<P> 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, the most prestigious race in NASCAR . In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross . The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.5 - mile (4.0 km) high - speed tri-oval, a 3.56 - mile (5.73 km) sports car course, a 2.95 - mile (4.75 km) motorcycle course, and a 1,320 - foot (400 m) karting and motorcycle flat - track . The track's 180 - acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29 - acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing . The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation . </P> <P> The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William "Bill" France, Sr. to host racing that was held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course . His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars . Lights were installed around the track in 1998, and today it is the third - largest single lit outdoor sports facility . The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved in 1978 and 2010 . </P> <P> On January 22, 2013, the track unveiled artist depictions of a renovated speedway . On July 5, 2013, ground was broken on the project that removed backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating . The renovation to the speedway was constructed by Design - Builder Barton Malow Company in partnership with Rossetti Architects . The project, named "Daytona Rising", was completed in January 2016, and cost US $400 million, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called "injectors"), as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands . After the renovations were completed, the track's grandstands include 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000 . The project was finished before the start of Speedweeks in 2016 . </P> <P> NASCAR founder William France Sr. began planning for the track in 1953 as a way to promote the series, which at the time was racing on the Daytona Beach Road Course . France met with Daytona Beach engineer Charles Moneypenny to discuss his plans for the speedway . He wanted the track to have the highest banking possible to allow the cars to reach high speeds and to give fans a better view of the cars on track . Moneypenny traveled to Detroit, Michigan to visit the Ford Proving Grounds which had a high - speed test track with banked corners . Ford shared their engineering reports of the track with Moneypenny, providing the needed details of how to transition the pavement from a flat straightaway to a banked corner . France took the plans to the Daytona Beach city commission, who supported his idea and formed the Daytona Beach Speedway Authority . </P>

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