Daytona Through the Years

Last August, AMA Pro Racing announced that the 2005 Daytona 200 (and all the other Daytona Bike Week road racing events) would take place on a modified race course in Daytona International Speedway, omitting the west banking and lengthening the infield section. The move was made in an effort to decrease the time spent on the banking, which generates heat in tires, although the east banking and the Tri-Oval will still be utilized.

This is not the first time in the event's long history that track layout has been altered. The biggest change was of course the 1961 move from the beach to Daytona International Speedway, but even since then, there have been four changes before this latest alteration. Road Racer X columnist, 1972 Daytona 200 winner and respected motorcycle-racing historian Don Emde dug up these cool Daytona track diagrams from throughout the years and sent them to us to post. For Emde's breakdown of each of the layouts, check out his "Heritage" column in the November/December issue of Road Racer X.

Don Emde is the winner of the 1972 Daytona 200. To order his book on the event's history, click here.