• Kyle Petty Honorary Pace Car driver at Daytona: Kyle Petty will serve as the honorary pace car driver for the 50th running of the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola on Saturday at Daytona. Petty, who is a member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family of Drivers, will pace the 43-car field in a Chevrolet Corvette Z08 before the 160-lap, 400-mile race goes green.(Daytona Speedway PR)(7-5-2008)
  
  
• Flyover at Coke Zero 400: The "Mighty Gorillas," of the 58th Fighter Squadron, part of the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., will perform the flyover at the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, July 5, Speedway. It is the second time in two years the four-ship, F-15s have performed a flyover at DIS. The squadron, which flies the F-15C Eagle that can reach speeds of 1,875 mph, also did the flyover for the 2007 Daytona 500. "It is a great opportunity to be a part of Daytona International Speedway events again," said Lt. Col. Todd Jaax, 58th FS commander. "What better way to celebrate our nation's birthday that than by showing NASCAR fans the awesome capabilities of the F-15 and the United States Air Force." The squadron has a long and distinguished history an as air superiority fighter squadron that dates back to World War II. They scored the first aerial victory in Desert Storm as well as the most aerial victories (16). Tickets to see the "Mighty Gorillas" in action prior to the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(7-3-2008)
  
  
• Lady Antebellum to perform Pre-Race Concert and National Anthem at Daytona: Newly crowned ACM's Top New Vocal Group and Capitol Nashville recording artists Lady Antebellum will perform a 50-minute Pre-Race Concert and the National Anthem prior to the start of the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Sprint Cup Series event at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, July 5th. Lady Antebellum will take the Driver's Introduction stage at the start/finish line on Pit Road at 6:20 pm for the performance. A Sprint FANZONE admission will provide access to the concert, driver introductions and all activities in the Sprint FANZONE prior to and during the race. Tickets for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola and Sprint FANZONE admissions are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(7-1-2008)
  
  
• Jarrett Named Grand Marshal For Coke Zero 400: Three-time Daytona 500 champion and founding member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family Dale Jarrett has been named Grand Marshal for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, July 5 Speedway. Outback Steakhouse President Jeff Smith will serve as Honorary Starter. Jarrett will give the starting command "Gentlemen, start your engines" for Coke Zero's inaugural sponsored race at "The World Center of Racing." Smith, who will wave the Green Flag to get action started, began his career in 1989 at the original Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Henderson Boulevard in Tampa, Fla. Outback Steakhouse was one of the first restaurants to serve Coke Zero across its national operations. Tickets for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola and all other weekend activities are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-30-2008)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Tickets Go On Sale Saturday, May 17: Tickets for the NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race - the 51st annual Daytona 500 - will go on sale on Saturday, May 17, at 8am/et. Prior to Saturday, May 17, only renewals and deposits for seat assignments for the 51st annual Daytona 500 were taken by the ticket office at Daytona International Speedway. To order call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(5-16-2008)
  
  
• Trisha Yearwood to Perform National Anthem at Daytona 500: Grammy-Award winning county star Trisha Yearwood will perform the National Anthem for the historic 50th Running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Yearwood, will be part of a musical array of talent performing at "The World Center of Racing" including the Sprint Pre-Race show featuring the most awarded duo in country music history with more than 80 industry awards, Brooks & Dunn, Chubby Checker, Michael McDonald and Kool & the Gang. Tickets for the DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 events, including the 50th running of the Daytona 500, are still available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-15-2008)
  
  
• Harley J. Earl trophy, who was Earl? The Daytona 500? Its trophy is named after Harley J. Earl. Who was Earl? No drivers asked knew about Earl. None of these responses come as a surprise to Richard Earl, Harley's grandson. The 48-year-old West Palm Beach resident is determined to put his late grandfather's prize on a figurative mantel alongside the most-recognized prizes in sports. Richard Earl believes Daytona's annual Speed Weeks, which culminate in Sunday's 50th running of the Daytona 500, should be a perfect platform for a Harley Earl renaissance. He had hoped to do much to educate the public about his grandfather's legacy, but his plans haven't materialized. He's disillusioned, not sure he'll even accept Daytona International Speedway's invitation to attend the race. "When you look at all their promotion for the upcoming race, there's very little mention of Harley," Richard Earl said. "This guy did a lot. His name's on this trophy for a reason. He's a real icon." Harley Earl was an automotive pioneer, the father of car design. He has been called the "Da Vinci of Detroit." When he began in the 1920s American cars were basically boxes on wheels. By the time he retired in 1958, he and his designers had created many "concept cars" that looked more like spacecraft. See the full story at the Palm Beach Post. Richard Earl, a former Wall Street broker, makes his living selling Harley Earl-designed cars. " 'Motoramic masterpieces' is how I like to refer to them," he said. He maintains the official Harley Earl Web site, carofthecentury.com, and is working on a biography of his grandfather.(2-14-2008) Comment here.
  
  
• DW named starter for the Gatorade Duels: Darrell Waltrip, five-time winner of the Gatorade Duel At Daytona and 1989 Daytona 500 champion, will serve as the Honorary Starter for the 50th annual Gatorade Duel At Daytona on Thursday, Feb. 14 at historic Daytona International Speedway. Waltrip will wave the green flag for the first 150-mile Gatorade Duel At Daytona qualifying race, which is scheduled to start at 2pm/et. The Gatorade Duel at Daytona is a pair of 150-mile qualifying races that finalize the startling lineup for the 50th running of the Daytona 500, which is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 17. "Gatorade was my first big sponsor and they put me on the map so to speak," Waltrip said. "Many drivers feared the Gatorade green, the orange lighting bolt, that big 88 on the door and my name on the roof. That was a winning combination. As far as waving the green flag, I can't wait to feel the power at Daytona. I am truly humbled that after all these years, Gatorade still considers me part of the family." Waltrip, who is a three-time NASCAR champion, owns 14 victories at DIS and captured wins in the Gatorade Duel in 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1988. The 2007 winners of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona were #24-Jeff Gordon and #20-Tony Stewart. Tickets for the DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 events, including the Gatorade Duel at Daytona, are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP/(DIS PR), the Duels will also be shown on SPEED live at 2:00pm/et [re-air at 9:00pm/et], MRN Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.(2-11-2008)
  
  
• Coke Zero to sponsor Daytona race in July: Coke Zero is taking the driver’s seat as the new title sponsor of the July Sprint Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway. Officially, the race will be entitled the “Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola.” To bring NASCAR fans closer to the sport they love and create excitement about the race, Coke Zero and Daytona International Speedway are hosting an online voting contest that allows fans to choose the official race logo. Beginning in conjunction with the 50th running of the Daytona 500, fans can visit NASCAR.com to vote for their favorite from two logo options. The winning logo, determined solely by fan votes, will be revealed on NASCAR.com immediately after the contest concludes on March 1, 2008. Scheduled for July 5, the 2008 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, concludes a holiday weekend of racing at Daytona International Speedway. The Nationwide Series takes to the speedway for the running of the Winn-Dixie 250 Powered By Coca-Cola on July 4. The debut of the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola is part of a new 10-year sponsorship agreement between Coca-Cola North America (CCNA) and International Speedway Corporation (ISC). Through a variety of track partnerships, brands from CCNA will be refreshing fans at 12 race tracks in 2008 before expanding to 16 race tracks by 2012.(businesswire.com)(2-8-2008)
  
  
• 24 Daytona 500 Champs to serve as Grand Marshals of Daytona 500: The 24 living Daytona 500 Champions will serve as Grand Marshals for the historic 50th Running of the Daytona 500, giving the command "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines," to get the most anticipated even in racing history underway. On Sunday, Feb. 17th, the culmination of DIRECTV Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway will peak when 24 legends get NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race started from "The World Center of Racing." Drivers on hand throughout the momentous weekend who will order the most anticipated words in racing include: Bobby Allison (1978, 1982, 1988); Mario Andretti (1967); Buddy Baker (1980); Geoff Bodine (1986); Ward Burton (2002); Derrike Cope (1990); Dale Earnhardt, Jr.* (2004); Bill Elliott* (1985, 1987); A.J. Foyt (1972); Jeff Gordon* (1997, 1999, 2005); Pete Hamilton (1970); Kevin Harvick* (2007); Ernie Irvan (1991); Dale Jarrett* (1993, 1996, 2000); Jimmie Johnson* (2006); Junior Johnson (1960); Fred Lorenzen (1965); Sterling Marlin* (1994, 1995); Marvin Panch (1961); David Pearson (1976); Richard Petty (1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981); Darrell Waltrip (1989); Michael Waltrip* (2001, 2003); Cale Yarborough (1968, 1977, 1983, 1984).[* still active, eight drivers]. To purchase tickets to 2008 DIRECTV Speedweeks at Daytona events call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-6-2008)
  
  
• 60-year-old crashes, dies at DIS in RPDE car: A 60-year-old Apopka man died after he crashed while driving a Richard Petty Driving Experience car at the Daytona Beach International Speedway, authorities and family members said today. Robert Boswell was taking part in the Richard Petty Driving Experience, a program where fans pay to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR car, said his son, Greg Boswell. The crash occurred about 5 p.m. Sunday, police said. Robert Boswell was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center where he was declared dead at about 7 p.m. An autopsy report released this afternoon showed he died of a heart attack and not from the crash. Chris McKee, director of media relations for the Richard Petty Driving Experience, said Boswell had completed lap three at 125 mph when he slowed to take Turn 1. He began to drive erratically around turn one, jerking at the wheel, said an instructor who was driving ahead of Boswell. He then slumped over and steered the car into the concrete retaining wall on the inside of Turn 2, McKee said. Speedway officials said this was the first Richard Petty Driving Experience death at Daytona. However, McKee said this is the third death of a driver among all participating tracks. The two earlier deaths were later determined to be the result of medical conditions and not mechanical failure, McKee said.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-4-2008)
  
  
• 1960 Daytona 500 Champion Junior Johnson to Drive Corvette Z06 Pace Car for Daytona 500: Former Daytona 500 champion Junior Johnson, who claimed 50 NASCAR victories including the 1960 edition of "The Great American Race," will be behind the wheel of a 2008 Corvette Z06 as he paces the field before the start of the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990 and named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, the North Carolina native claimed his Daytona 500 victory in only his second season in NASCAR competition. That memorable win was behind the wheel of the #27 John Masoni Daytona Kennel Club Chevrolet Impala. Johnson joins past drivers who have paced "The Great American Race" including Baseball "Iron Man" Cal Ripken Jr., Actor Ben Affleck and Tonight Show host Jay Leno. This is the 37th consecutive year that General Motors has provided the Daytona 500 with the Official Pace Vehicle, and the fifth year running that Chevrolet has chosen Corvette for the job. The '08 Corvette Z06 will be decked out in "anniversary gold" in honor of the occasion, making it one of Chevy's most uniquely designed pace cars. Race tickets for the DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 events are still available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-4-2008)
  
  
• Sister Hazel To Perform National Anthem at Bud Shootout: Sister Hazel will perform the National Anthem at the 30th annual Budweiser Shootout at historic Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, Feb. 9. In addition to National Anthem, which will be televised live nationally by FOX Sports, Sister Hazel will also perform three songs during pre-race ceremonies as well as a 60-minute post-race concert from the Entertainment Stage inside the Sprint FANZONE next to the Budweiser Bistro. Sprint FANZONE and hospitality passes will permit fans to view the pre-race concert from the tri-oval area along pit road and all Budweiser Shootout ticket holders will be able to attend Sister Hazel's post-race concert. Tickets to the 30th annual Budweiser Shootout as well as other DIRECTV Speedweeks events are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-2-2008)
  
  
• 50th Running of Daytona 500 Sold Out: Daytona International Speedway officials announced that all grandstand seats for the historic 50th Running of the 2008 Daytona 500 have been sold. While all grandstand seats are sold out, fans can still purchase infield tickets for "The Great American Race", scheduled for Feb. 17. In addition to infield tickets, fans can still experience the festivities of other exciting events surrounding the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 by purchasing tickets to other exciting DIRECTV Speedweeks events including in February:
  9th: 30th Annual Budweiser Shootout
  14th: 50th Gatorade Duel At Daytona
  15th: 9th annual Chevy Silverado 250 Truck Series race
  16th: 50th annual Camping World 300 Presented by Chevy Nationwide Series race
  Recording its earliest sellout of the event in modern history, Speedway President Robin Braig said, "The anticipation of the 50th running of the Daytona 500 - NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race - has been at a fever-pitch level throughout the year. Although there are no grandstand seats left for 'The Great American Race', there are still tickets left for the other exciting Speedweeks events throughout DIRECTV Speedweeks." Tickets for these and all events at historic Daytona International Speedway can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(1-31-2008)
  
  
• The 'King' named Honorary Starter for the Daytona 500: Seven-time Daytona 500 Champion Richard Petty, who's father Lee won the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959, will serve as Honorary Starter for the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17. Petty will drop the green flag at Daytona International Speedway to get the historic event underway at 3:30pm/et. "We are so honored and proud to have Richard Petty drop the green flag to get the most anticipated event in racing history underway," said Speedway President Robin Braig. "Richard and the Daytona 500 are synonymous with NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race and we're thrilled to have him get the 50th spectacle underway." Over the course of 32 years driving on the Sprint Cup circuit, along with his record seven Daytona 500 wins, "The King" has a record 200 victories; won seven Sprint Cup championships; recorded 27 wins in 1967; was named the circuit's "Most Popular Driver" nine times and was the Series Rookie of the Year in 1959. Tickets for the DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 events, including the 50th running of the Daytona 500, are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(1-30-2008)
  
  
• Record purse announced for the Daytona 500: The 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17 - the most anticipated event in racing history - will carry a record purse of more than $18 million. The posted awards for "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 17 will be $18,689,238.The posted awards for the 2007 Daytona 500, which was won for the first time by Kevin Harvick in a photo finish over Mark Martin, was $18,386,023. The winner of this year's Daytona 500 will collect a minimum of $1,445,250. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,044,400, $752,400, $598,450 and $471,500 respectively. The last-place finisher in the Daytona 500 will also be well compensated with a minimum of $233,865. The winner for the inaugural Daytona 500 back in 1959 - Lee Petty - collected $19,050 and the last-place finisher - Ken Marriott - earned $100. Other purses for DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 events are:
  *ARCA 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race: $283,552
  *Budweiser Shootout: $1,217,154 with the winner pocketing $215,000 *Gatorade Duel At Daytona: $1,350,000, $675,000 for each race *Chevy Silverado 250 Craftsman Truck Series race: $875,448 *Camping World 300 presented by Chevy Nationwide Series race: $2,640,772 Tickets to any of the DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 events are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(1-29-2008)
  
  
• Entertainment announced for the Daytona 500: Brooks & Dunn, the most awarded duo in country music history with more than 80 industry awards, including 20 Country Music Association Awards and 26 Academy of Country Music Awards, will highlight the highly acclaimed Sprint Pre-Race Show - the heart-pumping, one-of-a-kind pre-race prelude to the most anticipated event in racing history - the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500. In addition to Brooks & Dunn, Chubby Checker. Michael McDonald and Kool & the Gang will rock the high-profile pre-race entertainment stage, bringing together an amazing collection of musical icons from different musical eras. The pre-race extravaganza will air live before millions of national television viewers on FOX and more than 200,000 energized race fans on-site at historic Daytona International Speedway (DIS) prior to the Daytona 500. 2008 marks the fifth consecutive year that JHE Production Group and Q&A Entertainment Inc. will produce the Daytona 500 Sprint Pre-Race Show.(DIS PR)(1-23-2008)
  
  
• NASA Astronaut At Daytona Speedway Event for 50th Milestones: Astronaut Andrew Feustel will participate in NASCAR's Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona International Speedway, Fla., on Tuesday, Jan. 8. The appearance is in celebration of NASA's 50th anniversary and the Daytona International Speedway's 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008. Feustel will ride around the track, or take "hot laps," in an official track vehicle. Immediately afterward, he will be available for media interviews behind the Pit Road wall. Technology developed for the space program has helped NASCAR drivers increase their performance and stay safe over the years. They wear cooling suits similar to what astronauts wear during a spacewalk. Foam that NASA developed for aircraft seats protects racecar drivers' necks in crashes. In addition to participating in the fan festival, NASA will fly three Daytona 500 flags aboard an upcoming space shuttle flight. Speedway officials plan to wave one of the flags to begin the 2008 installment of the Daytona 500, while another will be presented to the winning driver. NASA will keep the third. Feustel will fly on the space shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. The mission will extend and improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013. Launch is targeted for August 2008.(News Blaze)(1-7-2008)
  
