Daytona 500 and more: The “jewel” NASCAR races you should know

While the NFL culminates each season with the Super Bowl, NASCAR begins each campaign with its most important event: the Daytona 500. This 500-mile race at the Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida, is known as the “Super Bowl of NASCAR” due to its great popularity and prestige. The Daytona 500, usually held during Presidents’ Day weekend, is the crown jewel of NASCAR Cup Series racing. But, what exactly are these “crown jewels”? Here’s the explanation.

What are the “crown jewel” races in NASCAR?

Just as golf and tennis have their “major” tournaments, which give them more relevance than other events, NASCAR has its most important races. Winning one of these races boosts a driver’s career more than any other triumph. In NASCAR, the four “crown jewel” races are the four most prominent events in high-level motorsports. Although the list of races considered as such has varied throughout NASCAR’s history, there are currently four races that stand out for their importance.

What are the four “crown jewel” races in NASCAR?

The “crown jewel” races of the NASCAR Cup Series are:

• Daytona 500
• Coca-Cola 600
• Southern 500
• Brickyard 400

Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 opens the NASCAR season every February since 1982. The race consists of 200 laps in three stages, with a track length of 2.5 miles, totaling 500 miles. Richard Petty, “The King”, is the driver with the most victories in the Daytona 500, with seven. Cale Yarborough is in second place with four victories.

Coca-Cola 600

Considered one of the toughest races in NASCAR, the Coca-Cola 600 covers 600 miles in 400 laps on a 1.5-mile oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Darrell Waltrip is the driver with the most wins in the Coca-Cola 600, with five.

Southern 500

The first Southern 500 was run in 1950. It is the oldest 500-mile race on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar. It is held at Darlington Raceway, in Darlington, South Carolina, and consists of 367 laps on a 1.366-mile asphalt track. Jeff Gordon has won the Southern 500 six times, more than any other driver.

Brickyard 400

The Brickyard 400, the most recent addition to NASCAR’s “crown jewel” race list, is held at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon holds the record for wins at Indianapolis, with five.

Which driver has the most wins in the “jewel in the crown” races?

Jeff Gordon holds the record for wins in the “crown jewel” races, with 17. Gordon won the Southern 500 six times, the Brickyard 400 five times, and the Coca-Cola 600 and the Daytona 500 three times each.

How many drivers have achieved the NASCAR Grand Slam (winning all four “crown jewel” races in the same season)?

No Cup Series driver has won all four modern “crown jewel” races in a single season. Jeff Gordon won three of the four in 1997 (Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and Southern 500).

How many drivers have achieved the NASCAR Grand Slam (winning all four “crown jewel” races in their career)?

Four drivers, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, and Jimmie Johnson, have won the four current “crown jewel” races of NASCAR throughout their careers.