Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, opened in 1959 as a modern replacement for the Daytona Beach Road Course, urged by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and engineered by Charles Moneypenny. Best known for the Daytona 500 and the endurance classic now called the Rolex 24 at Daytona, it also hosts major events in stock car, sports car, motorcycle, and supercross racing. Its steeply banked 2.5-mile tri-oval, multiple infield courses, and unusual Lake Lloyd made it distinctive from the start. Repeated upgrades, including lights, repaving, and the Daytona Rising redevelopment, helped secure its place as a cornerstone of American motorsport.