Good Article on the history of the 500.

[lll Adidas]

NASCAR.COM - In 1959, first Daytona 500 changed city, sport forever - Feb 16, 2008

Just one excerpt about the 1st one. Wow, How Times have changed.

They called it the 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes, and it went green at noon on Feb. 22, 1959. An old ticket stub shows an admission fee of $8. The starting field of 59 cars featured an abundance of stock-car racing legends -- Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Joe Weatherly and Fireball Roberts among them -- as well as a Canadian and a pair of drivers from Peru. A crowd of 41,921 watched as Johnny Beauchamp appeared to edge Lee Petty in a photo finish, capping a 3 hour, 41 minute, caution-free event. Officials reviewed still photos and newsreel footage, and declared Lee Petty the official winner more than two days later.

 

[rbroyles]

NASCAR.COM - In 1959, first Daytona 500 changed city, sport forever - Feb 16, 2008

Just one excerpt about the 1st one. Wow, How Times have changed.

They called it the 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes, and it went green at noon on Feb. 22, 1959. An old ticket stub shows an admission fee of $8. The starting field of 59 cars featured an abundance of stock-car racing legends -- Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Joe Weatherly and Fireball Roberts among them -- as well as a Canadian and a pair of drivers from Peru. A crowd of 41,921 watched as Johnny Beauchamp appeared to edge Lee Petty in a photo finish, capping a 3 hour, 41 minute, caution-free event. Officials reviewed still photos and newsreel footage, and declared Lee Petty the official winner more than two days later.

There has been speculation that Big Bill France knew Petty had won, but held back announcing it to get as much publicity as possible. Really, it was obvious Petty had won, even with the naked eye when you watch the old films.