Marshall Teague grew up near the beach in Daytona Beach, Florida. He drove his passenger car on the sand many times. He began racing after serving in World War II. Marshall was injured in a crash in 1948, but came back to win a NASCAR Modified race on the beach at Daytona. Later, because of his success, he became known at "The King of the Beach". He was part of the original group that founded NASCAR. He built and drove the "Fabulous Hudson Hornets", that were also called "Teaguemobiles." His teammate was Herb Thomas, and their mechanic was Smokey Yunick, both of whom are NASCAR legends. Teague won the Stock Car Championship in 1952, as well as the Southern 500. He raced in the Indy 500 twice, and owned a garage.

By 1959, Marshall wanted to go back to NASCAR. Daytona International Speedway had been built, and an Indy car race was scheduled there in the spring. However, in February 1959 while making an attempt on the closed course speed record, the axle broke on his car. The Sumar Streamliner Special, owned by Chapman Root, flipped several times. Teague was thrown from the open wheeled car and was killed instantly. Earlier, he had gotten the car up to 171 mph. It was Wednesday, February 11, eleven days before the first Daytona 500 and two weeks before his 38th birthday.

On Sunday February 22, fifty eight stock cars started the first Daytona 500. It ended in a photo finish between Lee Petty and Johnnny Beauchamp. Beauchamp was awarded the trophy, but three days later Lee Petty was declared the winner.

The next event at DIS was a USAC Indy car race on April 4. Many drivers feared that the track was too fast for the roadsters.

George "Little George" Amick came to the Indy 500 in 1958 as a rookie. He finished in second place after avoiding a big crash at the start, and was awarded the Rookie of the Year. The Indy cars came to Daytona and Dick Rathmann won the pole position in another Chapman Root car at over 173 mph. His brother Jim started next to him on the grid. Jim dominated the race and won the race, beating Rodger Ward. As Rathmann was crossing the finish line, there were many who felt relived that no one was injured. At about that time, George Amick had a hard crash on the backstretch. His low roadster hit the outer guardrail, tearing off the front end of the car. The car flipped over, and 34 year old Amick was killed instantly.

While everyone was concerned about the Daytona 500 being a potential bloodbath, it was the open wheeled drivers who were hurt worse. Marshall Teague was killed before the race, and George Amick in the race after the 500. The United States Auto Club, USAC, never returned to the track. They have raced stock cars, sports cars, and go karts at DIS, but there has never been an open wheel race since.