- DRIVE4COPD 300
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DRIVE4COPD 300 
Venue Daytona International Speedway Sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim First race 1959 Distance 300 miles (482.803 km) Laps 120 Previous names Modified Sportsman Race (1959-1965) Daytona Permatex 300 (1966-1977)
Sportsman 300 (1978-1981)
Goody's Sportsman 300 (1982-1984)
Goody's 300 (1985-1995)
Goody's Headache Powder 300 (1996)
Gargoyles 300 (1997)
NAPA Auto Parts 300 (1998-2001
EAS/GNC Live Well 300 (2002)
Koolerz 300 (2003)
Hershey's Kisses 300 (2004)
Hershey's Take 5 300 (2005)
Hershey's Kissables 300 (2006)
Orbitz 300 (2007)
Camping World 300 (2008-2009)
The DRIVE4COPD 300 is the first race of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season, held at Daytona International Speedway. It is held the day before the Daytona 500, and is considered the most prestigious event on the Nationwide Series calendar. Until 2002, it was the only Nationwide Series event to be held at Daytona International Speedway.
Contents
History
The race originates back to the Daytona Beach & Road Course during the 1948 NASCAR Modified series season, the first sanctioned races held by the organization. In 1950-1958, the race was held as part of the Modified/Sportsman Series, at the Beach Course. It was held the Saturday or Friday before the Grand National Series race also at the Beach course.
In 1956-1959, a race in the short-lived NASCAR Convertible Division was also held.
The race moved to the new 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for 1959. It was scheduled the day before the Daytona 500, and ran a distance of either 200 or 250 miles. In 1966, the race became known as the Permatex 300, making it only the second race on the NASCAR schedule to be named for a corporate sponsor (the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside being the first). In 1968 the Permatex 300 was shifted from the Modifieds division to the newly organized NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division. In 1982, the Late Model Sportsman Division was reorganized into the modern day NASCAR Busch Grand National Series, and the race was sponsored by Goody's for several years. For 2008, the series becomes known as the NASCAR Nationwide Series, but its organizational structure remains the same.
Incidents
In the 1970s and early 1980s, the race was often ridiculed and exploited by local media for its frequent crashes and massive pileups. Several major accidents and fires over the years were blamed on the low level of experience by several of the drivers, and the older equipment used. The level of prestige held by the event, along with the relatively large purses, attracted numerous independent and one-off entries, contributing to the inexperience.
Inclement weather also plagued many early runnings.
The 1960 race is notable for having the largest pileup in NASCAR history. On the first lap, 37 cars crashed in turn four (out of a starting field of 68).
In 1981 and 2004, the race started on Saturday, but was halted by rain, and finished Monday, the day after the Daytona 500. The 1969 race was red flagged three times for rain.
Buschwhackers
Since its inception, due to its prestige and prominent position on the Speedweeks calendar, the race has long attracted Sprint Cup Series regulars, known as Buschwhackers. Sprint Cup regulars have dominated the race over the past 30 years, winning all but three runnings since 1981. Notable Cup regulars who have won the race multiple times include Dale Earnhardt (7 wins), Tony Stewart (6), Darrell Waltrip (5), and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (3).
Several Cup Buschwhackers have swept the weekend, winning both the 300 and the Daytona 500: Bobby Allison (1988), Darrell Waltrip (1989), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (2004), Kevin Harvick (2007)
Television
In the early 1990s, ESPN began airing the race same-day tape delay. In 1997-2000, the race was shown live on CBS, which also held broadcast rights to the Daytona 500 at the time. From 2001-2006, the live television rights to the race were held by FOX/FX (odd years) and NBC/TNT (even years). Under the current NASCAR television contract, the race is shown on ESPN/ABC. It is the only event of Speedweeks not shown on the FOX family of networks.
Past winners
Beach and Road Course
Year Date Driver Manufacturer Distance
MilesAverage Speed
(mph)1948 February 15 Red Byron Ford 98.4 1948 August 8 Fonty Flock Ford 98.4 1950 February 4 Gober Sosebee Ford 98.4 1951 February 10 Gober Sosebee Ford 159.9 83.37 1952 February 9 Tim Flock 98.4 87.55 1953 February 14 Cotton Owens Plymouth 98.4 91.54 1954 February 20 Cotton Owens Plymouth 125 93.87 1955 February 26 Banjo Matthews Ford 95* N/A 1956 February 24 Tim Flock Chevrolet 127.1 89.41 1957 February 15 Speedy Thompson Plymouth 127.1 99.097 1958 February 21 Banjo Matthews Ford 127.1 97.381 - 1955: Shortened from 125 miles due to a large crash and fire on the 17th lap which injured 3 drivers and 3 spectators.
