The NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams remain at Daytona International Speedway for a second week of racing. However, it will be quite different as the race is on the Daytona Road Course.
That’s right, the race will be on part of the track that hosted the Daytona 500 last weekend. However, the majority of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At DAYTONA will take place on the course that winds through the infield of the Daytona International Speedway.
The drivers and teams have very little data to use getting ready for the race. The NASCAR Cup Series has only held two races on the Daytona Road Course. Last year’s GoBowling.com 235 in August and this year’s Busch Clash at Daytona exhibition race last week (2/9).
Chase Elliott was the winner of last year’s point race on the Daytona Road Course. Kyle Busch was able to capture the win in the Busch Clash at Daytona last week.
Here’s the data for this weekend’s race…
Daytona Road Course Data
Track Size: 3.61-miles
Track Type: Road Course
Number of Turns: 14
Elevation Change: 31 degrees
Race Length: 70 laps (252.7-miles)
O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At DAYTONA
Season Race #: 2 of 36 (02-21-21)
Stage 1 Length: 16 laps
Stage 2 Length: 18 laps
Final Stage Length: 36 laps
Here are the top performing active drivers on the Daytona Road Course…
Top 10 Daytona Road Course Driver Ratings
Chase Elliott……………………….. 135.3
Martin Truex Jr……………………. 126.5
Denny Hamlin……………………… 116.0
William Byron……………………… 102.3
Joey Logano………………………… 86.3
Michael McDowell………………….. 85.7
Erik Jones……………………………. 85.7
Alex Bowman……………………….. 84.8
Kurt Busch…………………………… 84.7
Aric Almirola…………………………. 78.5
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2020 races (one total) among active drivers at the Daytona Road Course.
As pointed out earlier, Chase Elliott is the only driver that has won a Cup Series point race on the Daytona Road Course since there has only been one held.
Kyle Busch scored a non-point race win on the course. However, that was a very short race with a smaller field competing.
Michael McDowell is sixth on the list above for driver ratings at the Daytona Road Course. He scored his first ever NASCAR Cup Series win last weekend in the Daytona 500. Perhaps that momentum can help him get his second career win.
You can bet the 70 laps of racing will likely feature excitement and drama no matter which driver ultimately wins the race.
It all begins this Sunday, February 21st at 2 PM central time (3 PM eastern time) on the Daytona Road Course at Daytona International Speedway in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At DAYTONA.
By: Buck Stevens