  
• US Senate designates Feb. 17th "Race Day in America" By unanimous consent, the United States Senate recently designated February 17th, 2008 - the date of the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 - as "Race Day in America." The resolution, introduced during the 110th Congress by Florida Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez highlights the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 and festivities surrounding the event. Noting that the Daytona 500 is the most prestigious stock car race in the United States; and that Daytona International Speedway is the home of "The Great American Race"; and that winning the prestigious Harley J. Earl Trophy is stock car racing's greatest prize and privilege; and that well-known politicians, celebrities and athletes take part in the festivities surrounding the Daytona 500, the resolution passed easily. "What a special way to recognize the most anticipated event in racing history," said Speedway President Robin Braig. "We are looking forward to the historic 50th running of 'The Great American Race' and the festivities that surround it." Tickets for the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 at historic Daytona International Speedway and all events at DIS can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(1-4-2008)
  
  
• DIS Offers Free Daytona 500 Qualifying to Blood Donors during Preseason Thunder: During January's Preseason Thunder Fan Fests for the Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, race fans will get the opportunity to watch their favorite NASCAR drivers and teams prepare for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 and also earn a free ticket to Daytona 500 Qualifying presented by Kroger on Sunday, Feb. 10. During each of the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Sprint Cup Series Fan Fest nights on Jan. 8 and Jan. 15, the Florida Blood Centers will be hosting a blood drive located just outside the Turn 4 tunnel and guests that donate blood will receive a free ticket to Daytona 500 Qualifying presented by Kroger on Sunday, Feb. 10. All Sprint Cup Series teams will participate in Daytona 500 Qualifying presented by Kroger on Sunday, Feb. 10. Drivers will turn two high-speed qualifying laps on the historic 2.5-tri-oval as they try to secure a front-row starting spot in the 50th running of the Daytona 500. NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest dates, which will coincide with January's Sprint Cup Series, Craftsman Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Rolex Series testing sessions at the "World Center of Racing," will be held on the following dates:
  Jan. 5: The Roar Before The Rolex 24
  Jan. 8: Sprint Cup Fan Fest, first session, odd-numbered teams in owners point standings following the Chicagoland Speedway race)
  Jan. 12: Craftsman Truck Fan Fest
  Jan. 15: Sprint Cup Fan Fest, second session, even-numbered teams in owners point standings following the Chicagoland Speedway race)
  Jan. 19: Nationwide Series Fan Fest
  Besides watching drivers search for speed on the legendary 2.5-mile tri-oval, fans can also enjoy inquisitive fan forums with many of their favorite drivers, bands, show cars, pit stop demonstrations, displays, a silent auction and hot laps around DIS (additional charge). The Fan Fest events start at 5 p.m. but fans may enter the Sprint FANZONE beginning at 9 a.m. to watch all of the exciting testing action on those days. Admissions for the Sprint Cup Fan Fest dates are $15 while Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series admissions are $10. The Roar Before The Rolex 24 admission is also $10.(DIS PR), see more on the 2008 Daytona testing page.(12-28-2007)
  
  
• Daytona International Speedway Generates $1.9 Billion Annually: Daytona International Speedway, host of NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious event - The Daytona 500 - has an annual overall economic impact of more than $1 billion. According to the report conducted by The Washington Economics Group, Inc. and Chuck Yaros, Daytona International Speedway and Daytona 500 Experience boast a total economic impact of $1.9 billion annually. The economic impact study was conducted over a several month period utilizing the IMPLAN model, which analyzes both the direct and indirect benefits of an economic producer in a region and statewide. The WEG study also found: * DIS and Daytona 500 Experience operations create nearly 32,000 jobs. * DIS and Daytona 500 Experience provide more than $856 million dollars in labor income annually. * DIS and Daytona 500 Experience generate $155.4 million dollars annually in tax revenue to state and local governments. The report also noted that International Speedway Corporation, the parent company of Daytona International Speedway, announced that its operations generate $2.3 billion in economic benefit each year. Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno also read a proclamation on behalf of the County Council of Volusia County proclaiming Feb. 17, 2008, as "DAYTONA 500 50th ANNIVERSARY DAY."(DIS PR)(12-18-2007)
  
  
• Thunderbirds to Flyover at Daytona: The world-renowned “Thunderbirds” – the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron – will provide race fans with an aerial spectacle during the National Anthem flyover at the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway. It is the first time the exclusive flying squadron will perform a flyover at the historic “World Center of Racing.” It will also be the first flyover by the exclusive group in 2008.(Daytona PR), they did however, do a flyover in the late 1950's, over the Daytona beach course.(12-11-2007)
  
  
• Experience the Daytona 500 at Orlando Science Center: Discover the DAYTONA 500 at the Orlando Science Center offers a hands-on experience exploring the science and history behind auto racing with authentic racing cars, gear and the chance for guests to race scale models. Discover the DAYTONA 500 premiered at the Orlando Science Center on Friday, November 30 and be on display until Sunday, January 6, 2008. Get an up-close look at the marvelous machines that dominate Daytona International Speedway as you discover the science used to take the checkered flag. Content will include a mixture of activities developed by the Science Center creative team combined with DAYTONA 500 memorabilia and authentic racing gear, including racing suits from Dale Jarrett and Richard Petty. Other gear includes a life-size cutaway model of a stock car, a racing seat where guests can strap themselves in, an example of the Gatorade In Car Drinking System (G.I.D.S.) and a working V-8 engine. A garage area with a Pit Stop activity, a video wall showing historical race footage and driving simulators will also be major exhibit components. In keeping with the Orlando Science Center's commitment to providing learning experiences for all ages, a kid's area will feature a battery-operated racecar for little ones to drive on their own miniature track, stations and other themed activities. Older kids and the young at heart will enjoy firsthand race excitement with the ultimate slot car and pinewood derby tracks as well as opportunities for remote control racing. Discover the DAYTONA 500 will be included with general exhibit admission to the Orlando Science Center, which is $14.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids (ages 3-11). The exhibit is currently under development. More information at osc.org.(DIS PR)(12-1-2007)
  
  
• NASCAR enters the Space Age: If NASA's promotional plan pays off, millions of NASCAR fans will have their eyes glued to the skies next month when space shuttle Atlantis blasts off into orbit -- carrying three Daytona 500 race flags in its cargo bay. The green starter flags are being launched into space to celebrate the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in February, as well as NASA's own upcoming 50th anniversary. "It's great," NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said. "It will hopefully bring space to a whole new audience." NASA, working hard to wind down the shuttle program in 2010 and start its next phase of space exploration that will bring humans back to the moon, is trying to drum up public enthusiasm for an invigorated space program. And the Daytona racetrack was looking for an out-of-this-world way to celebrate its own milestone, said David Talley, spokesman for Daytona International Speedway. NASA came up with the idea to link the two anniversaries earlier this year. Both sides are trying to arrange astronaut-driver promotional events, including a possible joint NASCAR driver-shuttle crew press event during Atlantis' 11-day mission next month. The agency sets aside a small amount of space on every shuttle mission for commemorative items. Last month, Luke Skywalker's lightsaber flew aboard Discovery to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Star Wars film franchise. In 2000, a small piece of fabric from Orville and Wilbur Wright's airplane flew on a shuttle mission. The flags had to be measured and weighed carefully to meet NASA's requirements for onboard items and will be stowed throughout the mission. Upon their return to Earth, one flag will be awarded to the winner of the 50th Daytona 500 on Feb. 17; one will go to the Daytona 500 Experience attraction at the racetrack; and the third will stay with NASA. NASA officials will announce Atlantis' launch date Friday. It is expected to be Dec. 6.(Orlando Sentinel)(11-29-2007)
  UPDATE: NASCAR will drop the green flag for shuttle Atlantis as it lifts off the launch pad at 3:31 p.m. Dec. 6. Inside the orbiter's payload are three flags being sent to space to celebrate the 50th running of the Daytona 500. The flags will travel more than a million miles at 17,500 mph during the 12-day mission to deliver Columbus, a science research module -- a far cry from the 200 mph the cars will go during the February race.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(11-29-2007)
  
  
• Daytona July 2008 race tix on sale: On Saturday, Oct. 13, at 8:00am/et, fans will have their first opportunity to purchase all remaining tickets for the July Sprint Cup Series 400 on July 5, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway. Great seats, including a limited number of premium tower seats, will be available. DIS also has something special for current tickets holders who refer a friend that buys tickets to the July Sprint Cup Series 400 - a brand new Corvette. Current customers can refer as many accounts as they like and will be registered each time they are mentioned as a referring account. Both the referring account and new customer account are registered for the Corvette. Drawing for the new Corvette will be held in May. For more info see daytonainternationalspeedway.com of call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(10-11-2007)
  
  
• Daytona to add Second Fan Deck to Sprint Fanzone: The Sprint Fanzone, located in the heart of the infield of Daytona International Speedway, will be bigger and better for DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 and the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17. Beginning in mid-October, a second Fandeck will be added atop the Sprint Cup Series garages on the south side of the Sprint Fanzone. The new fan deck, which will include a bridge connecting it to the north fan deck, adds an additional 23,500 square feet to the Sprint Fanzone and provides race fans with a view of the south side of the Sprint Cup Series garages. Construction on the expansion of the Fandeck will be completed in time for the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 26-27. The Sprint Fanzone was constructed in 2004 during Daytona International Speedway's multi-million dollar infield renovation and made its debut in 2005. A Sprint Fanzone/Pre-Race access pass for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 is $90 (must already have purchased a race ticket). For the other days during DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008, an advance Sprint Fanzone/Pre-Race pass is $25 (must be purchased two weeks before event date). For tickets to DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 events, including the 50th running of the Daytona 500, call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(9-14-2007)
  
  
• Ford hired by ISC: Edsel Ford II, great-grandson of pioneer automaker Henry Ford, is becoming a director of International Speedway Corp., owner of Daytona International Speedway. Ford, 58, due to be formally elected in November, will take over the board seat of Chairman William C. France, who died in June. Ford has been a vice president of Ford Motor Co. since 1993. James C. France, William C. France's brother, officially took over as ISC chairman. Lesa France Kennedy, ISC president and William's daughter, became vice chairman.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(9-6-2007)
  
  
• Race Fans Go Behind The Scenes At DIS With VIP Hot Pass Tour: Have you ever wondered what it's liketo see Gatorade Victory Lane from a $5,000 seat at Daytona International Speedway? What the view is from the eyes of a sportswriter?; Where NASCAR President Mike Helton lays down the law prior to a NASCAR race? Well, race fans visiting the Daytona 500 Experience motorsports attraction can see those things and much more by taking advantage of the new VIP Hot Pass Tour - an exclusive behind-the-scenes personalized two-hour tour that opens the door to the backstage of motorsports' most historic venue "The World Center of Racing." The VIP Hot Pass Tour debuted last Friday and Saturday and both were sold out. On the VIP Hot Pass Tour, race fans can travel in comfort throughout the hallowed Speedway grounds and get an insider's look at popular hot spots such as the four-story icon Daytona 500 Club and upscale President's Row, the Nextel Cup garages, the Infield Media Center where hundreds of reporters from the Associated Press to NASCAR Scene pen stories, the Driver's Meeting Room where drivers, crew chiefs, owners and VIPs gather for the pre-race dos and don'ts, the Houston Lawing Press Box and a luxury suite in Sprint Tower where Fortune 500 executives rub elbows.
  Included in the $50 Daytona 500 Experience VIP Hot Pass tour are:
  * Admission to the Daytona 500 Experience, "The Official Attraction of NASCAR."
  * Two-hour personal track tour aboard the comfort of a Speedway motor coach.
  * Lunch at the Budweiser Bistro in the heart of the SPRINT FANZONE.
  * Discount on merchandise from the Pit Shop, located just outside The Daytona 500 Experience and jam packed with the latest in NASCAR apparel. * Two ACCELERATION ALLEY ride vouchers, where guests hop in 80% scale motion simulators and race each other on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. All VIP Hot Pass tours must be scheduled by calling (386) 947-6530 or by visiting www.DAYTONA500EXPERIENCE.com.(DIS PR)(8-14-2007)
  
  
• Pavers, graders replace sound of stock cars at Daytona: The sound of stock cars at Daytona International Speedway, have been replaced - for the time being - by the sound of bulldozers, pavers and graders. "The World Center of Racing," which undertook a major infield renovation project in 2004, is currently experience yet another tweak in its infield, with several alterations underway.
  Those projects include:
  Remove all above ground obstructions and ditches from the interior grassed sections of the road course (overhead power, drainage structure headwalls, fencing).
  Regrade the interior grassed section of the road course, install drainage structures and grates.
  Construct a 12' wide extension of pit road to extend pit road out to the east horseshoe where it blends into the main track.
  Construct a new inner East Horseshoe which will match the existing radius and slope of the existing turn.
  Strip the grass and topsoil between road course in and out and pave the area.(DIS PR)(7-31-2007)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Web Site Launched: Race fans looking to get their Daytona 500 “fix” prior to the historic 50th running of “The Great American Race” scheduled for Feb. 17, 2008, can visit the preeminent on-line destination for news, history and background on the most anticipated event in racing history. At www.daytona500.com, the Official Site of the Daytona 500, race fans can access a comprehensive, user-friendly website with the latest innovative technology, allowing fans to view exclusive and historical content, videos, photos, audio as well as downloading screensavers and wallpapers and other multimedia elements.(DIS PR)(7-23-2007)
  
  
• Coke signs deal with ISC, and title rights for July races in Daytona: International Speedway Corporation announced that the company has signed an exclusive ten-year agreement with Coca-Cola North America (CCNA). Specific financial terms were not released. Under the terms of the agreement, CCNA brands will become the "Official Soft Drink," "Official Sparkling Beverage" and "Official Water" for 10 of ISC's wholly owned and/or operated motorsports facilities; as well as the Daytona 500 Experience, the Ultimate Motorsports Attraction. Beginning in January 2008, the partnership will include the following ISC properties:
  Daytona International Speedway, including race entitlement rights for the facility's July Nextel [to be Sprint] Cup and Busch series events; The DAYTONA 500 Experience; Chicagoland Speedway; Homestead-Miami Speedway; Kansas Speedway; Michigan International Speedway; Richmond International Raceway. The relationship will extend to Darlington Raceway in 2009, Talladega Superspeedway and Watkins Glen International in 2011, and Phoenix International Raceway in 2012 [no mention of Martinsville or California speedways]. Under the new agreement, CCNA beverages will be served exclusively at the facilities by Americrown, ISC's catering, concessions and merchandising subsidiary, and by other facility concessionaires. In addition, CCNA will leverage its marketing expertise to create a variety of programs featuring ISC properties both at-track and wherever racing fans enjoy their favorite sport.(DIS PR)(7-9-2007)
  
  
• Daytona 500 to be moved to November? UPDATE denied: This week, sources within NASCAR told me [CTR] there has been closed door discussions to move the date of the Daytona 500, to November. Apparently, NASCAR is intrigued by the idea of switching the dates of the season ending Homestead race with the season opening Daytona 500. The allure of ending the NASCAR season and crowning a new Nextel Cup champion at the sports biggest race is something the France family is strongly considering. NASCAR and the International Speedway Corporation own both tracks so a change of date would be easy to accomplish. For the past 25 years, NASCAR has led off the season in Daytona Beach, FL with the sports biggest race, the Daytona 500. In 2008, NASCAR will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 on February 17th for what may be the final time ever in the month of February. Sources said the late Bill France Jr. was very much against moving the Daytona 500 and felt that it would hurt the integrity of the sport. NASCAR does not intend to have a final decision regarding the date change until the end of the 2007 season.(CTR-Captain Thunder Racing)(7-5-2007)
  UPDATE - denied: There's no validity to a rumor circulating on the Internet that NASCAR is having discussions about moving the Daytona 500 to November, Daytona spokesman Andrew Booth said. "That one was way out in left field," he said.(Tampa Tribune)(7-7-2007)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Champions Awarded: Daytona International Speedway announced, as a gesture of recognition of the past Daytona 500 Champions and in celebration of the upcoming 50th running of the Great American Race, it will present the 24 living legends a lifetime membership to the prestigious Daytona 500 Club. Each champion, by way of their accomplishments on the track and in life, will receive lifetime access to the track's infield hospitality and entertainment experience. Membership benefits include: a seat in Gatorade Victory Lane, access to the Club banquet & lounge, event souvenir packages, a Pre Race / Nextel Fanzone Access pass, infield parking and admission to the Daytona Experience for the Pepsi 400 and Speedweeks event weekends. Also the Daytona 500 Experience at Daytona International Speedway welcomed five past champions of the "Great American Race" to its Walk of Fame. Inductees ranged from this year's winner, Kevin Harvick (2007), to Junior Johnson (1960). Joining Harvick and Johnson at the induction was Derrike Cope (1990), Buddy Baker (1980) and Pete Hamilton (1970). Plans for a new exhibit inside the Daytona 500 Experience featuring other past champions of the "Great American Race" were also unveiled at the ceremony.(DIS PR)(7-7-2007)
  
