Speedweeks
Encyclopedia
Hershey's
Milk & Milkshake Speedweeks (historically known as Daytona Speedweeks and DirecTV Speedweeks) is a name given to a three-week (now four because of an off-week between two races) series of auto races
held at the Daytona International Speedway
in Daytona Beach, Florida
, United States of America in early February. The events lead up to and include the NASCAR
Daytona 500
.
, and the Daytona 500
.
Friday: KONI Sports Car Challenge Race
Saturday/Sunday: Rolex 24 at Daytona Race. Current Start/End Time is 3:00 PM ET.
Friday Morning/Afternoon: Practice for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition race, the Budweiser Shootout
& ARCA RE/MAX Series
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 Practice/Qualifying
Friday Night: Random draw to determine starting lineup for the Budweiser Shootout
, Qualifying for ARCA RE/MAX Series
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200
4:00 PM ET: ARCA RE/MAX Series
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 race (80 laps). Race must be completed by 7:00 PM ET to allow for pre-race ceremonies for the Budweiser Shootout
to begin on schedule. This has led to the shortening of this event in the past.
8:00 PM ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout
exhibition race (70 laps in 2 segments of 20 & 50 laps respectively)
& Gatorade Duel
races (2 laps for each car, plus a warm-up and cool down lap)
NOTE: In 2010, as the Super Bowl was hold on February 7 and the Daytona 500 on February 14, there was no activity on Sunday. Daytona 500 qualifying was held at 12 Noon, with the ARCA race at 4 PM, and Shootout at 8 PM on that Saturday.
and practice for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events. One practice each for the Nationwide and Truck races will be reserved for drivers with no prior experience.
2:00 PM ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel
races. (60 laps/150 miles/2 races, sets the field for the Daytona 500
)
Night: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, parc fermé
enforced.
Afternoon: NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying, parc fermé
enforced.
Night: NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 race (100 laps/250 miles)
1:00 PM ET: NASCAR
Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 race (120 laps/300 miles)
, "The Great American Race" (200 laps/500 miles) Pre-race coverage begins on SPEED as early as 9:00 AM ET, FOX starts its pre-race coverage at Noon ET.
In 2007, the IndyCar Series
hosted an open test on the road course configuration during the week after the Rolex 24. No race was scheduled, however.
In 2010, the event will be run over three weeks, as formerly done, due to the move of Daytona 500 Pole Qualifying to Saturday, leaving Super Bowl
Sunday off.
Nearby tracks New Smyrna Speedway
and Volusia County Speedway run special events during the period.
Hershey's
Hershey's may refer to:* Hershey's, a nickname for The Hershey Company* Hershey's Ice Cream produced by Hershey Creamery Company* Hershey's Chocolate World, a theme-park/visitor-center facility...
Milk & Milkshake Speedweeks (historically known as Daytona Speedweeks and DirecTV Speedweeks) is a name given to a three-week (now four because of an off-week between two races) series of auto races
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
held at the Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, United States of America in early February. The events lead up to and include the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
.
Schedule
As of 2011, the following schedule is followed. All events are televised on SPEED except for NASCAR Nationwide Series sessions, which are broadcast on ESPN2 and three events are broadcast on FOX: Daytona 500 Qualifying, the Budweiser ShootoutBudweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a...
, and the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
.
5 Weeks Prior to Daytona 500
A three day open test is held for teams from Thursday to Saturday.4 Weeks Prior to Daytona 500
Throughout the Week: Practice and Qualifying Sessions for Sports Car races.Friday: KONI Sports Car Challenge Race
Saturday/Sunday: Rolex 24 at Daytona Race. Current Start/End Time is 3:00 PM ET.
3 Weeks Prior to Daytona 500
No track activity due to the Super Bowl. However, track officials do clean the track and make final preparations for the arrival of stock cars. If the Super Bowl (as was the case in 2010) occurs on February 7, and the Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 14, the off-week does not exist, and the Rolex week is January 29-31.2 Weeks Prior to Daytona 500
Thursday: Team Haulers EnterFriday Morning/Afternoon: Practice for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition race, the Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a...
& ARCA RE/MAX Series
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 Practice/Qualifying
Friday Night: Random draw to determine starting lineup for the Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a...
Saturday
Morning/Early Afternoon: Opening Practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series main event, Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, Qualifying for ARCA RE/MAX Series
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200
4:00 PM ET: ARCA RE/MAX Series
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 race (80 laps). Race must be completed by 7:00 PM ET to allow for pre-race ceremonies for the Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a...
to begin on schedule. This has led to the shortening of this event in the past.
