The sands of Daytona Beach have attracted drivers since the early 20th century. The world land speed record here was beated in 1927, and again in 1929. In the 1930s a portion of the beach was coopted as one-half of an oval shaped track for stock car racing, the beginning of an annual event which would eventually become the Daytona 500.
The first race, in 1936, had to be called at 75 laps due to overcrowding and degraded sand conditions. The Daytona Beach course held its last races in 1958. In 1959 the inaugural Daytona 500 would be held 12 miles away at the newly constructed Daytona International Speedway.