DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Int’l Speedway unveiled next year’s Daytona 500 logo on Monday, paying tribute to the design roots of speed as it features the iconic Harley J. Earl Trophy front and center.
Variations of Harley J. Earl awards were presented to Daytona 500 champions for decades. But it wasn’t until 1998 that the modern Harley J. Earl Trophy featuring Earl’s Firebird I concept automobile, hand-sculpted by artist John Lajba, atop a black trioval base was presented in Victory Lane.
The late NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt was the first to take home the trophy that pays homage to Harley J. Earl, a renowned automotive designer and the second commissioner of NASCAR.
“The Daytona 500 is not only NASCAR’s biggest race of the year, but also one of the most famous motorsports races in the world,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “By featuring the symbol of becoming a Daytona 500 champion, the Harley J. Earl Trophy, in the logo for the 67th running of The Great American Race, we blend the greatness of the race with the history of the sport.”
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron was the most recent Cup Series driver to take home the Harley J. Earl Trophy this past February, capturing his first – and Hendrick Motorsports’ ninth – Daytona 500.