IMSA DAYTONA 2026 | Schedule & Sessions | MotorSportRadar

International Motor Sports Association - DAYTONA

Dunlaing Watches
Event Start

DAYTONA

Dunlaing Watches
0 D
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22 - 26 Jan

Completed
Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway

Practice 1
22:05 - Thu, 22 Jan
Qualifying
02:10 - Fri, 23 Jan
Practice 2
06:15 - Fri, 23 Jan
Practice 3
23:05 - Fri, 23 Jan
Race
01:40 - Sun, 25 Jan

Where To Watch IMSA in United States

Where To Watch IMSA in United States
Peacock United States streaming home; live full-race IMSA WeatherTech Championship coverage on Peacock Premium.
NBC United States broadcast partner; selected live IMSA races and event windows on NBC.
NBC Sports App / NBCSports.com United States authenticated streaming access for full IMSA race coverage alongside Peacock.
Motorvision TV German broadcaster for WeatherTech Championship events with German commentary.
IMSA TV Official live stream outside local TV markets; WeatherTech races are geo-blocked in the United States, with international live video and IMSA Radio commentary where television coverage is not offered.
IMSA Official YouTube Official international live stream source for fans where local TV coverage is not offered, plus replays, highlights and support-series content.
American Forces Network Military broadcaster carrying WeatherTech Championship races for U.S. armed forces audiences worldwide.
NordVPN
Stream IMSA securely from anywhere with NordVPN Traveling abroad or using public Wi-Fi? Protect your connection and access your usual coverage more securely.

Upcoming in IMSA

Upcoming in IMSA
Laguna Seca
2 - 4 May
Detroit Grand Prix
28 - 31 May
Six Hours of The Glen
26 - 29 Jun
View More

Upcoming at Daytona International Speedway

Upcoming at Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA
Nascar Cup
29 - 30 Aug

Track Info

Daytona International Speedway - Daytona Beach, USA

Superspeedway tri-oval with an infield road course - clockwise - 31 degree high banks and the Rolex 24 at Daytona

First Race
1959
Inaugural Daytona 500 ran on February 22, 1959, won by Lee Petty after a three-day photo-finish review.
Circuit Lengths
Tri-oval 4.023 km - Road course 5.73 km
2.5 mile tri-oval for NASCAR and a 3.56 mile sports car course for the Rolex 24.
Turns
Tri-oval 4 - Road course 12
Tri-oval corners banked at 31 degrees with an 18 degree tri-oval; road course adds infield sections plus the Bus Stop chicane.
Lap Records (Race)
NASCAR Cup 0:43.682 - Erik Jones, 2020
On the 2.5 mile tri-oval. Overall sports car race lap: 1:33.724 - Álex Palou, Cadillac DPi, 2022 on the 3.56 mile road course.
Speed Benchmark
222.917 mph - Colin Braun, 2013
Closed-course Daytona tri-oval record in a Riley-Ford prototype during a record attempt.

When was the track built?

Bill France Sr. built Daytona as NASCAR's high-speed showpiece to replace the beach-road course era. Construction finished for early 1959 testing, and the venue immediately set new standards for speed and scale with its steeply banked, 2.5 mile tri-oval. The infield road course arrived for sports cars, eventually becoming the 3.56 mile layout used today for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The facility has evolved continually with SAFER barriers, repaves and lighting, but its defining geometry remains the 31 degree corner banking and vast grandstands flanking the tri-oval frontstretch.

When was its first race?

The speedway's first race headliner was the Daytona 500 on February 22, 1959, a landmark photo-finish classic won by Lee Petty. Endurance racing soon followed, with the 24-hour sports car event growing into the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

What's the circuit like?

  • Tri-oval spectacle: 31 degree banks generate huge cornering loads and sustained pack speeds. The 18 degree tri-oval creates slingshot finishes at the line.
  • Road course rhythm: The infield adds technical complexes and the fast Bus Stop chicane on the backstretch before cars rejoin the banking. Multi-class traffic is the Rolex 24 signature.
  • Drafting and strategy: On the tri-oval, aerodynamics and lane discipline decide results. On the road course, stint length, traffic management and night running are key.
  • Benchmark pace: NASCAR Cup race lap record 0:43.682 on the oval; DPi race lap 1:33.724 on the road course illustrates modern prototype speed.
  • Banking and width: Corners banked at 31 degrees with a 40 ft racing surface, enabling sustained side-by-side running at superspeedway velocities.

Lap records and benchmarks (by series)

  • NASCAR Cup Series - tri-oval race lap: 0:43.682 - Erik Jones, 2020 Daytona 500.
  • IMSA DPi - road course race lap: 1:33.724 - Álex Palou, 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
  • LMDh - road course race lap (recent): 1:35.554 - Tom Blomqvist, 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
  • Closed-course speed record at Daytona: 222.917 mph - Colin Braun, Riley-Ford prototype, 2013 record run.

Why go?

A cathedral of American motorsport - from the season-opening Daytona 500 to the Rolex 24 endurance epic. The scale, the night running, the drafting packs and sunrise over the high banks make Daytona a bucket-list experience whether you love stock cars, prototypes or GTs.

Where's the best place to watch?

  • Tri-oval grandstands: Start-finish, pack runs and photo-finish sprints with panoramic pit views.
  • Turn 4 exit: See momentum builds off the banking into the tri-oval where races are decided.
  • International Horseshoe (road course): Heavy braking and divebombs early in the lap during the Rolex 24.
  • Bus Stop chicane: Prototype versus GT traffic fights at very high speed before the long pull onto NASCAR Turns 3 and 4.
  • Night into sunrise: Any infield mound or grandstand facing the banking offers unforgettable night visuals and dawn stints during the Rolex 24.

Not just one race: Daytona's headline events

Daytona 500: The Great American Race opens the NASCAR Cup season with pack drafting and strategy fireworks.

Rolex 24 at Daytona: IMSA's season opener for GTP prototypes and GTD Pro/GT classes on the 3.56 mile road course.

Michelin Pilot Challenge, VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and MX-5 Cup: Support series fill out the Roar and Rolex 24 weeks with tight multi-class racing.

Hotels & Accommodation

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