For the race known as the Pepsi 400 held at Michigan International Speedway from 1998-2002, see GFS Marketplace 400
The Pepsi 400 is the current name for the 400 mile (approx. 640 km) NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car race held on Independence Day 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 would create a very unsafe situation. This race is the only restrictor plate race to be run completely at night. From 1963 to 1988, this race was known as the Firecracker 400; prior to that, it was the Firecracker 250 (100 laps, 250 miles).
In 1959, the race was originally scheduled to be a USAC Championship (Indy) Car event. However, after a crash-filled event in April, open wheel racing on the oval was permanently cancelled. NASCAR quickly stepped in and replaced the schedule with a stock car race.
From 1959 to 1987, the race was always scheduled for July 4, regardless of the day of the week. Beginning in 1988, the race was moved to the Saturday of July 4th weekend. In 1998, wildfires in Florida postponed the race, and it was held in October. Before it became a night race in 1998, the race normally started in the morning (10:00 AM or 11:00 AM) to avoid hot temperatures and the frequent mid-afternoon thunderstorms.
In 2007, the 4th of July falls on a Wednesday. The race will be run the next Saturday, July 7th. Thus, the race will be preceded by the New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway instead of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. It is unknown how this schedule change will affect future schedules.
The race between 2001-2006 was shared between NBC and FOX (NBC odd years, FOX even years). With the new television agreement, TNT has the race until 2014.
See also: List of current NASCAR races
Past winners
- 2006: Tony Stewart
- 2005: Tony Stewart
- 2004: Jeff Gordon
- 2003: Greg Biffle
- 2002: Michael Waltrip
- 2001: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2000: Jeff Burton
- 1999: Dale Jarrett
- 1998: Jeff Gordon (race changed to a night race; postponed until October due to wildfires)
- 1997: John Andretti
- 1996: Sterling Marlin (117 laps / 292.5 miles due to rain)
- 1995: Jeff Gordon
- 1994: Jimmy Spencer
- 1993: Dale Earnhardt
- 1992: Ernie Irvan
- 1991: Bill Elliott
- 1990: Dale Earnhardt
- 1989: Davey Allison
- 1988: Bill Elliott
- 1987: Bobby Allison
- 1986: Tim Richmond
- 1985: Greg Sacks
- 1984: Richard Petty (his 200th and final career win)
- 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
- 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 (race changed to a 400-mile event)
- 1962: Fireball Roberts
- 1961: David Pearson
- 1960: Jack Smith
- 1959: Fireball Roberts
-
Cars race by the "DAYTONA" letters during the 2005 Pepsi 400. -
Petty's car used for 200th win, on display at Daytona USA in January 2001