  
• DIS, NASCAR Honor Bill France Jr. During Pepsi 400 Weekend: NASCAR legend Richard Petty will drive a specially designed Daytona International Speedway/NASCAR tribute car in honor of the late Bill France Jr. prior to Saturday night's Pepsi 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race. The on-track tribute highlighted by Petty is just one of several tributes that are taking place during the Pepsi 400 Weekend at Daytona International Speedway. France, who helped build Daytona International Speedway in the late 1950s and served as President between 1982-87, passed away last month at the age of 74.
  The tributes for Bill France Jr. include:
  * With Petty, the specially designed Daytona International Speedway/NASCAR tribute car will lead the Pepsi 400 field during the pace laps and slow as the field splits with the car falling to the back of the pack.
  * A moment of silence held before Friday's Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo Busch Series race and Saturday night's 49th annual Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup Series race.
  * A special video tribute will be shown on the Nextel Vision screen during Saturday's pre-race festivities.
  * A special feature of Bill France Jr. in the 2007 Pepsi 400 Weekend souvenir program.(DIS PR)(7-7-2007)
  
  
• Busch Race postponsed until Saturday Tix Info: The Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo has been postponed and been rescheduled for Saturday morning at 9 :00am/et. The following are the ticket procedures for Saturday, July 7 at Daytona International Speedway:
  * Both Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo tickets and Pepsi 400 tickets will be honored.
  * If a ticket holder has only a Winn-Dixie 250 ticket, they can view the Pepsi 400 from the Superstretch.
  * The Pepsi 400 ticket has priority over any Winn-Dixie 250 ticket for Saturday night's Nextel Cup race.
  * Gates will open at 7:30am/et
  * The NEXTEL FANZONE will open at 2:00pm/et and only Nextel Fanzone/Pre-Race passes for the Pepsi 400 will be honored
  * All Speedway parking/tram service will run as scheduled
  For more information, call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(7-6-2007)
  
  
• Red, White and... Green at Daytona:Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation and the Daytona International Speedway have joined to encourage and enable recycling during the entire race week. More than 9000 pounds of aluminum cans and aluminum bottles and approximately 3000 pounds of plastic water bottles were collected at the track during February's Speedweeks at Daytona. Budweiser "Green Team" members and DIS employees will hand out blue recycle bags to campers as they enter the Speedway infield and the West Lot camping grounds for nightly pick up. In addition, 400 recycling containers will be located throughout the concourse, Fan Walk area, suites and hospitality tents. During the races, the Budweiser "Green Team" and speedway employees will service these recycling bins. To encourage guests to recycle their beverage containers, "Green Team" volunteers will walk through the campgrounds and reward adults that are "caught" recycling with Budweiser gear. Budweiser is the official beer of Daytona International Speedway. For more information on the Anheuser-Busch Environmental Outreach, visit ABenvironment.com.(fingerprint inc)(7-6-2007)
  
  
• Final Pepsi 400 Next Weekend? Next weekend’s Nextel Cup race at Daytona will not only be the last restrictor-plate race using the old race car, it appears it also will be the last Daytona race called the Pepsi 400. Sports Business Daily reported Friday that Coca-Cola is close to signing a deal to give it pouring and marketing rights at Daytona. That would end an almost 50-year relationship between Pepsi and the track. The report says Pepsi’s deals with other International Speedway Corporation tracks at Phoenix, Talladega, Watkins Glen and Darlington will be dropped as they expire over the next few years.(Thats Racin)(6-30-2007)
  
  
• Actor Kevin James Grand Marshal for Pepsi 400 at Daytona: Kevin James, who stars opposite Adam Sandler in Universal Pictures' new comedy, "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 49th annual Pepsi 400 Nextel Series Cup race on Saturday, July 7 at Daytona International Speedway. The film opens July 20. James will give the command "Gentlemen, start your engines" in the NASCAR mid-summer classic. His Grand Marshal duties also include leading the 43-car field in the pace laps from the Grand Marshal Chevy Impala pace car. Tickets for any of the Pepsi 400 Weekend events, including the 49th annual Pepsi 400 on Saturday, July 7, the Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo on Friday, July 6 and the Brumos Porsche 250 Rolex Series race on Thursday, July 5, are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-30-2007)
  
  
• DAYTONA USA is now "Daytona 500 Experience": For the past 11 years, DAYTONA USA, "The Official Attraction of NASCAR," has been delivering magical motorsports memories to both hard-core race fans and casual observers through hands-on activities, challenging thrills and one-of-a-kind sights. This year, the attraction continues to offer fans the thrills of racing at "The World Center of Racing." However, in an effort to align "The Official Attraction of NASCAR" with NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race -- the Daytona 500 -- DAYTONA USA will be renamed the Daytona 500 Experience beginning July 1, 2007. A new logo will accompany the name change as well as a new website address. Fans can see the new logo at www.Daytona500Experience.com.(DIS PR)(6-28-2007)
  
  
• 2007 Pepsi 400 Purse Exceeds $6 Million: The stars of the Nextel Cup Series will vie for a purse of more than $6 million under the lights at the "World Center Of Racing" in the 49th annual Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup Series race on Saturday, July 7th at Daytona International Speedway. The posted awards for this year's mid-summer classic will be a record $6,202,439, an increase of almost $200,000. The posted awards for the 2006 Pepsi 400, which was won by Tony Stewart, was $6,074,820. The winner of this year's Pepsi 400 will collect a minimum of $284,550. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Pepsi 400 will receive a minimum of $195,575, $160,725, $131,425 and $118,725 respectively. The posted awards for the Winn-Dixie 250 Busch Series race presented by PepsiCo on Friday, July 6th will be $1,552,701. Tickets to any of the 2007 Pepsi 400 Weekend events are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-27-2007)
  
  
• NASA rocket launch to coincide with Pepsi 400 festivities: Whoever sings "and the rockets red glare," on Saturday, July 7, the day of the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, will really mean it. Sometime between 4:09 and 4:36pm/et, NASA is scheduled to launch a Delta II Rocket from the Astrotech Space Operations Facility Launch Pad at Kennedy Space Center in nearby Titusville, FL. Weather permitting, those attending the Nextel Series Pepsi 400 race or in the area of the Speedway should be able to see the rocket churn toward space. The Dawn spacecraft is being prepared for launch and has gone through a series of tests including the loading on xenon for the ion propulsion system and the loading of Hydrazine, used for spacecraft control and maneuvering.(DIS PR)(6-25-2007)
  
  
• 10 Finalists in Daytona 500 Celebrity Tickets for Charity Competition announced: When fans speak, Daytona International Speedway (DIS) listens. Some of the most passionate fans in professional sports have made their voices heard and narrowed a star-studded field of 46 celebrity designs to 10 finalists in the Daytona 500 "Celebrity Tickets for Charity" competition. Resembling a Who's Who among sports and entertainment personalities, these 10 celebrities have edged out the competition in an online battle for ultimate bragging rights and now move one step closer to the honor of having their artistic sense immortalized on the most sought after ticket in all of motorsports - the 50th running of the Daytona 500.
  The top 10 finalists, in no particular order, are as follows:
  1. Kevin Harvick - 2007 Daytona 500 winner
  2. Jeff Foxworthy - host of FOX's "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?"
  3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 2004 Daytona 500 winner
  4. Tony Hawk - extreme sports icon
  5. Katie Cook - host of CMT Insider
  6. Mike Joy - NASCAR on FOX commentator
  7. Patrick McRae (age 17) - on behalf of Rick Hendrick
  8. Derek Wynne (age 7) - on behalf of Jimmie Johnson
  9. Marvin Panch - 1961 Daytona 500 winner
  10. Mario Andretti - 1967 Daytona 500 winner
  To commemorate the historic milestone of NASCAR's most prestigious race on February 17, 2008, DIS launched "Celebrity Tickets for Charity," a fun, philanthropic initiative that has provided a platform for professional athletes, musicians, famous actors and TV personalities to showcase their artistic talents through their personal canvases inspired by the "Great American Race." The response was overwhelming as Daytona500.com received an unprecedented number of visits from NASCAR fans voting for their celebrity designs. Voting began May 1 and ended June 14, 2007.
  A blue ribbon panel made up of members of the NASCAR community will decide the winning entry. International Speedway Corporation (ISC) President Lesa France Kennedy, DIS President Robin Braig, three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon, 1989 Daytona 500 winner Darrell Waltrip, and TNT on-air talent Marty Snider comprise the judging panel and have the responsibility of determining the look of the 2008 Daytona 500 ticket. The winning design will be announced Saturday, July 7 at DIS prior to the Pepsi 400. Once the winning design is chosen, all original celebrity artwork will be auctioned online with the proceeds benefiting The Jeff Gordon Foundation, which supports children with life-threatening and chronic diseases. Tickets to the 50th running of the Daytona 500 are currently on sale to the general public. To view the top 10 finalists, purchase tickets, or for ticket information, visit Daytona500.com.(DIS PR)(6-15-2007)
  
  
• Historic 50th Running Daytona 500 Tickets Go On Sale May 9: Tickets for the 50th annual Daytona 500 will go on sale on Wednesday, May 9, at 8:00am/et. The pre-Mother's Day Weekend on-sale date marks the earliest opportunity ever for fans to purchase all remaining tickets for the 50th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2008. Prior to Wednesday, May 9, only renewals and deposits for seat assignments for the 50th annual Daytona 500 were taken by the ticket office at Daytona International Speedway. Oder by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or visiting the Daytona International Speedway ticket office inside the lobby of Daytona USA. Tickets for other DIRECTV Speedweeks at Daytona events, including the Daytona 300 Busch Series race, the Chevy Silverado HD 250 Craftsman Truck Series race, the Gatorade Duel at Daytona, Bud Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 and the Budweiser Shootout. Hospitality packages including the Daytona Club, the Daytona 500 Club, the Green Flag Club and the Party Zone. Tickets for the upcoming Pepsi 400 Weekend on July 5-7, including the Pepsi 400 on Saturday night, July 7, the Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo Busch Series race and Circle K Pole Qualifying for the Pepsi 400 on Friday, July 6 and the Brumos Porsche 250 Rolex Sports Car Series race on Thursday, July 5.(DIS PR)(5-8-2007)
  
  
• Daytona International Speedway Launches Celebrity Tickets for Charity: Daytona 500 winners Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Mario Andretti, Grammy Award nominee Jewel, TV host Kelly Ripa, and action sport legend Tony Hawk, among others, will put their artistic talents to the test to help commemorate the 50th running of NASCAR's crown jewel stock car race, the 2008 Daytona 500. Daytona International Speedway (DIS) announced its "Celebrity Tickets for Charity" competition, where the design of the most sought-after ticket in motorsports history will be chosen from submissions provided by celebrities, with fans having a voice in the decision. Program spokesperson and three-time Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon and DIS President Robin Braig launched the program at Talladega Superspeedway and unveiled several celebrity designs. Celebrity spokesperson Carson Daly also participated in a media tour from New York City to kick off the program. Voting begins Tuesday, May 1. Fans are encouraged to click on the "Celebrity Tickets for Charity" banner on Daytona500.com as often as they like to view and vote for their favorite celebrity ticket designs. The top 10 most popular designs, based on fan voting, along with the members of a blue ribbon panel that will determine the winner, will be announced at Michigan International Speedway Friday, June 15. The winning design will be announced during the Pepsi 400 (July 5-7) weekend in Daytona Beach. Once the winning design is chosen, all original celebrity artwork will be auctioned online with the proceeds benefiting The Jeff Gordon Foundation, which supports children with life-threatening diseases. Tickets to the 50th running of the Daytona 500 go on sale Wednesday, May 9, 2007. To vote for ticket designs, purchase tickets, or for ticket information, visit Daytona500.com.(DIS PR)(4-28-2007)
  
  
• Daytona International Speedway Earns Prestigious Welcome Mat Award: For the fifth straight year, historic Daytona International Speedway has been awarded the Welcome Mat from The Good Sam Club for hosting the most RV friendly NASCAR event - the Daytona 500. The Good Sam Club, the world's largest membership organization of RV owners, introduced their Welcome Mat Awards to recognize those businesses that know how to accommodate RVs and offer award-winning service to a growing number of RV owners. Nearly one million RV owners were eligible to vote for businesses and events that go out of the way to recognize the needs of RV owners. DIS hosted The Good Sam Club's "The Rally" in April 2006.(DIS PR)(4-8-2007)
  
  
• Daytona 500 fan killed in road rage shooting UPDATE: Three Jacksonville men have been charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Eddie Houk, 36, Land O Lakes, who was leaving the Daytona International Speedway with an older brother Sunday night when he was shot and killed on Interstate 4 in a road rage incident, authorities said today. The men were apparently passing through the area but had not attended the race, deputies said. More details will come later in a press release, but Volusia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Brandon Haught confirmed it was a road rage incident.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-19-2007)
  UPDATE: Sheriff's investigators combed through an Interstate 4 exit Tuesday morning searching for the handgun used in the road-rage killing of a 36-year-old Tampa-area father heading home from the Daytona 500. Investigators were at the Orange City exit looking for the weapon, sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. One of the suspects involved in the shooting, Ronlee Harvin, 21, told investigators he flung the gun from a window of the SUV he was riding in afterward. Meanwhile the grieving family made funeral plans for Eric Houk of Land O' Lakes, a youth soccer coach, husband and father of three, including a 5-month-old son. Seminole County sheriff's deputies arrested Harvin, Charles Onasanya, 19, and David Paul Edwards, 21, as the trio and a female passenger sped west on the interstate Sunday night into Seminole County. Edwards is charged with second-degree murder, accused of shooting Houk in the stomach. The other two men are charged with being principals to second-degree murder. The suspects and the woman are from Jacksonville. Eric Houk and his brother, Michael Houk, encountered the three suspects about 9:20 p.m. Sunday after Eric Houk swerved his pickup into the emergency lane of the interstate to avoid hitting another car. The victim had no idea that Onasanya, who was driving the SUV, was already tooling along in the emergency lane to bypass heavy post-race traffic on I-4, officials said. Angry at being cut off, Onasanya swung his SUV around Eric Houk's truck and he, Harvin and Edwards got out, along with their female passenger, whose name is not being released by sheriff's investigators. The Houk brothers also got out of their pickup and Eric Houk and Onasanya started arguing, investigators said. When the argument turned physical, the female passenger yelled, "Get the gun," a police report shows. She will not be charged, though, sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said, because saying that "is not a crime." Onasanya ran back to his vehicle and retrieved a handgun belonging to Harvin. The gun made its way to Edwards who fired a shot into the air to get Eric Houk and Onasanya to stop fighting, the report said. Edwards fired two more shots at Eric Houk, though he was unarmed and not threatening, officials said. Seconds later, the three suspects and the woman took off in the SUV. Eric Houk died just before 10 p.m. at Florida Hospital DeLand, officials said. The suspects were arrested soon after on I-4 in Seminole County.(More at the Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-21-2007)
  
  
• 49th Annual Daytona 500 A Sellout: All grandstand seats for the 49th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18 at historic Daytona International Speedway are sold out, Speedway officials announced Saturday. While all the grandstand seats are sold out, fans can still purchase infield tickets for the "Great American Race" - the kick off to the Nextel Cup Series season. "We're happy to announce that the Daytona 500 is sold out," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "The fans continue to show that the Daytona 500 is the premier stock car race in America." Tickets for all other events at Daytona International Speedway are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-18-2007)
  
  
• Parsons to wave the green? UPDATE: hearing that Phil Parsons, brother of the late great Benny Parsons, will be the Honorary Starter for the Daytona 500 on Sunday and wave the green flag.(2-13-2007)
  UPDATE: Phil Parsons, younger brother of 1975 Daytona 500 champion and 1973 NASCAR champion Benny Parsons, has been named Honorary Starter for the 49th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Benny Parsons, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, passed away last month in Charlotte, N.C. after complications from treatment. "Benny Parsons was a special member of the Daytona International Speedway family and we're honored to have his brother wave the green flag for Sunday's Daytona 500," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. Benny Parsons was a member of the NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers and a winner of 21 races and 20 poles. After retiring from racing in 1988, Parsons excelled at broadcasting and spent the past six years with NBC and TNT. Phil Parsons was also a NASCAR driver making 202 Nextel Cup Series starts and winning a Nextel Cup race in 1988 at Talladega Superspeedway. Parsons, who also won two Busch Series races, now serves as an analyst for SPEED Channel's coverage of the Craftsman Truck Series.(DIS PR)(2-14-2007)
  
  
• Big & Rich To Sing National Anthem At Daytona 500: The multi-platinum genre bending country music duo and Grammy nominated Big & Rich will perform the National Anthem for the 49th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 18 at historic Daytona International Speedway. (Big Kenny) and John Rich formed Big & Rich in 1998 and the duo has released two chart-topping albums - "Horse Of A Different Color" and "Comin' To Your City" - and has another album due out by the middle of 2007. Also participating in Daytona 500 pre-ceremonies will be actor Nicolas Cage as Grand Marshal, singer Kelly Clarkson in the NEXTEL Tribute To America and baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. as Daytona 500 pace car driver. Tickets to all exciting events at Daytona International Speedway are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-13-2007)
  
