Daytona Pole Day

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: American Fun Sports
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: 3rd Sunday of February
Holiday emoji:: 🏁

Daytona Pole Day revs up the excitement every 3rd Sunday of February, setting the stage for the legendary Daytona 500. Witness the fastest drivers battle for prime starting positions in a high-octane qualifying session. Tune in to see who claims the coveted pole, plan your watch party, and get ready for a full week of speed!

Deals
Platforms
Social
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected Daytona Pole Day Deals

Daytona Pole Day, as the prelude to the Daytona 500, sees a surge in promotions from automotive brands, sports retailers, and fast-food chains. While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that brands like Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota often offer special financing or limited-edition merchandise tied to the race season. Sports apparel giants such as Fanatics and NASCAR Shop typically roll out discounts on team gear and driver merchandise. Local restaurants and sports bars around Daytona Beach, and even national chains like Buffalo Wild Wings or Applebee’s, frequently run watch party specials on food and drinks. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as February 21 approaches.

Platform Guide for Daytona Pole Day

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #DaytonaPoleDay. Share short clips of your favorite qualifying moments or predictions for the big race.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #Daytona500. Post photos or reels of iconic Daytona moments, your favorite driver, or race-day snacks.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #DaytonaPoleDay. Join the real-time conversation about qualifying results, driver interviews, and race predictions.

Daytona Pole Day Hero

William 'Bill' France Sr.

William France Sr. (1909–1992) was the visionary founder of NASCAR and the Daytona International Speedway. A mechanic and racer himself, he recognized the need for organized stock car racing, establishing NASCAR in 1948 and overseeing its growth into a national phenomenon. His legacy is the 'Great American Race' and the enduring popularity of motorsports.

History of Daytona Pole Day

The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile race at the Daytona International Speedway, located in Daytona Beach, Florida. The superspeedway was opened in 1959, and the maiden edition of the Daytona 500 was held in the same year. The Daytona 500 has also been the season-opening race of the yearly NASCAR Cup Series since 1982 and the final competition of the Daytona Speedweeks racing events. In terms of rating and acclaim, the annual 200-lap race is widely believed to be the most prestigious event, and therefore, the most-watched and highest-prized of the yearly NASCAR Cup Series. This is why the Daytona 500 is also renowned as ‘The Great American Race’ and ‘the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing.’

The Daytona 500 race is always held mid-to-late February. From 1971 to 2011, and from 2018, it also took place on the Sunday before the third Monday in February. The race has also been held on Valentine’s Day eight times.

The pole qualifying race for the Daytona 500 is usually held one weekend before the race. The driver to complete the fastest single lap in the final of three rounds in the knockout qualifying session around the speedway earns the pole position — the first position across the start line at the Daytona 500. The driver who comes second in the pole qualification race occupies the second position across the start line at the beginning of the race. Other participants in the race are picked by meeting predetermined conditions, such as combining the team’s position in the previous season’s point rankings and the points in the two qualifying races, or by being an earlier NASCAR champion.

Daytona Pole Day timeline

1959

Petty Wins

Lee Petty defeats Johnny Beauchamp to win the inaugural Daytona 500 on February 22.

1965

Blame it on the Rain

The Daytona 500 is called on lap 133 of 200 due to the rain.

1966

A Double for Petty

Richard Petty becomes the Daytona 500’s first two-time winner, having previously won in 1964.

2001

Black Sunday

Dale Earnhardt dies after sustaining a fatal basilar skull fracture in a crash on the final lap.

2013

Year of Firsts

Rookie driver Danica Patrick becomes the first woman to win the pole.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Daytona Pole Day

Local businesses can tap into Daytona Pole Day’s energy by hosting watch parties with race-themed food and drink specials. Automotive service centers might offer ‘pre-race’ vehicle checks or discounts on tires. Sports bars and restaurants can create a festive atmosphere with racing decor and special menus. Retailers could feature merchandise from local teams or drivers, or run promotions tied to race predictions. Engaging with the community around this iconic event builds goodwill and drives traffic.

Daytona Pole Day FAQs

When is Daytona Pole Day?

In 2027, Daytona Pole Day takes place on Sunday, February 21, continuing the tradition of high-stakes qualifying. Fans will eagerly watch as the fastest cars secure their spots for the ‘Great American Race’.

How fast do cars go during qualifying?

Speeds on the high-banked turns of Daytona can even approach 200 mph during solo qualifying runs. Drivers must maintain absolute precision at these extreme velocities to avoid errors and secure a top starting position.

How many drivers qualify on Pole Day?

While only the top two lock in their spots on Pole Day, the qualifying session sets the field for the Duel at Daytona races, which then determine the majority of the starting grid for the Daytona 500. It’s a multi-stage process to fill the 40-car field.

What is the 'pole position' in NASCAR?

Securing the pole position is a significant achievement, as it often provides the cleanest air and best track position heading into the first turn. While not a guarantee of victory, it’s a highly sought-after advantage that can influence race strategy and outcome.

Daytona Pole Day Activities

Buy a ticket
Celebrate and enjoy all the fun and excitement at Daytona Pole Day and the Daytona 500 by booking a ticket or two to catch all the action live. It’s best to buy the tickets early to secure the best deals.
Stream it live
All hope is not lost if you can’t visit Daytona and catch all the iconic experiences at the Daytona 500 and Pole Day in person. You can always stream the prestigious event online and catch all the beautiful, thrilling moments as they happen.
Join on social media
Join the prestigious Daytona 500 race and its preliminary Pole Day events by joining the race’s official social media accounts. There, you get the latest scoop about the race, the preliminary duels, and other side attractions that adorn the race.

5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA

A merger of towns and cities
The Daytona Beach area comprises seven cities and towns: Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Holly Hill, South Daytona, Ormond Beach, Ponce Inlet, and Port Orange.
Formerly occupied by Timucuan Indians
The present-day Daytona Beach was once inhabited by the now-extinct indigenous Timucuan Indians.
Origin of the name Beach Street
Beach street was named after the Beach family, as it is nowhere close to the beach.
The founding father of Daytona
Matthias Day — known as ‘the founding father of Daytona’ (now called Daytona Beach) — was a wealthy businessman, who developed the area and built its first hotel in 1874.
First stock car race in Daytona
The first stock car race was held on March 8, 1936, on the Daytona Beach Road Course, located in the present-day town of Ponce Inlet.

Why We Love Daytona Pole Day

The thrill of speed and colorful cars
More than just a qualifying round for the Daytona 500, Pole Day allows car racing fans to enjoy the sport in all its glory as each driver attempts to secure the coveted pole position. During this annual event, drivers skillfully maneuver their high-end race cars on the speedway to the cheers of their fans.
The history and beauty
Like the Daytona 500 itself, the preceding Daytona Pole Day is an event that goes back in time. Over the years, it's been an integral part of the big event — which means the Daytona 500 is incomplete without its preliminary Pole Day.
The suspense
Other than its history, Daytona Pole Day also gets our adrenaline pumping as our favorite car racers and their teams contend to win the pole. A lot can happen before the race finishes as there's often a twist of fate and luck — one of the reasons why Pole Day remains a nail-biting spectacle.