Pepsi 400: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Venue	Daytona International Speedway
Corporate Sponsor	Pepsi
First Race	1959
Distance	400 miles (644 km)
Number of Laps	160
Previous Names	Firecracker 400 (1972-1988)

The Pepsi 400 is the current name for the 400 mile (approx. 640 km) NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car race held on the July 4th weekend at Daytona International Speedway. This 160-lap event was developed to make a second major Cup-level racing event for Daytona which would not detract from the legendary nature of the Daytona 500. Since 1998 it has been held at night by employing a lighting system using parabolic reflectors which allow very intense lighting to be focused on the track in an indirect manner without being directly in the drivers' eyes, which obviously would create a very unsafe situation. From 1972 to 1988, this race was known as the Firecracker 400; it was unnamed prior to 1972.

See also: List of current NASCAR races

Past Winners

Pepsi 400

• 2004: Jeff Gordon
• 2003: Greg Biffle
• 2002: Michael Waltrip
• 2001: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• 2000: Jeff Burton
• 1999: Dale Jarrett
• 1998: Jeff Gordon
• 1997: John Andretti
• 1996: Sterling Marlin
• 1995: Jeff Gordon
• 1994: Jimmy Spencer
• 1993: Dale Earnhardt
• 1992: Ernie Irvan
• 1991: Bill Elliott
• 1990: Dale Earnhardt
• 1989: Davey Allison

Firecracker 400

• 1988: Bill Elliott
• 1987: Bobby Allison
• 1986: Tim Richmond
• 1985: Greg Sacks
• 1984: Richard Petty
• 1983: Buddy Baker
• 1982: Bobby Allison
• 1981: Cale Yarborough
• 1980: Bobby Allison
• 1979: Neil Bonnett
• 1978: David Pearson
• 1977: Richard Petty
• 1976: Cale Yarborough
• 1975: Richard Petty
• 1974: David Pearson
• 1973: David Pearson
• 1972: David Pearson

Previous Races

• 1971: Bobby Isaac
• 1970: Donnie Allison
• 1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough
• 1968: Cale Yarborough
• 1967: Cale Yarborough
• 1966: Sam McQuagg
• 1965: A.J. Foyt
• 1964: A.J. Foyt
• 1963: Fireball Roberts
• 1962: Fireball Roberts
• 1961: David Pearson
• 1960: Jack Smith
• 1959: Fireball Roberts