1937:
Two-wheeled version of beach racing history began with the inaugural DAYTONA 200 motorcycle road race on Jan. 24, 1937. The racing was halted during World War II in the interest of national defense. Stock car racing resumed on April 14, 1946. The motorcycle races resumed the following year, on Feb. 27.
1961:
The DAYTONA 200 motorcycle classic moved from the beach to a 2.0-mile road course inside Daytona International Speedway. Roger Reiman, who specialized in Flat Track racing, won the inaugural DAYTONA 200 at DIS aboard a Harley-Davidson. His average winning speed was 69.260 mph.
March 1964:
The DAYTONA 200 motorcycle race was moved onto the high banks using the full 3.81-mile road course.
March 15, 1970:
Dick Mann rode a smooth and consistent pace aboard his factory Honda to win his first DAYTONA 200 on his 14th attempt. The following year, he earned back-to-back DAYTONA 200 wins aboard a factory BSA machine and set an average speed record of 104.737 mph for the 200-mile race.
March 1984:
Motorcycle legend Kenny Roberts announced his retirement and made his 12th and final start at DIS in the DAYTONA 200 motorcycle classic. He began the race as defending champion and finished a winner again, setting a record race speed of 113.14 mph.
March 1998:
Scott Russell of Conyers, Ga., nicknamed “Mr. Daytona,” won his fifth and final DAYTONA 200 aboard a Yamaha.
March 6, 2004:
The DAYTONA 200, traditionally held on a Sunday afternoon, was moved to Saturday afternoon and was won by Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin.
March, 12, 2005:
Canadian Miguel Duhamel won a record fifth DAYTONA 200. Duhamel, riding for factory Honda, tied Scott Russell atop the all-time DAYTONA 200 wins list with five triumphs in the prestigious motorcycle classic.
March 6, 2009:
For the first time in event history, the DAYTONA 200 motorcycle classic was held under the lights. Ben Bostrom was victorious and became the first Yamaha rider to win the DAYTONA 200 since 1998 and the first rider to win the DAYTONA 200 from the pole since 2005.
