The
1959 First Annual 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona (now known as the
1959 Inaugural Daytona 500) was the second race of the 1959
NASCAR Grand National (now
Sprint Cup) season. It was held on February 22, 1959, in front of 41,921 spectators. It was the first race held at the 2.5-mile (4.0 kilometer)
Daytona International Speedway.