Racer X’s preview framed Daytona’s infield layout as the most unique round on the Supercross calendar, making the track’s technical characteristics the central factor shaping race strategy. Unlike the limerock era exemplified by Jeff Stanton — which featured 20-lap mains and roughly 90-second laps — Daytona’s infield prioritizes speed and technical riding over ironman-style endurance, so bike setup, speed control and precision will be decisive.

Analyst Jason Thomas walked viewers through the infield on the broadcast hosted by former Women’s National Champion Sarah Whitmore, outlining features that will influence tactics. The start splits the course toward the adjacent speedway and immediately sends riders through alternating 180-degree turns; laps include rhythm sections of doubles and triples, back-to-back split-bowl berms that have generated significant passing, and a particularly risky high-speed stretch near turn one that produced Levi Kitchen’s season-ending crash in 2025.

Later in the lap riders face setup compromises with clay Supercross whoops and a beach-sand sequence that contains a slowing tunnel jump, two designated sand lines and a fast dash alongside pit lane to the finish. The segment combined a track walkthrough with an injury rundown, naming riders who would be absent from the weekend’s competition; Racer X Online published the full injury list and details to prepare fans for on-track action and the altered starting lineup those absences create.

Sources