  
• 2007 Daytona 500 Purse Exceeds $18 Million The 49th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18, America's richest, biggest and most prestigious motorsports event of the year, will once again carry the biggest purse in the history of stock car racing at more than $18 million. The posted awards for the "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 18 will be $18,386,023. The posted awards for the 2006 Daytona 500, which was won for the first time by Jimmie Johnson, was $18,035,635. The winner of this year's Daytona 500 will collect a minimum of $1,443,250. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,041,525, $747,575, $593,550and $466,000 respectively. Even the last-place finisher in the Daytona 500 will be well compensated with a minimum of $226,295.
  Other purses for Speedweeks 2007 events are:
  * ARCA 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race: $277,936
  * Budweiser Shootout: $1,153,518 with the winner pocketing $215,000
  * Gatorade Duel At Daytona: $1,350,000, $675,000 for each race
  * Chevy Silverado HD 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race: $865,733
  * Orbitz 300 NASCAR Busch Series race: $2,596,288.(DIS PR)(2-7-2007)
  
  
• Daytona International Speedway OK there was a major tornado in Central Florida this afternoon, killing over a dozen people. Have heard the tornado didn't hit Daytona International Speedway and there is no damage there. More than 2 inches of rain fell overnight at Daytona Beach International Airport [right next to the speedway] but no high wind gusts were reported there. Reports on the tornado can be found at the Daytona Beach News Journal.(2-2-2007)
  AND The storms that struck middle Florida spared Daytona International Speedway, site of NASCAR's upcoming season-opening Daytona 500. "We're A-OK," Speedway spokesman Andrew Booth said Friday morning. "We had a lot of rain, wind and lightning, but no damage." NASCAR activities at Daytona crank up next weekend with the Budweiser Shootout on Feb.10 followed by the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(2-3-2007)
  
  
• Dierks Bentley To Perform Pre- and Post-Race Bud Shootout Concerts: Popular country music star Dierks Bentley, whose recent album Long Trip Alone debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart, will perform before thousands of fans both before and after the 29th annual Budweiser Shootout at historic Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, Feb. 10. Bentley's hit single "Every Mile A Memory" from the album Long Trip Alone reached No. 1 on the Billboard country singles charts and recently garnered two Grammy nominations for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song.(DIS PR)(2-3-2007)
  
  
• Forbes rates the top 10 sports brands and event brand value ($mil):
  • 1. Super Bowl, 379
  • 2. Summer Olympics Games, 176
  • 3. FIFA World Cup, 103
  • 4. Daytona 500, 91
  • 5. Rose Bowl, 88
  • 6. NCAA Men's Final Four, 82
  • 7. Winter Olympics Games, 82
  • 8. Kentucky Derby, 69
  • 9. MLB World Series, 56
  • 10. NBA Finals, 47
  (Forbes.com)(2-1-2007)
  
  
• Cal Ripken Jr. to pace Daytona 500 Field: Cal Ripken Jr., best known as baseball's "Iron Man", playing in a record 2,632 straight games for the Baltimore Orioles, will be behind the wheel of a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette as he paces the field for the 49th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Voted to baseball's Hall of Fame in 2007, his consecutive games played record, which took 16 years to establish, made him a popular player with baseball fans everywhere as evidenced by his 19 All-Star Game appearances. "The Daytona 500 is one of the most storied sporting events in the country and I am thrilled and honored to be a part of it. NASCAR drivers are tremendous athletes and I look forward to being in that environment," said Ripken. Tickets for the Daytona 500 as well as other Speedweeks 2007 events are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(1-30-2007)
  
  
• Actor Nicolas Cage grand marshal for Daytona 500: Nicolas Cage, the star of the upcoming action-adventure Ghost Rider from Columbia Pictures, in theaters everywhere on February 16th, has been named Grand Marshal of the 49th annual Daytona 500, Cage will command the drivers, "Gentlemen, start your engines!" at NASCAR's signature event, which will run on Sunday, Feb. 18 at historic Daytona International Speedway. Cage has starred in more than 50 films including such popular releases as National Treasure, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Face/Off, Con Air, The Rock, Raising Arizona, and Leaving Las Vegas, which garnered him an Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Actor.(DIS PR)(1-26-2007)
  
  
• Clarkson To Headline Nextel Tribute To America at Daytona 500: Two-time Grammy winner and Sony recording artist Kelly Clarkson will headline the Nextel Tribute To America, the pre-race extravaganza leading up to "The Great American Race" -- the prestigious Daytona 500 Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 18. Clarkson will perform in the Nextel-sponsored show, which will be carried live on FOX Sports. The Nextel Tribute To America pays tribute to music as the fabric of America and will feature thousands of cast members on the Speedway's historic five-acre tri-oval grass.(DIS PR)(1-18-2007)
  
  
• 2007 DIS Fan Guide Now Available: Continuing Daytona International Speedway's "Fans R 1st @ Daytona" initiative, the 2007 edition of the Fan Guide - the top fan information source at "The World Center of Racing" - is now available online at www.Daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Guests can download the Fan Guide by clicking on the Fan Info banner at the top of the main page. For the first time, the Fan Guide is available for download in both individual sections as well as the complete version. The Daytona International Speedway Fan Guide is loaded with ticket information, schedules, specialty vehicle overnight parking information, traffic patterns and Speedway facility maps including free parking locations, disabled guest assistance services and other tidbits that will make the fans' visit an even more enjoyable experience. If you don't have Speedweeks 2007 tickets call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(1-11-2007)
  
  
• Fans gobbling up “Sit With Jimmy” tickets: Jimmy Spencer was right – he is in touch with the fans. And judging from “Sit With Jimmy” ticket sales, he’s as popular as ever. In response to Kenny Wallace’s accusation in September that Jimmy Spencer is out of touch with race fans, “Mr. Excitement” unveiled his own Daytona 500 special ticket package for the 49th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18. Since his announcement, “Sit With Jimmy” tickets have been a popular item, already selling out the original Superstretch Lund Section seats. Because of its popularity, seats in the Allison grandstand have been added. Two different "Sit With Jimmy" packages are still available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or visit sitwithjimmy.com.(DIS PR)(12-20-2006)
  
  
• 'The World Center of Racing' Renamed DeLana International Speedway: Kevin Harvick Inc. and owner DeLana Harvick have dominated the past two Daytona 300 Busch Series races at Daytona International Speedway, winning the prestigious season-opening events with driver Tony Stewart. With Kevin Harvick Inc.'s success in the Daytona 300, Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig announced that the legendary historic motorsports facility will now carry the name of its team owner -- DeLana -- for the day. "Kevin Harvick Inc. and its owner DeLana Harvick have won the last two February Busch Series races at DIS," Braig said. "Since they 'own' the track, in their honor, we're going to change the name of Daytona International Speedway to 'DeLana International Speedway' for the day." On Thursday during NASCAR Busch Series Champion's Week Media Luncheon at the ESPN Club at Disney's Boardwalk, Braig made the announcement and gave a piece of historic pavement from DIS to DeLana Harvick with the new track logo. The Daytona 300, the premier event in the NASCAR Busch Series season, will kick off the 2007 Busch Series season on Saturday, Feb. 17. The race will also be televised on ESPN2HD, the new television home to the Busch Series.(DIS PR)(12-8-2006)
  
  
• Pepsi 400 Tickets On Sale Saturday, Oct. 14: On Saturday, Oct. 14, at 8am/et, fans will have their first opportunity to purchase all remaining tickets for the 49th annual Pepsi 400 on July 7, 2007. Great seats, including a limited number of premium tower seats, will be available. Prior to Saturday, Oct. 14, renewals and deposits for seat assignments for the Pepsi 400 were taken by the ticket office at Daytona International Speedway. Also available beginning on Saturday will be a three-day Pepsi 400 Weekend ticket package, which will include tickets to the NASCAR Busch Series 250 and Circle K Pole Qualifying Day for the Pepsi 400 on Friday, July 6 and the Rolex Sports Car Series 250 on Thursday night, July 5. Daytona International Speedway offers several convenient methods for fans to purchase tickets to the mid-summer classic, more info at 1-800-PITSHOP or Daytonainternationalspeedway.com.(DIS PR)(10-14-2006)
  
  
• Sit With Jimmy: In response to Kenny Wallace’s recent accusation that Jimmy Spencer is out of touch with race fans, "Mr. Excitement" unveiled his own Daytona 500 ticket package on Sunday’s NASCAR RaceDay at Dover, Del. More info at sitwithjimmy.com.(9-24-2006)
  
  
• IndyCars to Test at Daytona: The IndyCar Series and Daytona International Speedway announced plans for a compatibility test at Daytona International Speedway on Sept. 26 and 27. The test will feature 2006 IndyCar Series Champion Sam Hornish, Jr.,; 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona and 2003 IndyCar Series Champion Scott Dixon and 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona Champion and 2005 IndyCar Series Champion Dan Wheldon. Third-generation racer and 2006 Rookie of the Year Marco Andretti and 2004 IndyCar Series Champ and teammate Tony Kanaan and Vitor Meira will also take part in the test. The visit will allow IndyCar Series officials to determine the possibility of Daytona International Speedway serving as a preseason testing venue. The compatibility test will allow series officials to see transitions onto the banking, tire wear/side loads and braking zones while looking for any challenging surface areas on the track. The IndyCar Series officials have analyzed data from Chip Ganassi Racing and Cheever Racing Rolex Sports Car Series programs that indicate IndyCar Series cars should have no issues. The test will take place on the 2.73-mile tri-oval and road course which includes ten turns. The IndyCar Series and its teams will conduct the on-track activity with support from the Daytona facilities crew. For track services, Daytona will tap the experience and knowledge available from International Speedway Corporation's (ISC) other facilities with IndyCar Series events, which include Homestead-Miami Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Richmond International Raceway, Kansas Speedway and Michigan International Speedway.(DIS PR)(9-14-2006)
  
  
• Finishing Touches on Daytona 500 Champion's Walk Of Fame: In conjunction with Daytona USA's 10th anniversary celebration, "The Official Attraction of NASCAR" put the final touches on the new Daytona 500 Champion's Walk of Fame on Friday. Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig and Daytona USA General Manager Kim Isemann assisted operations personnel in installing the 3x3 cement blocks that showcase the Daytona 500 champion's handprint, right foot and autograph into their final place. During the recent Pepsi 400 Weekend, winning drivers of the Daytona 500 since 1996, the first year of operation for Daytona USA, had their hands, right foot and signature immortalized in cement in a special ceremony inside the 60,000-square foot attraction. Daytona 500 champions Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Ward Burton and Michael Waltrip all had the honor of placing their hands, right foot and signature in the famous wet cement. A special plaque in the Walk of Fame will honor the late Dale Earnhardt and his 1998 Daytona 500 victory. Guests at Daytona USA will now mill around outside Daytona USA, much like the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, and gaze down at the 3x3 cement blocks remembering those historic moments from NASCAR's signature event. Annual handprints, right foot prints and autograph of the Daytona 500 champion will take place each year in a special ceremony.(DIS PR)(9-10-2006)
  
  
• ISC Helps Staten Island Little League: NASCAR is riding to the rescue of the Staten Island Little League, after venerable Hy Turkin Field was torn up from home plate to the outfield in a sickening episode of vehicular vandalism earlier this week. Michael Printup of International Speedway Corp., which seeks to build an 80,000-seat racetrack in Bloomfield, arranged a corporate donation of 500 square feet of sod and some 18 cubic yards of clean fill to make the Dongan Hills field playable again. The work will be done today and tomorrow [July 14-14]. Printup, who coaches in the South Shore Little League, said he wanted to help as soon as he read the distressing details in Wednesday's Advance. "For something that was so horrible in nature, I knew we [ISC] had to do something," he said. "This is something for the kids, so they can get back out there and play." Pete Sclafani expressed gratitude on behalf of the SILL board of directors. "It's good to see people from the community kicking in," Sclafani said.(Staten Island Advance)(7-18-2006)
  
  
• DIS Infield Hosts Bevy Of Options For Pepsi 400 Fans: Only in Daytona International Speedway's NEXTEL FANZONE can the average race fan dine on such fine cuisine as Asian Chicken salad with mandarin orange dressing and toasted sesame seeds, grilled buffalo skewers with a gourmet rice blend, crispy onions and demi glace and tempura battered and panko breaded shrimp. Located in the heart of the infield, the Budweiser Bistro offers race fans something new and unusual to add to the fan experience at the "World Center of Racing". In addition to the new menu at the Bistro, Pepsi 400 Weekend race guests can experience:
  * XM Satellite Radio will be broadcasting their shows live from the Entertainment Stage.
  * Local chalk artists in the FANZONE creating a 6 x 30 mural with a race related theme custom piece of art using only pastels and chalk
  * Professional Lego builders creating a fan-interactive Lego build of a small-scale model racetrack modeled after Daytona International Speedway.
  * Professional Break Dancers performing an eye-catching, crowd-involving show of dance moves and acrobatics for the fans.
  * Tom Hugley, the Unicycle Man, rolling through the NEXTEL FANZONE entertaining fans.
  * Local bands including Jim Van Fleet and the Reign, The Caribbean Posse, Dixieland Band and Yummy.
  Pre-Race/NEXTEL FANZONE admissions as well as all Pepsi 400 Weekend tickets are available online by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. With the purchase of a $60 Pepsi 400 Pre-Race Pass/NEXTEL FANZONE, a guest can receive a FREE XM Satellite Radio with a purchase of a six-month service subscription.(DIS PR)(6-29-2006)
  
  
• Daytona USA To Create Daytona 500 Champion's Walk Of Fame: In conjunction with Daytona USA's 10th anniversary celebration, "The Official Attraction of NASCAR" will create the new Daytona 500 Champion's Walk of Fame during the Pepsi 400 Weekend. Winning drivers of the Daytona 500 since 1996, the first year of operation for Daytona USA, will have their hands, right foot and signature immortalized in cement in a special ceremony inside the 60,000-square foot attraction on Friday, June 30 at 11:00am/et. Daytona 500 champions Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Ward Burton and Michael Waltrip will all have the honor of placing their hands, right foot and signature in the famous wet cement. There will be a special plaque in the Walk of Fame honoring the late Dale Earnhardt and his 1998 Daytona 500 victory. Annual handprints, right foot prints and autograph of the Daytona 500 champion will take place each year in a special ceremony during the Pepsi 400 Weekend. Also Daytona USA will host an unprecedented gathering of former Daytona 500 winning cars during the June 29-July 1 Pepsi 400 Weekend. Including the current Daytona 500 winning car - the #48 Lowe's Home Improvement Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson - Daytona USA will welcome six other winning race machines from "The Great American Race" - NASCAR's most prestigious and richest event. More info about Daytona USA at www.DaytonaUSA.com.(DIS PR)(6-29-2006)
  
  
• Vice President to attend Pepsi 400: Vice President Dick Cheney will attend the 48th annual Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Vice President Cheney will speak to race fans during pre-race ceremonies for the mid-summer classic as well as meet NASCAR drivers, teams and executives during his visit to "The World Center of Racing."
  "We're honored that Vice President Cheney will visit Daytona International Speedway and participate in Pepsi 400 pre-race festivities," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. "Vice President Cheney continues the tradition of high-profile elected officials that have visited the 'World Center of Racing'." In the 1984 Pepsi 400, the late President Ronald Reagan gave the starting command from Air Force One. Reagan, who became the first sitting President to attend a NASCAR race, witnessed Richard Petty earn his 200th NASCAR win. President George H.W. Bush attended the 1992 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and current President George W. Bush served as the Grand Marshal for the Pepsi 400 during his 2000 presidential campaign. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld attended last year's 2005 Pepsi 400.(DIS PR)(6-27-2006)
  
  
• Crossfade's Ed Sloan To Sing National Anthem At Pepsi 400: Ed Sloan, lead singer for Crossfade, one of the most powerful and inventive new hard rock bands around, will sing the National Anthem at the Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup Series race at historic Daytona International Speedway on July 1. Tickets for the Pepsi 400 Weekend are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-27-2006)
  
  
• Space Shuttle, F-16s And Fireworks To Fill DIS Sky: Race fans attending the 48th annual Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup Series event on Saturday, July 1 will receive a 2-for-1 special on fly-overs before the start of one of NASCAR's most exciting nighttime races. Earlier in the day, NASA is scheduled to launch the space shuttle Discovery from the Kennedy Space Center in nearby Cape Canaveral, the first space shuttle launch in almost a year and the first ever on the same day of the Pepsi 400. The launch is scheduled to take place at 3:48pm/et and the "World Center of Racing" will be an excellent viewing spot. The second fly-over at Daytona International Speedway will take place during the national anthem later that night and provided by four Air Force F-16s from the Ft. Smith, Ark. Capping off the All-American night will be another high-flying spectacle as Santore & Sons Fireworks, located in nearby Bunnell, Fla., will once again display one of the largest fireworks shows in the Southeast.(DIS PR)(6-27-2006)
  