8:00 PM ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a...
exhibition race (70 laps in 2 segments of 20 & 50 laps respectively)
Sunday
Noon ET: Time Trials/Front Row Qualifying for Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
& Gatorade Duel
Gatorade Duel
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
races (2 laps for each car, plus a warm-up and cool down lap)
NOTE: In 2010, as the Super Bowl was hold on February 7 and the Daytona 500 on February 14, there was no activity on Sunday. Daytona 500 qualifying was held at 12 Noon, with the ARCA race at 4 PM, and Shootout at 8 PM on that Saturday.
Monday and Tuesday
Currently there is no track activity. If rain washes out Daytona 500 qualifying, then NASCAR will attempt to conduct qualifying on the next clear day (Monday, et al).Wednesday
Two practice sessions for the Gatorade DuelGatorade Duel
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
and practice for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events. One practice each for the Nationwide and Truck races will be reserved for drivers with no prior experience.
Thursday
Morning: Final Practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event2:00 PM ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel
Gatorade Duel
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
races. (60 laps/150 miles/2 races, sets the field for the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
)
Night: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, parc fermé
Parc fermé
Parc fermé, literally meaning "closed park" in French, is a term used to describe a secure area at a Grand Prix circuit wherein the cars are driven back to the pits post-race. According to the FIA Formula One regulations, the area must be sufficiently large and secure so as to prevent unauthorised...
enforced.
Friday
Late Morning/Early Afternoon: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice. Under NASCAR's engine rules, teams may change engines and transmissions after the Duel but once this practice begins, all NASCAR restrictions on engines and transmissions apply.Afternoon: NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying, parc fermé
Parc fermé
Parc fermé, literally meaning "closed park" in French, is a term used to describe a secure area at a Grand Prix circuit wherein the cars are driven back to the pits post-race. According to the FIA Formula One regulations, the area must be sufficiently large and secure so as to prevent unauthorised...
enforced.
Night: NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 race (100 laps/250 miles)
Saturday
Morning: Final Practice for the Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
1:00 PM ET: NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 race (120 laps/300 miles)
Sunday
1:00 PM ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, "The Great American Race" (200 laps/500 miles) Pre-race coverage begins on SPEED as early as 9:00 AM ET, FOX starts its pre-race coverage at Noon ET.
Monday
Winner's car is enshrined in the Daytona 500 Experience museum located on the speedway grounds for one calendar year.History
In 2005, a 5K run was added to the Speedweeks schedule, as part of the Rolex 24. Runners were awarded admission tickets to the Rolex 24 as part of their entry fee.In 2007, the IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
hosted an open test on the road course configuration during the week after the Rolex 24. No race was scheduled, however.
In 2010, the event will be run over three weeks, as formerly done, due to the move of Daytona 500 Pole Qualifying to Saturday, leaving Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
Sunday off.
Nearby tracks New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Speedway is an asphalt track that is 0.48 of a mile in length, located near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, that races Florida Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing stock cars every Saturday night. It also has a smaller track, known as "Little New Smyrna Speedway" in the infield...
and Volusia County Speedway run special events during the period.
Races held during DirecTV Speedweeks
- KONI Sports Car Challenge
- Rolex 24 at Daytona
- ARCA RE/MAX SeriesAutomobile Racing Club of AmericaAutomobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
- Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup - Daytona 500 Pole QualifyingDaytona 500 pole position winnersDaytona 500 pole position winners for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Daytona 500 are rewarded with being the driver to lead the field across the start line at the beginning of the race. Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 is held one weekend before the race at the Daytona International Speedway... - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup - Budweiser ShootoutBudweiser ShootoutBudweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a... - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup - Gatorade DuelGatorade DuelThe Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500... - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series - NextEra Energy Resources 250 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series - DRIVE4COPD 300 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup - Daytona 500Daytona 500The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
Races held at Daytona in February not associated with DirecTV Speedweeks
- AMA Superbike Championship - Daytona 200Daytona 200The Daytona 200 is a 68-lap, motorcycle race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.-History:The race evolved from a beach racing venue in 1937 to the Daytona International Speedway course in 1961....
- AMA Supercross Championship - Daytona Supercross
Former events during DirecTV Speedweeks
- International Race of ChampionsInternational Race of ChampionsInternational Race of Champions, better known as IROC, was a North American auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an American All-Star Game or The Masters...
- Daytona 500 consolation race
- NASCAR Sportsman Series 300
- NASCAR Dash Series Daytona 200