Florida Flashback: February 11

In the first of our Speedweeks flashbacks, we look at Florida racing action on February 11, from NASCAR on the beach to the ASA ACDelco Challenge Series at USA International Speedway.

1951 - A total of 55 cars were on hand for the first race of the 1955 NASCAR season. Marshall Teague came from his sixth starting spot to win the season opener on the Daytona Beach Road Course. Tim Flock led 27 laps from the pole, but managed to finish second. Fonty Flock was third with Bill Blair and Buck Baker made up the top five. Eventual season champion Herb Thomas was 16th after starting 27th.

THE THIRD TURN: 1951 NASCAR Grand National Series at Daytona Beach and Road Course

1979 - The birth of the Busch Clash happened on this date in 1979. Buddy Baker sapped the lead three times with Darrell Waltrip three times over the course of the 20-lap race at Daytona International Speedway (FL). The one-car length victory was the foundation for the season kick-off exhibition race. One interesting note is that the nine-car field was made up of seven Oldsmobiels a Ford and a Mercury.

THE THIRD TURN: 1979 Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway

1984 - A young Jeff Purvis beats Kevin Gundaker and Freddy Smith on the dirt at Jax Raceway in Jacksonville, Florida. Seven-time NASCAR weekly champion Larry Phillips was sixth in the race.

THE THIRD TURN: 1984 All-Star Circuit of Champions Late Models at Jax Raceways

1996 - Mike Eddy leads the final 33 laps to win the ASA Hooters 300 at USA International Speedway. Gary St. Amant logged a second-place run. Brad Loney was third, Tony Raines started his championship season with a fourth-place finish. Raines had three wins and 11 top five runs in 20 starts to beat out Gary St. Amant for the title. Joe Nott rounded out the top five.

THE THIRD TURN: 1996 Hooters 300 at USA International Speedway

-Photo: Buddy Baker after winning the 1980 Daytona 500 (Credit: ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)