  
• Daytona Intl Speedway picks winner to sing national anthem: A 16-year-old Palm Coast girl on Saturday sang her way past nine other finalists to win a chance to sing the national anthem before a televised NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway later this month. "It's really thrilling to win because I've done my best and it's good enough," Tiffany Thomas said as she entered her version of Victory Lane at Daytona USA's Pepsi IMAX Theater. As the winner of Straightaway to Stardom II, an "American Idol"-style talent contest put on by the Speedway, Tiffany will sing before the June 30 Busch series Winn-Dixie 250. The judges decided who would win by the contestant's personality, stage presence and ability to sing a traditional version of the anthem. After more than 15 minutes of deliberation the judges announced Tiffany as the winner.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-21-2006)
  
  
• NHIS 1st race July 1st in 2007 UPDATE other sched changes?: many New Hampshire International Speedway ticket holders got their renewals for the first NHIS 2007 race, and the date is July 1st, the race is usually the third weekend in July. With the 4th of July on a Wednesday in 2007, the Pepsi 400 is scheduled to run on July 7, 2007. No word on the NHIS race date in September 2007.(6-16-2006)
  UPDATE On the schedule front, there are indications that next year's Cup slate will have a different look to it. New Hampshire's first race will be moved up two weeks to July 1st and rumors in the garage have a second Las vegas race and a possible Kentucky Speedway date showing up on the calendar.(RacingOne)(6-20-2006)
  
  
• Superman to serve as Grand Marshal of Pepsi 400: Brandon Routh, who stars as the Man of Steel in Superman Returns, Warner Bros. Pictures' soaring new action adventure opening nationwide on June 28, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 48th annual Pepsi 400 on Saturday, July 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Routh will give the command "Drivers, start your engines" in NASCAR's mid-summer classic. His Grand Marshal duties also include leading the 43-car field in the pace laps from the Grand Marshal pace car. Prior to his casting as Superman, Routh starred in the ABC sitcom Odd Man Out and the ABC Daytime Drama One Life To Live. He has also made guest appearances on the hit shows Gilmore Girls, Cold Case and Will & Grace. Jeff Gordon, will race his #24 Pepsi Chevy in a special Superman Returns paint-out car featuring the Superman S-Shield. Tickets for any of the Pepsi 400 Weekend events are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-16-2006)
  
  
• Daytona Offers Two More Pepsi 400 Ticket Packages: Daytona International Speedway continues to offer its guests a wide array of unique ticket packages, with the announcement of a "Chevy Day At Daytona" package and a "SunTrust Dare To Sit There" ticket package. When a race fan participates in a Chevrolet Test Drive at a participating Southern Chevy Dealer, they'll have the opportunity to purchase the "Chevy Day At Daytona" package, which offers race guests the following for $75 ($349 value): * One Pepsi 400 ticket for Saturday, July 1
  * One Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo ticket
  * One hospitality pass that can be used before the Pepsi 400
  * Hospitality appearance by NEXTEL Cup Series driver J.J. Yeley
  * Chevy gift
  * One voucher for a hot lap around Daytona International Speedway (Must be used on Saturday, July 1)
  * One Pre-Race/NEXTEL FANZONE pass
  * Pre-Race tour
  The race guest can purchase one additional "Chevy Day" ticket package which excludes the hot lap voucher. SunTrust is partnering with two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip and Rolex 24 champion Wayne Taylor for a pair of ticket packages for the upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend. The SunTrust Dare To Sit There offer for Saturday, July 1, available for $125, includes:
  * One Superstretch Terrace/Tower ticket for the Pepsi 400
  * One Pre-Race/NEXTEL FANZONE admission
  * Admission to a Michael Waltrip/Wayne Taylor fan forum on Saturday, July 1
  The SunTrust Three-Day ticket offer, available for $190, includes:
  * One general admission ticket to the Brumos Porsche 250 and Round 3 of the Crown Royal IROC Series race on Thursday, June 29.
  * One general admission ticket to the Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo on Friday, June 30
  * One Superstretch Terrace/Tower ticket for the Pepsi 400 on Saturday, July 1
  * NEXTEL FANZONE access for all three days of the Pepsi 400 Weekend
  * Admission to a Michael Waltrip/Wayne Taylor fan forum on Saturday, July 1
  For more information on these ticket packages and other great ticket offers for the Pepsi 400 Holiday weekend, call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-15-2006)
  
  
• 2007 Daytona 500 Tix on sale Today: On Saturday, May 27, at 8:00am/et, race guests will have their first opportunity to purchase tickets to NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious stock car race. The Daytona 500 on-sale dates coincide with the unveiling of the new 49th annual Daytona 500 logo. The event name stands out in front of the distinctive shape of Daytona’s world famous 2.5-mile tri-oval that is emboldened in red, white and blue. Tickets to America’s most watched motorsports event start at $95 and Daytona International Speedway offers several convenient methods for fans to purchase tickets to “The Great American Race.”
  “The Daytona 500 has traditionally been a sellout and we encourage race fans to get their tickets early,” Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. Also available are tickets for the upcoming Pepsi 400 Weekend on June 29-July 1, including the Pepsi 400 on Saturday night, July 1, the Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo NASCAR Busch Series race and Circle K Pole Qualifying Day on Friday, June 30 and the Brumos Porsche 250 and Crown Royal IROC Series on Thursday, June 29. NASCAR tickets for the 2006 Pepsi 400 are on sale now, order your tickets online or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(5-27-2006)
  
  
• Daytona may build worker complex: As it continues planning for a $100 million redevelopment of its office park, International Speedway Corp. is considering building a 15-acre office complex on Dunn Avenue. ISC has applied to the St. Johns River Water Management District for a stormwater drainage permit for the project, but that doesn't mean it will do the project, yet, company spokesman Lenny Santiago said. "If we decide to go forward with the project, it's easier for us if we've already filed the permits. It's part of our ongoing process as we're looking at the Speedplex project," Santiago said. ISC already owns the land, acquiring it in 2000 as part of a 45-acre purchase. The company is trying to determine how it will house operations as it demolishes buildings for the project. ISC owns five of the six buildings in the former General Electric office park at West International Speedway and Bill France boulevards. It could tear down a building at a time as construction progresses, or it may have to tear down more than one building, Santiago said. The company may need to build the new office complex, and it may need to lease other space, he said. The Speedplex redevelopment will include office towers for ISC and NASCAR as well as retail buildings, a multiplex cinema and residential condos.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-29-2006)
  
  
• DIS gets rent increased: Daytona International Speedway officials agreed Monday to pay almost 5,000% more to lease the public land where the racetrack was built. Annual rent payments will rise from a token $10,000 -- established to help get the racetrack built in 1957 -- to $500,000 immediately. Rent increases will be built in every five years. International Speedway Corp. officials proposed a flat annual rent of $500,000 last August even though their rent would have doubled to $20,000 next year and stayed unchanged until 2032 under the previous lease. Chairman of the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities Commission, Fred Thellman's proposal to add automatic increases so the annual rent would average $750,000 after 48 years prevailed. Speedway officials were willing to pay more in order to extend the lease for the 447 acres fronting International Speedway Boulevard through 2054. John Graham, International Speedway Corp. vice president, said the longer lease will help justify a proposed $100 million investment in a Speedplex office, an office-commercial project on the north side of International Speedway Boulevard, across from the Speedway. Speedway officials won some concessions in the lease before agreeing to the higher rent. Under the terms of the original lease, racing district commissioners held the option to buy out the Speedway for 10 times gross revenues. They dropped that option Monday and also agreed to give the Speedway the first chance to negotiate with Volusia County when the racing district's lease of the land expires in 2054. The racing district subleases to the Speedway. Another feature of the original lease allowed the racing district to stage fundraising activities up to 90 days of the year at the Speedway, if facilities are available. Under new terms, the district only will use the Speedway 22 days each year, 11 per event, to continue sponsoring its popular car shows twice a year at the Speedway. A requirement to get the Speedway's permission for those auto-related events will be dropped. Plus, the racing district can use the Speedway for another eight days every year, but must get the Speedway's approval. A final vote on the lease agreement is scheduled for March 28, when the commissioners meet again.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(3-14-2006)
  
  
• Pepsi 400 in Nov 2007? error or cat out of the bag? UPDATE denied & changed: on a Castrol GTX sweepstakes page, the grand prize is listed as:
  (1) Grand Prize: 4-day/3-night trip for two (2) to the 2007 Pepsi 400 race currently scheduled for November 2007 in Daytona, FL. Sooo, is that an error [oops] in the contest rules/prizes or did they slip and let the 'cat out of the bag' telling us that the Pepsi 400, held on the July 4th weekend for years, is gonna be moved in 2007 to be part of the chase and end the season where it began? See the contest and links on my Racing Contest page, it is towards the bottom as it ends 12/31/06.(3-8-2006)
  UPDATE: been told by Daytona International Speedway reps that the Pepsi 400 will be run on July 7th, 2007 and NOT moved to November in 2007. The contest info has now been changed to relect the correct date of July 2007.(3-8-2006)
  
  
• Injured Fan Unnoticed at Daytona UPDATE: As tens of thousands of race fans left the Daytona 500 on Sunday evening, a Longwood man lay unnoticed in a pool of blood 15 feet from a main road, police said Monday. It was more than seven hours before Robert Eugene Faulkner woke up with little memory of what happened. Troopers think the 39-year-old was struck from behind by a pickup about 6:30 p.m. as he walked to his car parked near the Daytona Flea and Farmers Market, Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Miller said. "It's just amazing that he would lay there that long," Miller said. "How did somebody not see the crash?" Troopers found a piece of a truck's mirror at the edge of Tomoka Farms Road, near the entrance to the flea market's parking lot, Miller said. The lot, a popular spot for race fans, was full during the Daytona 500, but troopers did not know how many vehicles were parked there. Faulkner woke at 2 a.m. with a cut on his head, scrapes on his face and a swollen left ankle. He then drove himself to his parents' Seminole County house, more than 42 miles away. "He's stubborn and determined. He just knew he needed to be at work," his sister, Sherrie Atkinson, said while visiting Faulkner at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. He was transferred there Monday morning to see a neurosurgeon. He had more than a dozen staples in his head. When Faulkner walked in the door of his parents' home Monday, his father saw that he was covered in blood. Perry Faulkner had been waiting for his son, who has lived with his parents in Longwood for the past several months, because he had not been able to reach him all night. Robert Faulkner had driven to the race alone and parked at a home near the flea market. The Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan met up with some friends at the speedway and walked back to his car after the race ended. "He said he heard a squeal," Atkinson said. "He doesn't remember anything after that." Faulkner was thrown, his sunglasses going in one direction and his cell phone in the other, his sister said. She found those items but couldn't spot his Earnhardt hat. Investigators think the mirror they found at the scene came from a dark-colored Ford F-150 truck, made between 2004 and 2006, Miller said. "I can't believe people just walked by and didn't do anything," Atkinson said. Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call the Highway Patrol at 407-737-2200 or *FHP on their cell phone.(Orlando Sentinel)(2-21-2006)
  UPDATE - real nice....: A woman called police saying she has a key piece of evidence that could help solve a hit and run accident that happened after the Daytona 500. But she won't give it up unless she gets paid [what a sweetheart huh?]. When Robert Faulkner was hit by a vehicle along Tomoka Farms Road, everything went flying. His hat, cell phone, sunglasses went in different directions. Now a woman says she found the hat, but she's holding it for ransom. Now, to add insult to injury, a woman called FHP and said she found the injured man's hat and she'll give it back for a price. "She wants a reward for finding the hat," Atkinson said. FHP would like to know when the woman found the hat and if she happened to see a man lying unconscious on the ground in a pool of his own blood. However, the woman said she will give no information until she sees some money. "I just can't believe somebody would ask for a reward," Atkinson said. FHP said, right now, they can't charge the woman with any crime, but they would still like to talk to her. As for the bounty on the hat, Atkinson and her brother agree, information on the hit and run driver is much more valuable. "We both feel the same way, she can keep the hat," she said. Faulkner is recovering at home. His brain is bruised and he has a lot of cuts and scrapes. FHP believes it was a 2004 to 2006 Ford F-150 that hit him. If you have any information, please call the Florida Highway Patrol.(wftv.com)(2-24-2006)
  
  
• Piece of #2 car goes into the stands: have seen nothing of this, but noticed it during the race and have seen video, the rear bumper cover of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge that Kurt Busch drivers, came off during a wreck on lap 188 and flew over the catch fence and into the stands during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The piece looked like it flew through an opening in the stands. Have heard nothing more seen any reports at all about any injuries, and sources at the track say no injuries were reported.(2-21-2006)
  
  
• Scalpers Snagged: Scalpers hovering around Daytona International Speedway found themselves to be the target of a sting conducted by Daytona Beach police this past weekend, authorities said. Undercover officers arrested 14 people for peddling tickets along International Speedway Boulevard said Sgt. James Newcomb, of the Daytona Beach Police Department. The ticket hawkers were arrested and brought to the county jail after they sold tickets to undercover officers who posed as race fans looking for a good seat. The most expensive ticket bought was $150 more than the retail value, Newcomb said. Anyone who offers or sells a ticket for more than $1 above the retail price is charged with the resale of an amusement ticket, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 in fines or 60 days in jail. Buyers don't face any penalties because it isn't illegal to purchase a scalped ticket. The ticket peddlers pose a problem for police because they block traffic along International Speedway Boulevard and restrict pedestrian flow into the Speedway. Newcomb said most of the ticket sellers were from out of town and he hopes this weekend's operation would deter scalpers from selling again.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-20-2006)
  
  
• A Darlington deal for the Daytona 500 The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season has finally arrived. On Sunday, February 19, the eyes of race fans all over the world will be focused on the state of Florida and racing's premier event, the Daytona 500. Darlington Raceway is offering a special one-day-only deal to celebrate the opening of the season at Daytona. Fans who purchase any grandstand ticket to the 2006 Dodge Charger 500, coming up Saturday, May 13 at the track "Too Tough To Tame," will receive a free pre-race pit pass. The pre-race pit pass allows access to the pit road area until one hour before the start of the race. This offer is valid only on Sunday, February 19 - race day at Daytona. Ticket prices for the Dodge Charger 500 start at $45. Fans can purchase their tickets and receive their free pre-race pit passes by calling toll-free at 866.459.RACE (7223), or by visiting www.racetickets.com, on Sunday, February 19.(Darlington Raceway)(2-18-2006)
  
  
• Clemens Named Honorary Official: Future baseball Hall of Famer and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens has been named Honorary Official for the 48th annual Daytona 500. As Honorary Official, Clemens will ride in one of the Chevrolet Impala SS cars before start the prestigious 200-lap, 500-mile race.(DIS PR)(2-17-2006)
  
  
• Olympic snowboard medalists to give start command: Olympic snowboard medalists Hannah Teter and Gretchen Bleiler, who led the United States to a 1-2 finish in the women's halfpipe, have been named Co-Honorary Starters for the prestigious 48th annual Daytona 500. Hannah Teter, a native of Belmont, Vt., captured the Gold Medal in the halfpipe competition in her Olympic debut at the 2006 Torino Games. Gretchen Bleiler, also making her Olympic debut, took the silver in the halfpipe. In 2005, the Aspen, Colo., resident returned from a torn ACL injury to win the X Games, Gravity Games, U.S. Open and a World Cup at the Olympic pipe at Bardonecchia.(DIS PR)(2-17-2006)
  
  
• 2007 Duels in prime time? Rumors are that next year's Twin 150s [Gatorade Duels] will be held in prime time.(RacingOne)(2-13-2006)
  
  
• 'Sonny?' Actor James Caan named Daytona 500 Grand Marshal: Actor James Caan, star of the NBC hit drama “Las Vegas,” has been named Grand Marshal for the prestigious 48th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 19 at historic Daytona International Speedway. Caan, who garnered an Academy Award nomination for his role as Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather” and an Emmy nomination for his performance as football star Brian Piccolo in “Brian’s Song,” will give the starting command “Gentlemen, start your engines” in the premier motorsports event in the world. Caan, who also starred in popular films such as “Misery” and “Honeymoon in Vegas,” will also ride in one of the Daytona 500 pace cars ahead of the 43-car field. In Las Vegas, which will be moving to Friday nights on NBC at 9:00pm/et beginning March 3, Caan stars as Ed Deline, the head of a surveillance team of a casino. On Monday, Feb 6, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Driver Jimmie Johnson had a major guest starring role on the show, playing himself. “We’re proud to have James Caan serve as Grand Marshal and deliver the starting command for the Daytona 500 in front of thousands of race fans and millions more watching on television,” Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. “Attracting an accomplished actor such as James Caan continues the tradition of high-profile actors, athletes and politicians that have kicked off the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season.” Caan received a Best Actor Award from the Sebastian Film festival for his performance in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Rain People,” as well as the Actor of the Year honor from the National Associate of Theater Owners for “The Gambler.”NASCAR tickets for the 2006 DAYTONA 500 and all other Speedweeks 2006 events are on sale now, order your tickets online or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS Site)(2-15-2006)
  
