[2] A crowd of over one hundred thousand came to see a field of 38 American and two Canadians (Earl Ross and Vic Parsons).

[3] The standard track at Daytona is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long.

[8] It is also the series' first race of the year; this phenomenon is virtually unique in sports, which tend to have championships or other major events at the end of the season rather than the start.

The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth largest average live global TV audience of any sporting event that year with 20 million viewers.

He had won the pole (see above), and in the first Twin 125 race, Baker fought off the effects of an ear infection and beat Cale Yarborough, 1968 champion of the Daytona 500, in a sprinted duel.

In that first race, a 26-year-old Tennessee rookie named Darrell Waltrip, had one of the most impressive runs.

Driving his own 1971 Mercury, Waltrip finished sixth and captured the eleventh starting spot for his first 500.

Another Tennessee driver stole the spotlight that day, Coo Coo Marlin, a 41-year-old journeyman whose best finish in four previous 500s was 18th, shocked the crowd by passing David Pearson with 6 laps to go to win the second twin 125.

Richard Petty finished fourth in the first Twin 125 and was not happy with his Dodge until his crew made major suspension changes the day before the race.

Once under green Baker led the first 33 laps as Yarborough, Petty, Issac, and Pearson clung tenaciously to him.

On lap 155, John Utsman's engine blew and he spun just past the finish line.

Yarborough had led six times for 25 laps and his spirited challenge of Baker had kept the fans entertained all afternoon.

First Daytona 500 starts for Hershel McGriff, Darrell Waltrip, Ed Negre, John Utsman, Marty Robbins, and Earl Ross.

[2] Last Daytona 500 starts for Jabe Thomas, Ray Elder, Ron Keselowski, Maynard Troyer, John Sears, Red Farmer, Tiny Lund, Neil Castles, Gordon Johncock, and Pete Hamilton.