79th running of 200-mile road race at Daytona International Speedway
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Dozens of the nation’s fastest road racers will be pushing their motorcycles to the limit around Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile road course on March 14 for the 79th running of the Daytona 200.
The 200-mile road race, sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association and the American Sportbike Racing Association, features some of the most talented road racers from around the world battling on the speedway’s 31-degree banking.
“The AMA has a great partner in the American Sportbike Racing Association for the Daytona 200, and we’re looking forward to another year of close competition in this iconic race,” AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant said. “The past two years have delivered great racing and thrilling finishes, and the number of international riders competing in the event has been on the rise.”
The Daytona 200 was first held in 1937, with racing taking place annually — except during World War II — on an oval course along the Atlantic Ocean beach and U.S. Route A1A. The race moved to Daytona International Speedway in 1961.
AMA Hall of Famers who have won the Daytona 200 include Giacomo Agostini, Brad Andres, Steve Baker, Ben Campanale, Miguel Duhamel, Don Emde, Floyd Emde, Johnny Gibson, Paul Goldsmith, Nicky Hayden, Bobby Hill, Dick Klamfoth, Ed Kretz, Eddie Lawson, Dick Mann, Billy Mathews, Wayne Rainey, Cal Rayborn, Roger Reiman, Kenny Roberts, Gene Romero, Scott Russell, Kevin Schwartz, Dale Singleton, Freddie Spencer, Johnny Spiegelhoff, Babe Tancrede and Ralph White.
“We’re really excited to be co-sanctioning the 79th running of the Daytona 200 with the AMA,” ASRA President Kevin Elliott said. “Having worked with the AMA and Daytona International Speedway to make this standalone event more attractive to international riders for the last five years, we are pleased to see a record number of requests for race information from outside the United States.”
For more information about the Daytona 200, including how competitors can register in advance, by visiting www.asraracing.com.