  
• Daytona: No Plans to Pave: While discussing the perils of bump drafting at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday night following the Budweiser Shootout, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took a verbal swipe at the condition of the 2.5-mile tri-oval. "I think the racetrack is in poor condition, in my opinion," Earnhardt said. "We run around the middle of the corner because the bottom is so dang rough. There's a lot of bad bumps and it moves the cars around when you're side by side. Three-wide and you've got cars running through bumps and holes; you're going to have a hard time hanging on to them."
  "We respect the opinions of the drivers," Speedway president Robin Braig said in response. "On the competition side, we look to our sanctioning bodies, in this case NASCAR, and to Goodyear Tires for their recommendations about our track surface. They keep a close eye on the condition of the track surface." Earnhardt was 5 years old the last time the Speedway, owned by International Speedway Corp., was paved in 1979. ISC plans to pave Talladega Superspeedway, a track similar in size [2.66 miles] and shape, this year. Braig said that "at this time, there are no plans to repave" Daytona. "NASCAR and Goodyear have each told us we are in good shape right now," Braig said. "We always listen to our drivers, but we take our lead on the competition side from NASCAR and Goodyear."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-14-2006)
  
  
• Bud the official Beer of Daytona: Budweiser will become the Official Beer of Daytona International Speedway under a new multi-year agreement that includes Official Beer status and signage rights during all of the track's eight annual events, including Speedweeks, the Daytona 500 and Pepsi 400 and the renaming of the track's infield concession area to "The Budweiser Bistro." Budweiser, the official beer of NASCAR and driver #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., will gain significant track signage, a major presence on the infield scoring tower in the NEXTEL FANZONE, use of the Speedway's logo and 2008 50th Anniversary logo, and will introduce its "Green Team" recycling programs to help keep Daytona International Speedway clean.(fingerprint inc. PR)(2-11-2006)
  
  
• Daytona continues handicap parking permit enforcement program: Due to the extensive misuse of accessible (handicap) parking permits in recent years at Daytona International Speedway events and a successful program launch in 2005, the Speedway will once again enlist law enforcement to aggressively monitor and enforce proper use of state-issued accessible parking permits. Following July's successful handicap parking permit enforcement program, during Speedweeks 2006 at Daytona International Speedway, state and local law enforcement officers will once again require all accessible parking placards, hangtags and license tags users to show proper documentation or identification before allowing entrance to accessible parking lots. Unauthorized use of an accessible parking permit is unlawful and punishable under Florida law. Refusal to cooperate with law enforcement officers implementing this program constitutes "resisting an officer" and will result in additional sanctions. Please be aware of the following:
  * Unlawful use of a parking permit is a 2nd degree misdemeanor, $1,000 fine, or 1 year in jail.
  * Guests CANNOT use an accessible parking permit unless the person to whom it's issued is the driver of or passenger in your vehicle!
  * The permit must be hung on the rearview mirror when the vehicle is parked in the accessible parking area.
  * Both sides of the parking permit must display valid decals (month/year and DL#).
  * Parking permit # must be displayed toward the front of the windshield.
  * Accessible license plates may be used in lieu of a parking permit.
  * Law enforcement officers at the Speedway will be checking permits issued by all U.S. states and Canada.(DIS PR)(2-9-2006)
  
  
• Bon Jovi headlines Tribute to America at Daytona: As a continuation of Sprint Nextel's sponsorship of Bon Jovi's "Have A Nice Day" tour, the legendary rock band will headline the Sprint Tribute to America prior to the Daytona 500 Feb. 19, which kicks off the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series season. The pre-race show will air live on NBC from Daytona International Speedway - the World Center of Racing. Now in its third year, Sprint Tribute to America brings top entertainers to Daytona International Speedway to honor the spirit of America and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Thousands of people will have a unique opportunity to be up close during the high-energy show. Daytona International Speedway is accepting volunteers immediately at d500showvolunteers.com. The Daytona 500 pre-race coverage on NBC begins at 1:30pm/et Feb. 19, 2006. The race, which starts at 2:30 p.m., also will be broadcast live on MRN. For Speedweeks tickets, visit daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call (800) PITSHOP. More information on Bon Jovi, view bonjovi.com.(DIS PR)(2-8-2006)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Souvenir Program Hits Major Retailers: Race fans eager for the 2006 NASCAR season to begin can get a head start with the official 2006 Daytona 500 souvenir program. This full-color, 144-page event program is packed with all the excitement that surrounds Speedweeks at the "World Center of Racing" - Daytona International Speedway. The official Daytona 500 souvenir program is now available at major retailers nationwide. Featuring NASCAR favorites 2004 Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., two-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champ Tony Stewart and 2005 Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon on the cover, the official 2006 Daytona 500 souvenir program brings together all of the latest news and information available prior to the waving of the green flag. In addition to complete coverage of 2005 Speedweeks and the NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race - the Daytona 500 - learn how Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon have recalibrated for the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Get a look at the participants expected to compete in the Budweiser Shootout At Daytona, and preview the Gatorade Duel At Daytona qualifying events. Cost of the program is $10. For information regarding Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona 500, please visit daytonainternationalspeedway.com.(DIS PR)(2-8-2006)
  
  
• B-1B to do Flyovers at Daytona: United States Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers will fly over the Daytona International Speedway for both the Hershey's Kissables 300 Busch race on Saturday Feb. 18, 2006 and the Daytona 500 NEXTEL Cup race on Sunday Feb. 19, 2006.(Air Force PR)(2-7-2006)
  
  
• Daytona 500 purse exceeds $18million: The 48th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 19, America’s biggest and most prestigious motorsports event of the year, will once again carry the biggest purse in the history of stock car racing at more than $18 million. The posted awards for the “The Great American Race” on Sunday, Feb. 19 will be $18,029,052, an increase of nearly half a million. The posted awards for the 2005 Daytona 500, which was won for a third time by Jeff Gordon, was $17,623,980. The winner of this year’s Daytona 500 will collect a minimum of $1,438,155. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,034,175, $741,325, $589,500 and $461,925 respectively. Even the last-place finisher in the Daytona 500 will be rewarded with a minimum of $224,665.
  Other purses for Speedweeks 2006 events are:
  · ARCA 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race: $ 286,849
  · Budweiser Shootout: $1,119,920
  · GM Flex Fuel 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race: $835,651
  · Hershey’s Kissables 300 NASCAR Busch Series race: $2,629,362
  Tickets to any of the Speedweeks 2006 events are available online at or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-6-2006)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Sells Out Again: All grandstand seats for the 48th annual Daytona 500 - at historic Daytona International Speedway are sold out, Speedway President Robin Braig announced today. While all the grandstand seats are sold out, fans can still purchase infield tickets for the "Great American Race" - the kick off to the NEXTEL Cup Series season scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19. Fans can also purchase tickets for other exciting DIS Speedweeks events including the Budweiser Shootout (Feb. 11), Bud Pole Qualifying (Feb. 12), the Gatorade Duel at Daytona (Feb. 16), GM Flex Fuel 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (Feb. 17), Crown Royal International Race of Champions (Feb. 17) and the Hershey's Kissables 300 NASCAR Busch Series event (Feb. 18). Tickets are available for other Speedweeks events at Daytona International Speedway are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-3-2006)
  
  
• Staind to perform at Bud Shootout: Multi-platinum recording artists, Staind, will be the headline act for pre- and post-race concert festivities at the 28th annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, which kicks off the NASCAR Nextel Cup season on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Staind’s Aaron Lewis will also sing the National Anthem prior to the Budweiser Shootout (8:00pm/et on TNT). Following the conclusion of the 70-lap no-holds-barred, all-star race, Staind will perform a free concert for all Budweiser Shootout ticket holders. At the conclusion of the Staind concert, fans are invited to view more live music in the Daytona infield Nextel Fanzone. Tickets for the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(1-31-2006)
  
  
• Daytona USA Celebrates 10th Anniversary: To help celebrate Daytona USA's 10th anniversary, the Ultimate Motorsports Attraction will be doing a special giveaway each month that will highlight and celebrate the drivers who have won the Daytona 500 over the past 10 years. The first 500 guests to visit Daytona USA on certain dates will receive a commemorative print of the Daytona 500 winner in Gatorade Victory Lane along with a collector's lapel pin of the race logo from that year, for more info see daytonausa.com.(DIS PR)(1-25-2006)
  
  
• NASCAR Drivers running Rolex 24 At Daytona: At least nine drivers with NASCAR ties are scheduled to test Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series cars Thursday through Saturday at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Jan. 28-29 running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Defending Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart and recently retired Rusty Wallace are on the entry list for testing. They will be teammates - but in different cars - for Howard-Boss Motorsports. Ganassi Racing driver Casey Mears will be part of Ganassi's driver lineup, which includes former Cup driver Scott Pruett, who still drives road-course Cup events. Two-time Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie is on the entry list, as are Mexican drivers Adrian Fernandez and Michel Jourdain, who ran partial schedules in the Busch Series last year. NBC commentator and former Cup driver Wally Dallenbach will also participate.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter), also Northeast short-tracker Ted Christopher and former Truck/Busch Series driver David Donohue will run the race.(Elmira Star Gazette)(1-5-2006)
  MORE NASCAR Ties: other drivers with "NASCAR Ties":
  Christian Fittipaldi (Cup/Busch); Butch Leitzinger (Cup/Busch); Darrin Brassfield (Cup in 1989); Tommy Riggins (Cup/Busch); Jack Baldwin (Busch); Tommy Archer (Trucks); Mike Borkowski (Busch/Trucks); Tony Ave (Cup start); Chris Bingham (Busch); Ron Fellows is testing the #40 with Bingham this week in Daytona and could end up running the race.(Mike Paz, DIS PR Announcer)(1-6-2006)
  PLUS: NASCAR NBC Broadcaster and racing legend, Benny Parsons, will be the grand marshal of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.(1-9-2006)
  
  
• Corvette Z06 to Pace Daytona 500 with Jay Leno at the Wheel: A specially outfitted 2006 Corvette Z06 will serve as the official pace car of the 48th running of the Daytona 500, on Feb. 19. "Tonight Show" host and auto enthusiast Jay Leno will drive the pace car. Selection of the Z06 model marks the second consecutive year that a Corvette has been selected as the Daytona 500 pace car. The Corvette Z06 that will serve as the Daytona 500 pace car is mechanically identical to those available at Chevrolet dealerships. It is the fastest vehicle ever offered by Chevrolet and General Motors. With 505 horsepower (377 kw) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) from its 7.0L all-aluminum, racing-inspired engine, the Corvette Z06 leaps from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 198 mph. It also differs from other production Corvette models with extensive use of lightweight materials, including carbon-fiber front fenders and a chassis comprised of aluminum and magnesium. A racing-ready suspension and large, 18-inch front wheels and 19-inch rear wheels help keep it glued to the tarmac, so it requires no drivetrain modifications to satisfy its role in front of the racing pack. In its official capacity, however, the pace car is outfitted with a variety of safety equipment and highly visible strobe lights.
  The Corvette Z06's 505-horsepower (377 kw) output is actually more than the power produced by the race cars that will compete in the Daytona 500 - a first for a pace car. This is because of the unique "restrictor plate" rule established for the Daytona and Talladega. racetracks. On these 2.5-mile-long super speedways, the restrictor plate reduces airflow into the engine to limit horsepower and keep race car speeds below 200 mph. With a restrictor plate, racing engine power is reduced from about 750 horsepower to about 450 horsepower. Race cars can still average more than 190 mph on Daytona's long straights.
  The Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 wears a unique paint scheme, inspired by the hot-to-cool color transition of a space capsule entering Earth's atmosphere at a high rate of speed. The paint scheme is carried out with an elaborate, interlocking scallops design - a twist on hot rod-style flames - that blends "hot" Lemon Drop yellow at the nose of the Corvette with Lemon Glow, Amber Ecstasy, Blazing Copper and Hot Poppy. The colors culminate with a cool Sapphire Trance blue color at the rear of the vehicle. DuPont, the sponsor of Jeff Gordon's #24 Monte Carlo, supplied the colors, which are from the company's "Hot Hues" line of automotive paint.
  Jay Leno, host of the "Tonight Show" and an unabashed auto enthusiast, will drive the Corvette Z06 during opening ceremonies and the pace laps that start the race. Leno, who has a large collection of vintage automobiles and motorcycles, has previous experience as a pace car driver.(GM PR)(1-6-2006)
  
  
• IROC adds road course...Daytona: The International Race of Champions [IROC] series will be on the road again in 2006, holding a road-course event as part of its four-race schedule for the first time in 14 years.The IROC series, sponsored by Crown Royal, will hold its third race this season on Thursday, June 29, on the road course at Daytona International Speedway. The last road-course event in IROC was at Watkins Glen International in New York in 1991, with Rusty Wallace winning. As part of its 30th anniversary season, IROC will also race Feb. 17 on the 2.5-mile oval at Daytona, on April 7 at Texas Motor Speedway and on Oct. 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "We've missed the road racing element of the series over the years and I can't tell you how thrilled we are to add a road course back into the mix," said Jay Signore, IROC president and general manager. "This will be the first time the Crown Royal IROC Series will race on the Daytona road course since our inaugural season." IROC's test drivers began making laps Thursday on the 3.56-mile Daytona road course in conjunction with testing for the Rolex 24 of Daytona endurance race. The 12-driver field for this year's event is scheduled to be announced Jan. 17 in Daytona at a news conference during NASCAR's "Preseason Thunder," two weeks of testing that begins Monday.(ThatsRacin.com), the Daytona road course race takes the place of Richmond, which ran in Sept.(1-5-2006)
  
  
• Lucky fan to be named "Mayor of Speedweeks" One lucky race fan will receive two tickets to all Speedweeks races and be part of the Daytona 500 Victory Lane celebration, all part of just a few of the perks bestowed upon Daytona International Speedway's "Mayor of Speedweeks." Teaming with Black Crow Broadcasting (WVYB, 103.3 FM; WHOG, 95.7; 93.1 KRO Country), the winner will also receive two credentials/access to pre-race & NEXTEL FANZONE on Sunday, February 19, 2006, have your photo taken with area mayor, participate in Speedweeks 2006 Opening Ceremonies at Rolex 24 practice receive two tickets to DAYTONA USA; wave the flag at Rolex practice session to officially get Speedweeks underway; attend the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver's Meeting; receive Party Zone access during the NASCAR Busch Series event and be part of the Gatorade Victory Lane celebration at the Daytona 500. To get all the perks of a politician, fans need to tell Daytona "Why Should I be Mayor of Speedweeks 2006" in 100 words or less. Future politicos can enter by mailing their essay to: Mayor of Speedweeks c/o Daytona International Speedway, 1800 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL, Fax to: 386-947-6791; E-Mail: daytonaspeedway@daytonainternationalspeedway.com or drop off our entry at Guest Services located at DAYTONA USA. Fans can also register on-line at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. The contest runs January 2nd - January 13th. Winner will be chosen and called by an employee of Daytona International Speedway by January 16th.(DIS PR)(12-27-2005)
  
  
• Rebate for Daytona Land? Daytona International Speedway's landlord agreed Tuesday to look into getting a sales tax rebate from the state. Members of the Racing and Recreational Facilities Commission were intrigued by the prospect of getting up to $2 million annually from the state, which allows sales tax rebates for sports facilities. Local officials would have to apply and get approval from the Florida Legislature. But they made clear their top priority would be completing talks on a new lease payment with the Speedway in January. Bob Leib, owner of The Leib Group of Wisconsin, said the Speedway pays $10.8 million a year in sales taxes to the state. International Speedway Corp. has paid $10,000 a year since 1957 to lease the 447 acres of public land where it built the world-famous racing complex. The company exercised its option in April to extend the lease through 2035 at an annual rent of $20,000 starting in 2007. However, ISC offered in August to increase its annual rent to $500,000 a year in exchange for extending the lease to 2054. The racing board hired The Leib Group for about $75,000 to recommend a fair lease payment.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(12-22-2005)
  
  
• Southern Sports Awards Nominates NASCAR tracks/teams/drivers...what? no lugnut [LMS Mascot]?: The Daytona 500 and August night race at Bristol Motor Speedway have been nominated in the "Best Sports Experience" category in the inaugural Southern Sports Awards which recognizes and honors the athletes, fans and the traditions that "set the South above the rest in the sports world."(DIS PR)
  Talladega The Talladega Superspeedway Infield is among select nominees for the first ever Southern Sports Awards (SSA), a two-hour special awards show that will recognize and honor the athletes, fans and traditions that "set the South above the rest in the sports world." Talladega Superspeedway's nomination is to the "Best Place To Tailgate" category.(TSS PR)
  Roush Racing: Roush Racing [#'s 6,16,17,97,99] have been nominated for Best Management.
  Dale Jr. vs Jeff? Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Jeff Gordon have been nominated for the Biggest Rivalry category.
  Coach of the Year: among the nomiee's are Chad Knaus, #48 Crew Chief for Jimmie Johnson and Greg Zippadelli,(#20 Crew Chief for Tony Stewart.
  Fan Favorite nominee's include Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #11, #18, #20 team owner Joe Gibbs, not for racing but for being the headcoach of the NFL's Washington Redskins.
  Newcomer of the Year: surprise! Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Ford [4 wins] is nominated along with #5-Kyle Busch, winner at California as a rookie.
  AND finally for the The "Style" Award...nominated from NASCAR are Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
  Fans can vote to determine the winner by logging on to www.southernsportsawards.com until Nov 23rd and completing the 13-category ballot. The awards will be presented Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005 at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA.(11-10-2005)
  