Daytona International Speedway
Past winners
Year Date Driver Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)Laps Miles (km) 1959 February 21 Banjo Matthews Ford 80 200 (321.868) 146.484 1960 February 13 Marion Farr Ford 100 250 (402.336) 116.610 1961 February 25 Jimmy Thompson Ford 100 250 (402.336) 141.732 1962 February 16 Lee Roy Yarbrough Ford 100 250 (402.336) 146.723 1963 February 23 Lee Roy Yarbrough Studebaker 100 250 (402.336) 147.010 1964 February 22 Tiny Lund Ford 80* 200 (321.868) 104.506 1965 February 13 Marvin Panch Ford 100 250 (402.336) 129.533 1966 February 27 Curtis Turner Ford 120 300 (482.803) 144.520 1967 February 25 Jim Paschal Plymouth 120 300 (482.803) 148.188 1968 February 24 James Blackburn Dodge 120 300 (482.803) 140.423 1969* February 22 Lee Roy Yarbrough Ford 120 300 (482.803) 105.365 1970 February 21 Tiny Lund Ford 120 300 (482.803) 133.316 1971 February 13 Red Farmer Ford 120 300 (482.803) 140.936 1972 February 19 Bill Dennis Mercury 120 300 (482.803) 135.627 1973 February 17 Bill Dennis Mercury 120 300 (482.803) 134.161 1974 February 16 Bill Dennis Mercury 108* 270 (434.522) 140.462 1975 February 15 Jack Ingram Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 138.107 1976 February 14 Joe Millikan Dodge 120 300 (482.803) 145.928 1977 February 19 Donnie Allison Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 154.396 1978 February 18 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 162.675 1979 February 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet 69* 172 (276.807) 93.778 1980 February 16 Jack Ingram Ford 120 300 (482.803) 128.817 1981 February 14/16* David Pearson Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 129.419 1982 February 13 Dale Earnhardt Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 1:56:29 154.529 1983 February 19 Darrell Waltrip Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 2:01:55 147.642 1984 February 18 Darrell Waltrip Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 1:54:56 156.613 1985 February 16 Geoffrey Bodine Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 1:54:33 157.137 1986 February 15 Dale Earnhardt Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 2:00:52 148.924 1987 February 14 Geoffrey Bodine Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:56:03 155.106 1988 February 13 Bobby Allison Buick 120 300 (482.803) 2:15:09 132.825 1989 February 18 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:17:11 131.211 1990 February 17 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:00:31 149.357 1991 February 16 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:04:50 144.192 1992 February 15 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:15:55 132.434 1993 February 13 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:02:55 146.440 1994 February 19 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:04:53 144.135 1995 February 18 Chad Little Ford 120 300 (482.803) 1:59:25 150.732 1996 February 17 Steve Grissom Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:07:52 140.722 1997 February 15 Randy LaJoie Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:00:15 149.688 1998 February 14 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:11:11 137.213 1999 February 13 Randy LaJoie Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:10:04 138.391 2000 February 19 Matt Kenseth Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:07:54 140.735 2001 February 17 Randy LaJoie Pontiac 120 300 (482.803) 2:13:11 135.152 2002 February 16 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:01:54 147.662 2003 February 15 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:05:12 143.770 2004 February 16* Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:21:32 127.179 2005 February 19 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:59:59 150.021 2006 February 18 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:23:49 125.159 2007 February 17 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 1:55:13 156.227 2008 February 16 Tony Stewart Toyota 120 300 (482.803) 1:56:46 154.154 2009 February 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:09:59 138.479 2010 February 13 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:25:32 123.683 2011 February 19 Tony Stewart* Chevrolet 120 300 (482.803) 2:08:52 139.679 - 1964: Race shortened to 80 laps / 200 miles due to late start caused by three hour rain delay.
- 1969: Three red flags during the race due to rain.
- 1974: Race scheduled for 108 laps / 270 miles due to energy crisis.
- 1979: Race shortened to 69 laps / 172 miles due to rain.
- 1981: Race started on Saturday February 14, halted after 11 laps due to rain, completed on Monday February 16.
- 2004: Race postponed from Saturday to Monday due to rain.
- 2011: Tony Stewart wins his 4th straight February race edging Clint Bowyer by 0.007 seconds.
See also
- Subway Jalapeño 250
- Daytona 500
References
- http://racing-reference.info
- Orlando Sentinel; microfilm; (1959–1981)
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- Motorsport in Daytona Beach, Florida
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