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August 12, 2020

Daytona Road Course turn-by-turn analysis


Dis Road Course MapAll three NASCAR national series plus the ARCA Menards Series are set for their inaugural voyage on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.

The ARCA Menards Series kicks off the historic race weekend on Friday, Aug. 14, at 5 p.m. ET. The NASCAR Xfinity Series follows on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET (on NBCSN), with the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (12 p.m. ET on FS1) and NASCAR Cup Series (3 p.m. ET on NBC) combining for a doubleheader on Sunday.

It will be a unique test for all drivers with no practice or qualifying ahead of each event. Ahead of a quartet of races, here is a turn-by-turn detail of the 14-turn, 3.61-mile course.

RELATED: Daytona Road Course schedule

TURN 1

Daytona Turn 1

Drivers will take the green flag at the tri-oval before a heavy braking zone, downshifting to first gear entering the first turn. This is a flat, sweeping left-hander that takes drivers into the infield of the course.

TURN 2

Daytona Turn 2

The second turn is a quick right- and left-hand chicane that is also flat, working up to second gear while gaining a little bit of speed through it.

TURN 3

Daytona Turn 3

The third turn, also known as the International Horseshoe, is a flat, sweeping right-hand corner where drivers are shifting back down to first gear entering it.

TURN 4

Daytona Turn 4

This turn is a quick, flat left-hander while drivers are working their way up to third gear exiting the third corner. Directly after exiting this turn, it’s heavy on the brakes to set up for Turn 5.

TURN 5

Daytona Turn 5

Drivers are back down to first gear entering this slow, flat right-hand corner. Heading into Turn 6, drivers will gain a little speed, grabbing second gear.

TURN 6

Daytona Turn 6

It’s back down to first gear entering another flat left-hand corner, which shoots drivers out of the infield section of the course and onto the high banks of the oval.

TURNS 7 & 8

Daytona Turns 7 8

These two corners should look familiar to you. After exiting Turn 6, the drivers race onto the 31 degrees of banking that originally serve as Turns 1 and 2 of the oval layout. Drivers will work their way up to fourth gear as they head onto the backstretch and off into the chicane.

TURNS 9 & 10

Daytona Turns 9 10

Another heavy braking zone of the course is right here as drivers gain a ton of speed through Turns 7 and 8. It’s back down to second gear as they make a series of quick left- and right-hand turns that make up the backstretch chicane, also known as the Bus Stop.

TURNS 11 & 12

Daytona Turns 11 12

Known as Turns 3 and 4 on the oval course, drivers are shot back up onto the 31 degrees of banking following the backstretch chicane. Drivers will work their way up to fourth gear before another braking zone to set up for the frontstretch chicane.

TURNS 13 & 14

Daytona Turns 13 14

This is a new section of the course specifically for the NASCAR race weekend to slow the cars down before heading back to the 18-degree banked tri-oval. This will be a tricky place to enter because drivers will still be on the high banks while downshifting and braking, which increases the risk for wheel hop entering the corners. Once drivers are slowed down, they will make a slight left-hand turn, followed by a right-hander and a left-hander. If those curbs, or “turtles,” look familiar in this section, that’s because Daytona International Speedway borrowed them from the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

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