  
• Speedway to expand "Hospitality Village": Daytona International Speedway plans to move and expand its "Hospitality Village" along the track's south side. The backstretch Hospitality Village will be located about 200 yards away from its original location. The hospitality villages consist of temporary tents that are set up during events on concrete pads. The Speedway has applied to the St. Johns River Water Management District for permits for drainage and paving. Robin Braig, DIS president, said the hospitality tents are in place to accommodate NASCAR fans. "The tents allow the customers to eat and associate with vendors during events," Braig said. There are three hospitality locations around the track with two near the frontstretch and the one on the backstretch. The Daytona Club, one of the frontstretch areas, has a bar, restaurant and live music.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(10-25-2005)
  
  
• The Dodge Daytona 500? UPDATE: NASCAR-ISC executives are trying to persuade Daimler-Chrysler's Dodge division to become the name sponsor of the Daytona 500 [at Daytona International Speedway in Feb 2006], but the German car company has not been willing to pay the price, according to sources close to the situation.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-26-2005)
  UPDATE: Daytona officials confirmed talking with DaimlerChrysler about naming rights for the Daytona Craftsman Truck Series race, but they say that there are no plans to add a sponsorship name to the Daytona 500. The season's first race hasn't been sponsored since STP dropped its marketing of it in 1993 after sponsoring it as "The Daytona 500 by STP" for several years.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-30-2005)
  
  
• 60 Minutes Visits Daytona International Speedway: 60 Minutes, the CBS News magazine providing a blend of hard-hitting investigative reports, interviews, feature segments and profiles of people in the news, used Daytona International Speedway as the site for an upcoming corporate profile piece featuring NASCAR's first-family. International Speedway Corporation (ISC) Chairman and longtime NASCAR President Bill France, ISC President Lesa France Kennedy and NASCAR Chairman Brian France will be the subject of the corporate profile according to a 60 Minutes producer. The segment is scheduled to air sometime in September or October.
  The trio sat down with 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl to talk about the past, present and future of America's fastest growing spectator sport. The interviews took place earlier this week at DAYTONA USA, the "Official Attraction of NASCAR" and at the luxurious Daytona 500 Club located at the start/finish line of the historic Speedway overlooking Gatorade Victory Lane. According to Nielsen, an average of 14.2 million viewers tuned in to the broadcast each Sunday evening over the 2003-04 season -- 200,000 more than for the previous season. The broadcast posted an average household rating of 9.4 with a 16 share.(DIS PR)(8-20-2005)
  
  
• The Haskell Company Garners Award For DIS Infield Renovation: The Haskell Company, the Jacksonville based design and construction company that completed the multi-faceted, multi-million dollar infield renovation at historic Daytona International Speedway, has been awarded Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Florida First Coast Chapter Excellence Award. The project was recognized in the renovation category. After winning the award on the local level, the project will be entered into the national competition in November. The Haskell Company began the infield renovation immediately following the 2004 Pepsi 400 and among the amenities added included the NEXTEL FANZONE, the four-story Daytona 500 Club and new Gatorade Victory Lane, a massive Turn 1 tunnel, new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and Busch Series garages and waterfront specialty vehicle parking. The project was completed in time for Speedweeks 2005.(DIS PR)(8-2-2005)
  
  
• Disabled permit enforcement nets 20 placards at DIS: More than 20 handicapped parking placards have been confiscated under tightened enforcement at Daytona International Speedway, according to track officials. Persons using stolen or improper handicapped placards to score an upfront parking space at the Pepsi 400 may be stopped in their tracks -- have the placard confiscated and face fines of up to $1,000. Florida Highway Patrol troopers -- in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation and the State Attorney's Office -- are stationed at designated handicapped motorists' lots: Lot 1 at the front of the Speedway; Lot 6 on the backstretch; and Lot E on the west end of the airport runway. A separate lot is being set aside with assured parking for race fans who purchase wheelchair spaces in the grandstands. Those fans receive separate Speedway handicapped placards, which will be checked for authenticity.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(7-2-2005)
  
  
• Only a few tickets left for the 2006 Daytona 500:- Although NASCAR's most prestigious race - the 48th annual Daytona 500 - is eight months away, only a limited number of Frontstretch seats are available for NASCAR's biggest and richest event. "The Daytona 500 has traditionally been a sell out since the inaugural event in 1959 and we expect another capacity crowd for next year's event," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said."Race fans continue to show that the Daytona 500 is the premier stock car race in America and we want to encourage everybody to make their plans to attend NASCAR's signature event as early as possible." Tickets for the Daytona 500, which is the season-opening event to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the climax of Speedweeks 2006, start at $95. The Rolex 24 At Daytona, the toughest and most prestigious sports car race in America, will kick off Speedweeks 2006 on a new date - Jan. 26-29. Also on tap for the smorgasbord of racing at "The World Center of Racing" include: * Hershey's 300 NASCAR Busch Series * NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race * Crown Royal IROC Series * Gatorade Duel At Daytona * Budweiser Shootout * Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 * Bud Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 Tickets are available for all other Speedweeks 2006 events at Daytona International Speedway online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(7-2-2005)
  
  
• Secretary Rumsfeld Named Pepsi 400 Grand Marshal: U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld has been named Grand Marshal for the 47th running of the Pepsi 400 on Saturday, July 2. Mr. Rumsfeld will give the command "Drivers, start your engines" in NASCAR's star-spangled holiday weekend event set to begin under the lights at 8 p.m. at the Daytona International Speedway. His Grand Marshal duties also include leading the 43-car field in the pace laps from the Grand Marshal pace car. Tickets for the Pepsi 400 weekend are on sale now, order your tickets online or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(6-30-2005)
  
  
• DIS to Initiate Handicap Parking Permit Enforcement: Due to the extensive misuse of accessible (handicap) parking permits in recent years at Daytona International Speedway events, the Speedway has enlisted law enforcement to aggressively monitor and enforce proper use of state-issued accessible parking permits. During Pepsi 400 weekend, state and local law enforcement officers will require all accessible parking placards, hangtags and license tags users to show proper documentation or identification before allowing entrance to accessible parking lots. Unauthorized use of an accessible parking permit is unlawful and punishable under Florida law. Refusal to cooperate with law enforcement officers implementing this program constitutes "resisting an officer" and will result in additional sanctions.
  Please be aware of the following:
  Unlawful use of a parking permit is a 2nd degree misdemeanor, $1,000 fine, or 1 year in jail. Guests CANNOT use an accessible parking permit unless the person to whom it's issued is the driver of or passenger in your vehicle! The permit must be hung on the rearview mirror when the vehicle is parked in the accessible parking space. Both sides of the parking permit must display valid decals (month/year and DL#). Parking permit # must be displayed toward the front of the windshield. Accessible license plates may be used in lieu of a parking permit. Law enforcement officers at the Speedway will be checking permits issued by all U.S. states and Canada.(DIS PR)(6-30-2005)
  
  
• Pre-Race Highlights for the Pepsi 400: Guests attending the 47th annual Pepsi 400 at historic Daytona International Speedway will be treated to an All-American evening of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series racing concluding with the largest fireworks display in the Southeast. Santore & Son Fireworks, located in nearby Bunnell, Fla., will once again launch the largest fireworks spectacle in the Southeast following the checkered flag in NASCAR's most exciting nighttime race on Saturday, July 2. Since the first nighttime running of the Pepsi 400 back in 1998, Santore & Sons has provided the post-race fireworks displays at "The World Center of Racing" and will use a plethora of different resources to produce this year's show including: * Seven days of preparation with 20 technicians * Two miles of control cable * 14 locations on the daunting high banks and 10 on the Superstretch * Two barges on Lake Lloyd * 10,000 pyrotechnic effects (over 8,000 pounds) * 100 lbs of red, white & blue confetti. Before the Pepsi 400 goes green, the pre-race revelry will be high gear with a patriotic salute on America's Independence Day weekend. JoJo, the 14-year-old singing sensation from Foxboro, Mass., will sing the National Anthem and four F-15 Eagles from the 125th Fighter Wing Florida Air National Guard located in Jacksonville, Fla. will provide the flyover before the start of the mid-summer classic. Tickets for the Pepsi 400 Weekend are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-28-2005)
  
  
• National Anthem at Daytona: Blackground/Universal recording artist JoJo will perform the National Anthem before the 47th annual Pepsi 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday, July 2 at historic Daytona International Speedway. The 14-year-old singing sensation from Foxboro, Mass., first appeared on the music scene at the age of 6 when she appeared on Bill Cosby's "Kids Say the Darndest Things." Her performance led to appearances on "America's Most Talented Kids," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and the 2000 Republican National Convention in Boston. Tickets for the Pepsi 400 Weekend are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-27-2005)
  
  
• Earnhardt Jr., Riggs And Edwards To Participate In "Dare To Sit There" Race guests who love sitting on the exhilarating and unpredictable Superstretch have another reason to purchase tickets alongside the 3,000-foot long Superstretch during the 47th annual Pepsi 400 on Saturday, July 2 at historic Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Scott Riggs and Carl Edwards will participate in the exclusive "Dare To Sit There" ticket package that will provide a thrilling race day during the Pepsi 400 as well as benefit three charities. The Dare To Sit There ticket package, which costs only $115, includes: * One Superstretch seat in your selected driver fan section * One NEXTEL FANZONE/Pre-Race pass * Admission into an exclusive fan forum with either Earnhardt Jr., Riggs or Edwards before the Pepsi 400 A portion of the proceeds from a purchase of a "Dare To Sit There" ticket package will go to the driver's designated charity - Victory Junction Gang Camp (Earnhardt Jr.), Carolina Donor Association (Riggs) and the Dream Factory (Edwards). To purchase the "Dare To Sit There" ticket package, race guests can call 1-800-PITSHOP or log on at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.(DIS PR)(6-18-2005)
  
  
• DIS Offers Special Pepsi 400 Father's Day Package: If you've got your sights set on another Father's Day tie, Daytona International Speedway has a deal for you. In addition to a unique, one-of-a-kind rubber tie, "The World Center of Racing is offering a special $110 Father's Day Pepsi 400 ticket package through June 19 that includes:
  * One Pepsi 400 ticket located on the always unpredictable Superstretch
  * A NEXTEL FANZONE pass/Pre-Race access
  * The first 100 that purchase the Father's Day Pepsi 400 ticket package will also receive a pace car ride around the legendary 2.5-mile tri-oval on Saturday, July 2.
  The exclusive Father's Day package is available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(6-14-2005)
  
  
• Speedweeks in Daytona to have a different look - Testing dates to change?: The Rolex 24 At Daytona is moving up -- to a new date on the calendar. And the focus of next year's Speed Weeks will be different. The Rolex 24 At Daytona is being moved from its normal first weekend of February one week earlier to Jan. 28-29. The move is believed to be permanent, and is designed to end a longstanding first-Sunday-in-February schedule conflict between the race and the NFL's Super Bowl. Daytona International Speedway and Rolex Series officials will announce the move today. The move breaks the Rolex 24's longstanding tradition of being DIS' opening act in a three-week glut of car racing to follow. The NASCAR portion of the schedule remains unchanged, although the switch may affect testing dates.
  Though Speedway officials were mum beyond comments on the Rolex 24, sources familiar with the new schedule say DIS' wall-to-wall January test dates will have to be shifted as well, with Nextel Cup or Busch Series testing -- perhaps a combination of both -- likely to fill the one-week void created by the Rolex 24 move. Seen as a transportation cost-saving bonus for Cup teams, tests done in the week previous to NASCAR's portion of the schedule will allow the teams to arrive and stay, instead of testing, leaving and returning over many different weeks, as has been the case for years.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-9-2005)
  
  
• Buddy Baker Grand Marshal of Daytona Road Race: Buddy Baker, the 1980 Daytona 500 champion and one of the greatest racers in the history of Daytona International Speedway, will serve as Grand Marshal for the Brumos Porsche 250 Rolex Sports Car Series race on Thursday, June 30. Baker, who owns six stock car racing victories at the "World Center of Racing" and holds the distinction of winning the fastest Daytona 500 in history, will give the starting command for the 70-lap, 250-mile sports car race that kicks off the Pepsi 400 Weekend. It's fitting that Baker serves as Grand Marshal for the Brumos Porsche 250. His father Buck Baker made several starts in the legendary sports car race and earned a couple of top-three finishes as well as a victory in the 1971 edition of the race. The Brumos Porsche 250, which will feature the always exciting and competitive Daytona Prototypes as well as GT class machines on Daytona's legendary 3.56-mile road course, will have a new starting time during this year's Pepsi 400 Weekend. The race will go green on Thursday, June 30 at approximately 7:15 p.m. and will follow NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series practice sessions. Tickets for the Brumos Porsche 250 Rolex Sports Car Series race and other Pepsi 400 Weekend events are available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(6-8-2005)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Tickets On Sale May 28: On Saturday, May 28, at 8:00am/et, race fans will have their first opportunity to purchase all remaining tickets to the 48th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 2006. Prior to Saturday, May 28, renewals and deposits for seat assignments for the Daytona 500 were taken by the ticket office at Daytona International Speedway. In addition, Visa cardholders had an exclusive opportunity to purchase advance Daytona 500 tickets. Tickets start at $95 and Daytona International Speedway offers several convenient methods for fans to purchase tickets, online at www.DAYTONA500.com, calling 1-800-PITSHOP, visiting the Daytona International Speedway ticket office inside the lobby of DAYTONA USA. Tickets for other Speedweeks 2006 events, including the Hershey's 300 NASCAR Busch Series race, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 250 and the Crown Royal IROC Series, the Gatorade Duel At Daytona and the Budweiser Shootout. Hospitality packages including the Daytona 500 Club, the Daytona Club, the Green Flag Club and the Party Zone. NEXTEL FANZONE passes/Pre-race access. Tickets for the upcoming Pepsi 400 Weekend on June 30-July 2, including the Pepsi 400 on Saturday night, July 2, the Winn Dixie 250 presented by Pepsico NASCAR Busch Series race and Circle K Pole Qualifying on Friday, July 1 and the Brumos Porsche 250 on Thursday, June 30.(DIS)(5-26-2005)
  
  
• Visa Cardholders get first shot at Daytona tix: Any Visa cardholder will have an edge in purchasing advance tickets for the 48th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 2006 – NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious race. Beginning on Saturday, May 14 and running through Friday, May 27, any Visa cardholder can purchase advance tickets to NASCAR’s signature event before they go on sale to the general public. Tickets start at $95 each and can be purchased with a Visa card – the official card of NASCAR and the Daytona 500 – by calling 1-866-500-DAYTONA (866-500-3298) or visiting www.DAYTONA500.com/visaadvance.
  Prior to Saturday, May 14, only renewals and deposits for seat assignments for the Daytona 500 were taken by the ticket office at Daytona International Speedway On Saturday, May 28, at 8:00am/et, the general public will have their first chance to purchase all remaining tickets for the Daytona 500.
  The Pepsi 400 Weekend will kick off with the Brumos Porsche 250 on Thursday, June 30 followed by Circle K Pole Qualifying for the Pepsi 400 and the Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo on Friday, July 1. The 47th annual Pepsi 400 will cap off the patriotic weekend on Saturday, July 2. Tickets for the Pepsi 400 weekend are on sale now, order your tickets online or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(5-13-2005)
  
  
• ISC President Named Most Influential Woman in Sports Business: International Speedway Corporation's (ISC) President, Lesa France Kennedy, has been named "The Most Influential Woman in Sports Business" by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal. In its most recent edition published April 25, the publication "selected women who are actively applying their influence on a daily basis, none more so than the executive atop our ranking, Lesa France Kennedy of International Speedway Corp." The article continues: "She will continue to take stock car racing into new markets, greatly influence the consumer experience at race tracks and broaden the footprint of a sport that has become decidedly mainstream." Kennedy sits atop a list of the 20 Most Influential Women which includes second on the list, Dawn Hudson, President and CEO of PepsiCo North America and rounding out the top five: Nancy Monsarrat, Director of U.S. Advertising for Nike; Stephanie Tolleson, Senior Corporate Vice President at IMG; and Heidi Ueberroth, Executive Vice President, Global Media Properties and Marketing Partnerships for the NBA.(DIS)(4-27-2005)
  
