Through the Years: 1959 Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH -- The very first Daytona 500 was won by Lee Petty, father of Richard Petty and grandfather of Kyle Petty, on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The very first Daytona 500 was won by Lee Petty, father of Richard Petty and grandfather of Kyle Petty, on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.
DAYTONA BEACH -- The city that is home to major tourism events like Speedweeks, capped by the Feb. 23 running of the Daytona 500, and Bike Week next month, collectively account for upwards of 1.5 million tourists.
A Port Orange cop car is shown at 6:30 p.m. near the intersectioon of Nova Road and Spruce Creek Boulevard in Port Orange as a rainstorm pelted the area.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Heavy rain pelted Central Florida with wing gusts reported as high as 50 mph plus lightning strikes, from Kissimmee in Osceola County and heading to the coastal communities.
The storm started during the evvening commute over Central Florida moving eastward over Orange, Lake and Marion counties and into Brevard, Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns Counties just before 7 p.m.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Citing Abraham Lincoln's "government of the people, by the people and for the people," David Machuga of New Smyrna Beach announced his candidacy today for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council against first-term incumbent Deborah Denys who finds herself in the midst of a media firestorm over her handling of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority.
DAYTONA BEACH – Singer, songwriter Aloe Blacc will perform the National Anthem prior to the 56th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 23.
DAYTONA BEACH - Legendary television and radio journalist Larry King will serve as co-Grand Marshal of The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona International Speedway tonight while his wife, singer Shawn King, will perform the National Anthem.
Shawn King will sing the National Anthem just prior to her husband's starting command, "Drivers, start your engines," which will be delivered alongside two race fans that will be selected earlier in day to serve as co-grand marshals.
DAYTONA BEACH -- In advance of the Sprint Unlimited race tonight from Daytona International Speedway, Headliner Surfer® has uploaded the 2013 race from YouTube for your viewing pleasure.
This was the first race featuring the Gen-6 cars.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Without a doubt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. remains the most popular driver in NASCAR, and why not?
The son of racing legend Dale Earnhardt has finished second in the last two Daytona 500 races, along with a win in the big race in 2004, and he's among the drivers expected to be there when the while flag is drop to signify one lap to go a week from Sunday.
Could this be the breakout season for Earnhardt to finally get that first Spring Cup championship? Junior, of course, is always optimistic ands his chances are as good as any, especially as one of the drivers for Hendrick Motorsports.
Earnhardt is one of the drivers in tonights Sprint Unlimited race under the lights at Daytona.
Earnhardt will be among the drivers Headline Surfer® will feature during Speedweeks leading up to the Great American Race -- the Daytona 500.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Denny Hamlin managed to avoid the carnage that collected some of NASCAR's big name drivers -- Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Tony Stewart -- to take the checkered flag for the Sprint Unlimited tonight under the lights at Daytona International Speedway.