Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson are the only 2 women prior to the running of the 2012 Daytona 500 where Danica Patrick will be added to the list. Danica has a guaranteed starting spot thanks to Stewart Haas Racing. They have a golden ticket for being top 35 in owners points from 2011 which assures them of starting the first 5 races no matter where they qualify.
In the 2012 Daytona 500, 43 cars started.
59 cars started the first ever Daytona 500 in 1959.
Three
43 cars started the race.
Dale Sr. started the Daytona 500 23 times from 1979 to 2001.
Two On February 26, 2012, Danica Patrick will become the third woman to drive in the Daytona 500.
1959.
In the 2010 Daytona 500, a total of 43 drivers started the race. There were 33 drivers still running at the end.
Joey Logano is the youngest driver to start the Daytona 500. He was 19 years old when he started the 2009 Daytona 500.
Dale Jr. started eighth in the 2000 Daytona 500.
There were no cautions in the 1959 Daytona 500.
There are 43 drivers in the Daytona 500.