland<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 38 - Zane Smith</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px;text-align: center"><strong>HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px;text-align: center">No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Rick Ware Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 51 - Cody Ware</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px;text-align: center"><strong>Wood Brothers Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px;text-align: center">No. 21 - Josh Berry</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The five non-charter teams that have qualified for the Daytona 500 2025 are:
<ul>
 	<li>Corey LaJoie - No. 01 Ford Take 5 Oil Change/DuraMax for Rick Ware Racing</li>
 	<li><span class="LinkEnhancement">Justin Allgaier - </span>No. 40 Chevrolet Traveller Whiskey for JR Motorsports</li>
 	<li>Martin Truex Jr - No. 56 Toyota Bass Pro Shops for TRICON Garage</li>
 	<li>Jimmie Johnson - the No. 84 Toyota Carvana for Legacy Motor Club</li>
 	<li>Helio Castroneves - No. 91 Chevrolet Wendy's for Trackhouse Racing (OEP)</li>
</ul>
The four non-charter teams that didn't qualify for the Daytona 500 2025 are:
<ul>
 	<li>J.J. Yeley - No. 44 Chevrolet for NY Racing Team</li>
 	<li>Anthony Alfredo - No. 62 Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports</li>
 	<li>Chandler Smith - No. 66 Ford Mustang for Garage 66</li>
 	<li>B.J. McLeod - No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Grand Marshall and the Pre-race show at the Daytona 500, 2025</strong></h2>
The 2025 Daytona 500 will be a star-studded affair. This year, Falcon and the Winter Soldier fame Hollywood actor, Anthony Mackie is set to perform the duties of the Grand Marshal. Notably, Actor and producer Alan Ritchson will pace the 67th running of the Daytona 500. Apart from them, some rumors suggest that newly elected US President Donald Trump could join the event. A NOTAM issued by the Federal Aviation Administration fuelled the speculations. However, NASCAR has yet to confirm Trump's participation. Notably, this would be Trump's second appearance at the Grand American Race as sitting president after he marshaled the 2020 Daytona 500.

As for the pre-race show, Trackhouse Racing's co-owner Pitbull will return for the pre-race concert. In 2024 the Grammy-winning artist failed to perform as poor weather conditions postponed the Sunday race.

[caption id="attachment_516696" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-516696 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210116150513/GettyImages-1211216417.jpg" alt="Pitbull prior to the NASCAR Daytona 500" width="1920" height="1280" /> AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Rapper Pitbull performs prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Tickets for the Daytona 500 2025</strong></h2>
For the second year in a row, the tickets for the Daytona 500 race have been sold out. However, fans can still get a chance to witness the coveted race in person by buying reserved grandstand seats at the event's official ticketing partner, seatgeek.com. People looking for budget-friendly options have various alternatives, with the lowest being $153 each for 1-8 tickets. For Pit Road Patios and Daytona 500 Club, ticket prices range from $545 to $2230 for 1-7 tickets. An important point to note is that the Pit Road Patios don't include catering while Club passes include Hard Rock Bet Fanzone and Pre-Race access World-class cuisine and open bar Access to Mobil 1 Victory Lane for post-race ceremonies.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Broadcasting of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 race will be broadcast live on FOX and the FOX Sports App. Users who do not have a cable connection can also watch the race on live-streaming platforms that include FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM.

Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their charters.

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