For six decades, the Fourth of July meant one thing in NASCAR: Daytona. Barbecues, fireworks, and 400 miles under the Florida sun (or lights). But what once was a sacred tradition is now a question mark. Shuffled, rebranded, and in 2025, possibly without a home. So what happened? Why did NASCAR break up with its [] The third annual July 4th race at the newly opened Daytona International Speedway was the 32nd race on the 52-race schedule. The 30-car field was full of names transcendent through time. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is known for highly competitive races, having the 4th closest margin of victory in NASCAR history. Traditionally held on the Saturday of Independence Day weekend, the race has twice been attended by the President of the United States. Complete 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, ticket information, race results, race dates, race times, and track information. On July 4th weekend in 2023, NASCAR made history by racing on a street course for the first time. With help from the team at iRacing, NASCAR mapped out a street course in Chicago in 2021, and the course was featured in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series. Every Fourth of July weekend, NASCAR’s biggest stars headed to the World Center of Racing for 400 miles under the Saturday night lights. What more is there to ask for? When one tradition ends another one begins. This season will mark the first time in 60 years that NASCAR will not have a race at Daytona International Speedway near the July 4th holiday. That race For the last six-plus decades, July 4th weekend has featured a NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. But not anymore. Original plans called for Daytona's summertime race to feature Indy-style racers on the Fourth of July. A tragic accident in April changed things. July 4th at Daytona: Here are the 5 best Independence Day races in NASCAR history Zach Dean The Daytona Beach News-Journal 0:00 Three times, the winner of the July Fourth race went on to win the championship in the same year: Tim Flock (1952), Richard Petty (1975) and Cale Yarborough (1976). Richard Petty won his 200th and final Cup Series race in the 1984 Daytona race. Greg Sacks scored his only win in NASCAR’s premier series in the 1985 race. What’s Happening? As we roll into the 2025 NASCAR season, rumors and confirmations for the 2026 NASCAR National Series Schedules will start to make the rounds. Bookmark this page to keep track of all the latest news and rumors on the 2026 NASCAR schedule. Confirmed Dates 2026 NASCAR Cup Series 2026 Xfinity Series 2026 NASCAR [] The Firecracker 400 ran every July 4th from 1959-1987 at the Daytona Motor Speedway. They ran the race starting in the late morning to avoid the later afternoon Florida sun. NASCAR was still a regional sport in those days, that was loved in the Southeast and had pockets of fans elsewhere. Richard Petty was still a star, everyone knew the King. Original plans called for Daytona's summertime race to feature Indy-style racers on the Fourth of July. A tragic accident in April changed things. Complete 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, ticket information, race results, race dates, race times, and track information. Daytona July NASCAR race weekend schedule The 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway will host the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this Friday and Saturday night. Indulge in a feast of speed and excitement at the Summer Race Weekend featuring exhilarating NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series races. View 2025 NASCAR race ticket information and pricing. Kids get in free at NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races. For 61 years, NASCAR has celebrated Independence Day at Daytona International Speedway, but Saturday's night's Coke Zero 400 marks the end of an era. When NASCAR decided in 2020 to move its July 4 week race away from Daytona after 60 years of summertime showdowns at the fabled race track built in 1959 by the late NASCAR founder William H.G. “Big Bill” France, a piece of history died.
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