All three NASCAR National Series plus the ARCA Menards Series are set for their inaugural trip on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.
The ARCA Menards Series kicks off the historic race weekend on Friday, August 14 at 5 pm ET. The NASCAR Xfinity Series follows on Saturday at 3pm ET (on NBCSN), with the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (12pm ET on FS1) and NASCAR Cup Series (3pm ET on NBC) combining for a doubleheader on Sunday.
It will be a unique test for all drivers with no practice or qualification in advance for any event. Ahead of a quarter of races, here’s a turn-by-turn detail of the 14-turn, 3.61-mile course.
RELATED: Daytona Road Course Schedule
TURN 1
Drivers will take the green flag at the trio before a heavy braking zone, shifting down to first gear entering the first inning. This is a flat, sweeping left hand that takes drivers off the course.
TURN 2
The second cover is a quick right and left side chicane that is also flat, works up to second gear while giving you a bit of speed through it.
TURN 3
The third turn, also called the International Horseshoe, is a flat, sweeping right corner where drivers shift downward to first gear that enters.
TURN 4
This wrap is a quick, flat left hanger, while drivers work their way up to third gear exiting the third corner. Right after going out this turn, it’s hard on the brakes to set for Turn 5.
TURN 5
Drivers are back to first gear entering this slow, flat right corner. Continuing to Turn 6, drivers will gain some speed, and grab second gears.
TURN 6
It’s back to first gear entering another flat left corner, which drives drivers out of the course of the course and onto the high benches of the oval.
TURNS 7 and 8
These two angles should make you look familiar. After exiting Turn 6, the drivers race on the 31 degree benches that originally served as Turns 1 and 2 of the oval layout. Drivers will cooperate their fourth as they drive to the back lane and to the chicane.
TURNS 9 & 10
Another heavy brake zone of the course is right here, as drivers gain a ton of speed via Turns 7 and 8. It’s back to second gear, as they make a series of quick left and right turns that backstretch -chicane out, also called the bus stop.
TURNS 11 and 12
Known as Turns 3 and 4 on the oval course, drivers are shot back to the 31 degree bench to the backstretch chicane. Drivers will work their way up to fourth gear before another brake zone is set for the chicane for the front stretch.
TURNS 13 and 14
This is a new section of the course specific to the weekend of the NASCAR race to slow down the cars before returning to the 18-degree banked tri-oval. This will be a tricky place to go in, as drivers will still be on the high benches during downshifting and braking, which increases the risk of wheelbase in the corners. Once drivers are slower, they make a slight left turn, followed by a right-hand hanger and a left-hand hanger. If those sidewalks, known as “turtles,” are known in this section, it’s because Daytona International Speedway borrowed them from the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.
