The 2.5-mile high-banked tri-oval is one of the most famous racetracks in the world. Built in 1959 by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. to replace the old beach races, it hosts the Daytona 500 every February — the season-opening race that draws nearly 200,000 spectators and is to American stock car racing what the Indianapolis 500 is to open-wheel racing. The 31-degree banked turns make for unusually fast and crowded racing, with multi-car drafting packs running inches apart at over 200 mph.
Outside of race weeks the speedway operates as a year-round attraction. The basic tour goes onto the track itself and into Victory Lane; the more expensive all-access tour climbs to the broadcast booth and walks through the garages. Adventurous visitors can ride along with a professional driver in a stock car for three laps at full speed, or — for considerably more money — drive one themselves on the Richard Petty Driving Experience.