  
• DIS Lease Extended 25 Years: International Speedway Corp. renewed a lease of the Daytona International Speedway grounds on Tuesday for another 25 years. Members of the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities Commission unanimously agreed to renew the original 50-year lease signed in 1957, which expires in November 2007. The renewal extends the lease through 2032. As outlined in the original agreement, lease payments by the Speedway to the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District will double to $20,000 a year starting in November 2008. State officials set up the racing district in 1955 to serve as landlord for the public site where the racetrack was built.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-20-2005)
  
  
• ISC Earnings Jump: International Speedway Corp. said today its fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 37 percent and per-share earnings beat internal forecasts, thanks in part to a shift in NASCAR's calendar. The Daytona Beach, Fla.-based track operator also boosted its second-quarter and full-year earnings outlooks. ISC said net income in the quarter that ended Feb. 28 rose to $41.1 million, or 77 cents a share, from $27.8 million, or 52 cents, in the same period a year ago. Quarterly sales rose to $179.4 million from $130.6 million in the year-ago quarter, thanks in part to the shift of the NASCAR weekend at ISC's California Speedway from the second quarter to the first quarter this year. ISC said it posted gains in all major revenue streams, thanks primarily to higher television revenue and increased attendance, for comparable events this year.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-6-2005)
  
  
• ISC Still Pursuing Expansion: International Speedway Corp. said today it is continuing to pursue development of tracks in the New York borough of Staten Island and in the Pacaific Northwest. The company said it has begun the permitting process in New York and continues to work on its detailed feasibility study to evaluate project costs and the availability of public incentives. It also said it continues to meet with local resident groups and public officials there. Additionally, ISC said it "continues to evaluate suitable locations for the development of a motorsports facility" in the Pacific Northwest, although it did not identify any potential sites. "Several municipalities, along with state representatives, continue to indicate a high level of interest in the project, and the company remains optimistic of its prospects in this underserved region of the country."(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-6-2005)
  
  
• Lights at Homestead...for Nov Cup finale? Daytona NOT moving: If Homestead-Miami Speedway president Curtis Gray gets his wish, future races at the track will be run at night, beginning with a trio of NASCAR races in November. To do it, the track will have to install lights and work out the details with local officials and the TV networks that broadcast the races. "It's something we're seriously looking at,'' Gray said Sunday during the IndyCar Series season-opening Toyota Indy 300. "Our fans have asked for it.'' Gray said he thought about the lights last year when the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship came down to the season-finale at Homestead. "Everything went fine last year but to have a race end early because of darkness in that situation, it's a risky proposition from our standpoint,'' he said. "And the networks like to have later starts. "We're talking to the sanctioning bodies and networks to get their input.'' The NASCAR season will end at Homestead the third week of November with a Craftsman Truck Series race, a Busch Series event and the Cup finale. Gray also said there is no truth to the rumor that NASCAR is considering moving the July race at Daytona International Speedway to the end of the season instead of finishing at Homestead. "We feel like we have the perfect track in the perfect market to end the season,'' he said. "It's a great market for the sponsors and the teams and fans from all over the country like coming down here the third week of November.''(ESPN.com/AP)(3-6-2005)
  
  
• OSHA, Daytona Intl Speedway settle safety issues in worker's death: Daytona International Speedway track workers will have written guidelines, hands-on training and a definitive chain of command during racing events as part of a settlement agreement with the federal government signed Tuesday. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration withdrew its most serious citation against the track -- failure to have a written protocol for workers stepping onto the track -- in the case involving the death of track worker Roy Weaver during a 2004 race. In return the Speedway agreed to develop a written safety and training policy for cleanup personnel who are "exposed to the hazard of being struck by moving competition vehicles while performing their duties on or near the competition area during a motorsports competition event." The track will also train its safety teams at least once a year and strengthen radio communication between the control tower and those on the ground tending to accident situations. Weaver was killed instantly on Feb. 8, 2004, when struck by a racecar traveling in excess of 100 mph during the IPOWER Dash Series 150. He was on the racetrack surface during a caution period to retrieve debris in Turn 2 of the Speedway. The Weaver family found little solace in the OSHA-Speedway settlement. "It's amazing that a multi-million dollar company engaged in such a dangerous business didn't have comprehensive safety procedures in place until the federal government forced them to," said attorney Rob Clarke, speaking on behalf of the Weaver family. "For Roy and his family, it's too late." Tuesday's agreement stipulates that the citation and settlement "are not intended to be admitted in any action in state court or federal court as evidence of negligence or lack of due care" by the Speedway. Weaver, 44, of Ormond Beach was the first track worker killed since the Speedway opened in 1959. His widow, Linda Weaver, has said she is considering a wrongful death lawsuit. There were 12 additional violations and fines the Speedway did not contest. The Speedway will pay the other fines which total $4,875. Other minor citations dealt with issues including a security employee without hearing protection and a track worker without a helmet.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-23-2005)
  
  
• Daytona 500 to Prime Time? If NASCAR gets its way next year's Daytona 500 will have a new time slot. Considered the Super Bowl of stock car racing, the Daytona 500 is likely to move to a 5:00pm/et starting time so it can end during prime time to attract a bigger audience and higher advertising dollars, just like football's Super Bowl.(Florida Times-Union)(2-22-2005)
  
  
• Vanessa Williams to Sing National Anthem at Daytona 500: Vanessa Williams, who has recorded such hits as "Save The Best For Last" and "Colors of the Wind" from Disney's animated film "Pocahontas," will pull double duty for Daytona International Speedway, singing the National Anthem prior to the Daytona 500 and taking part in the NEXTEL Tribute to America, the pre-race extravaganza leading up to NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race on Sunday, Feb. 20. In addition to the National Anthem, Williams, will sing "America The Beautiful" during the NEXTEL-sponsored show, which will be carried live on FOX. The show, produced by Atlanta based Q and A Entertainment, will pay tribute to music as the fabric of America and will feature thousands of cast members on the Speedway's historic five-acre tri-oval grass. In addition to Williams, a star-studded group of entertainers, including country music superstar Clint Black, Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, Columbia Records recording sensations John Ondrasik and "Five For Fighting," will highlight the NEXTEL Tribute to America.(DIS PR)(2-16-2005)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Grandstands SOLD OUT: Grandstand seats for the 47th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20 at historic Daytona International Speedway are sold out, Speedway officials announced today. While the grandstand seats have been sold, fans can still purchase infield tickets for "The Great American Race" - the kickoff to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. "We're happy to announce that the Daytona 500 is sold out," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "The fans, those in attendance and the millions more watching on FOX or listening on MRN Radio Network, continue to validate the Daytona 500 as the premier motorsports event in the world." The Daytona 500, which boasts a purse of more than $17 million, is the biggest, richest and most prestigious race in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Tickets are available for all other Speedweeks 2005 events at Daytona International Speedway online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-15-2005)
  
  
• Daytona Truck Series Grand Marshal/National Anthem: Donnie Abraham of the New York Jets will serve as Grand Marshal and adult contemporary singer Tierney Allen will sing the national anthem for the sixth annual Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday night, Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Preceding the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 will be the season-opening round of the Crown Royal IROC Series, an invitation-only series featuring 12 of the best drivers in equally prepared cars in a 40-lap sprint.(DIS PR)(2-15-2005)
  
  
• National Anthem: Monica Brown, a sophomore at Claflin University, sang the national anthem before Daytona 500 qualifying at Daytona International Speedway. Brown beat out four other finalists in NASCAR’s “Race for the Mic” competition with an “American Idol” format that is a part of the sport’s recognition of Black History month. Brown won an all-expense paid trip to Daytona Beach and a one-on-one artist development session with Maulden Brand Agency.(The State)(2-14-2005)
  
  
• Scouts are Free Sunday: members of Central Florida Council of Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts of Citrus Council in uniform attend the Daytona 500 Pole Qualifying free; leaders and scouts should report to the grandstand entrance between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Gate 18, Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Family members and friends pay $25, children 11 and younger free with paying adult. (386) 681-5648.(DBNJ)(2-12-2005)
  
  
• Star-Studded Lineup To Perform In NASCAR'S Daytona 500 Pre-Show NEXTEL Tribute To America: A star-studded group of entertainers, including country music superstar Clint Black, Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, Columbia Records recording sensations John Ondrasik and "Five For Fighting," and singer/actress Vanessa Williams will highlight the NEXTEL Tribute to America, the pre-race extravaganza leading up to NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race - the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20. The NEXTEL-sponsored show, which will be carried live on FOX and produced by Atlanta based Q and A Entertainment, will pay tribute to music as the fabric of America and will feature thousands of cast members on the Speedway's historic five-acre tri-oval grass. Black, a Grammy Award-winning artist and multiple Country Music Association award winner, will sing his No. 1 hit single "Nothin' But The Taillights." Among Black's more than 20 No. 1 hit singles are "A Better Man," "Killin' Time," "Like the Rain," "Something That We Do" and "When I Said I Do," a duet with his wife Lisa Hartman Black. Wilson, the singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and composer whose latest solo album "Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE" is nominated for three Grammys including "Best Pop Vocal Album" and "Best Rock Instrumental Performance," will sing the legendary Beach Boys hit single "Good Vibrations."
  "Five For Fighting," whose lead singer and song writer is John Ondrasik, will sing the No. 1 hit "100 Years" from their latest album "Battle For Everything." Williams, who has recorded hits such as "Save The Best For Last" and "Colors of the Wind" from Disney's animated film "Pocahontas," will sing "America The Beautiful." Williams, who has also starred in such films as "Eraser," "Dance With Me" and "Light It Up," recently released her latest album "Everlasting Love" on Jan. 25.
  Tickets for Speedweeks 2005 events are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP..(DIS PR)(2-12-2005)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Pace Car: Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion, unveiled the all-new 2005 Corvette that will pace the 47th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season opener during the national broadcast of Fox & Friends on Tuesday morning. Earnhardt Jr., who drives the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc., revealed the Corvette coupe that will pace the 43-car field in "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 20 - NASCAR's richest, biggest and most prestigious event at historic Daytona International Speedway. The design of the Daytona 500 Corvette pace vehicle includes elements that reflect the heritage and attitude of the historic winning Corvette race cars. The Corvette pace vehicle is millennium yellow with a black racing stripe centered across the hood, roof and trunk lid with the Daytona 500 logo on each door and Chevy's "An American Revolution" slogan on the rear spoiler. This will be the 34th consecutive year General Motors has provided the Official Pace Car for the Daytona 500. The Daytona 500 will be one of 60 NASCAR events Chevrolet will pace in 2005, including 28 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, 17 Busch Series and 15 Craftsman Truck Series races.(DIS PR)(2-8-2005)
  
  
• ISC and Checkers to make an announcement UPDATE: International Speedway Corp. President Lesa France Kennedy and Checkers Drive-In Restaurants President Keith Sirios are scheduled to make a joint business announcement tomorrow, the NASDAQ Stock Market says. The executives are scheduled to preside over the opening bell for NASDAQ in New York.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(2-7-2005)
  UPDATE: International Speedway Corporation announced it has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar official status agreement with Checkers Drive-In Restaurants. Checkers/Rally's will serve as the Official Drive-Thru and Burger of several ISC facilities. Checkers/Rally's will have a significant presence through prominent signage and promotion, as well as at-track restaurants at the following ISC facilities: Michigan, Daytona, Homestead, and Richmond. ISC owns and/or operates 11 of the nation's major motorsports facilities, the four named above and in Talladega, California, Kansas, Phoenix, Martinsville, Darlington and Watkins Glen. Other track ownership includes an indirect 37.5% interest in Raceway Associates, LLC, which owns and operates Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway near Chicago, Illinois. The Company also owns and operates MRN Radio, the nation's largest independent sports radio network; DAYTONA USA, the "Ultimate Motorsports Attraction" in Daytona Beach, Florida, the official attraction of NASCAR; and subsidiaries which provide catering services, food and beverage concessions, and produce and market motorsports-related merchandise under the trade name "Americrown." For more information, visit the Company's Web site at www.iscmotorsports.com. More info on Checkers Drive-In Restaurants at www.checkers.com.(ISC PR)(2-8-2005)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Purse at $17 million: The 47th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, NASCAR's biggest and most prestigious event of the year, will carry the biggest purse in the history of stock car racing at more than $17 million. The post awards for the "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 20 will be $17,623,980, an increase of nearly $2 million. The posted awards for the 2004 Daytona 500, which was won by Dale Earnhardt Jr., was $15,972,313. The winner of this year's Daytona 500 will collect a minimum of $1,430,030. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,029,425, $736,625, $584,750 and $456,875 respectively. Even the last-place finisher in the Daytona 500 will be rewarded with a minimum of $219,931. "The Daytona 500 is without doubt NASCAR's signature event and the 43-car field in this year's event will be paid handsomely for their efforts," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. Other purses for Speedweeks 2005 events are: * Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race: $305,507 * Budweiser Shootout: $1,087,300 * Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race: $807,103 * Hershey's Take 5 300 NASCAR Busch Series race: $2,409,495 Tickets to any of the Speedweeks 2005 events are available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. (DIS PR)(2-7-2005)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Grand Marshal: Matthew McConaughey was selected the Grand Marshal for the Daytona 500. The actor will give the command "Drivers, start your engines" at the Feb. 20 race in Florida. "I'm honored and excited to be the Grand Marshal of this year's race," McConaughey said in a statement. "There is nothing more American than NASCAR and the Daytona 500. McConaughey, who has starred in films including "Dazed and Confused" and "The Wedding Planner," will star in the upcoming thriller "Sahara." Previous Grand Marshals include Ben Affleck last year and John Travolta in 2003. Ashton Kutcher will be the honorary starter of this year's race.(ESPN.com/AP)(2-8-2005)
  
  
• 'BURN!' - Ashton Kutcher named starter for the Daytona 500: Ashton Kutcher [Kelso], the popular star of FOX's "That '70s Show" [bigtime Jayski Fave] and the star of the upcoming feature film "Guess Who" will serve as Honorary Starter for the 47th annual Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race. As Honorary Starter, Kutcher will wave the green flag to start the 43 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers in the 200-lap, 500-mile race. "We're excited to have Ashton Kutcher here to start the Daytona 500 and the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "Attracting a star of Ashton's caliber proves once again the Daytona 500 is one of the premier sports events in the world." Kutcher will co-star with actor/comedian Bernie Mac in Columbia Pictures and Regency Enterprises' "Guess Who," which will be released March 25 of this year. In the movie, in an effort to impress his prospective father-in-law Percy Jones (Mac), Simon Green (Kutcher), who has already secretly proposed to Jones' daughter, boasts of his (nonexistent) past as a NASCAR driver. Simon's repeated attempts to make a good impression are futile as Percy rebuffs him at every turn and makes it his mission to undermine his daughter's new relationship. The film also stars Zoë Saldaña and Judith Scott. Kutcher will also star in another 2005 release "A Lot Like Love" which is scheduled for release in April. His past movie credits have included "The Butterfly Effect," "Cheaper By The Dozen" "My Boss' Daughter," "Just Married" and "Dude, Where's My Car?" He is also the creator of MTV's popular reality series "Punk'd". "Being Honorary Starter for the Daytona 500 is great way to experience NASCAR and come together with more than 200,000 fans at the Super Bowl of racing," Kutcher said. "As a fan of NASCAR, I'm excited to be involved and to wave the green flag in NASCAR's signature event." Kutcher continues the tradition of high-profile actors, athletes and politicians that have participated in the Daytona 500 pre-race ceremonies. Comedian Whoopi Goldberg served as Honorary Starter for the 2004 Daytona 500 and singer Mariah Carey sang the National Anthem and served as Honorary Starter for the 2003 Daytona 500. President George W. Bush and Academy Award-winning actor Ben Affleck served as the Co-Grand Marshals and the President gave the starting command, "Drivers, start your engines," for the 2004 Daytona 500. Tickets for Speedweeks 2005 and the 47th annual Daytona 500, which will be televised live by FOX Sports, are available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-1-2005)
  
  
• Daytona International Speedway Looking For People: If you want to be a part of a world-class entertainment production that will be broadcast to millions, has Daytona International Speedway got an offer for you? The World Center of Racing is looking for thousands of locals (ages 13-45) to be in the national spotlight, taking part in the heart-pumping pre-race revelry leading up to "The Great American Race" - the prestigious Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 2005. The high-energy NEXTEL Tribute To America, featuring national music entertainers (to be announced at a later date) and a world-class, pre-race show at Daytona International Speedway, will be televised live on Fox Television and produced by Q&A Entertainment. The NEXTEL Tribute To America pre-race extravaganza is the culmination of events leading up to NASCAR's most prestigious race. To participate in the event, visit www.jmbcasting.com or call 407-224-6621 for more information.(DIS PR)(1-22-2005)
  
  
• Daytona Tunnel Problem Fixed: A potential problem has been hammered away at Daytona International Speedway. Workers were busy Thursday morning breaking apart a section of a seven-foot-wide pedestrian walk at the entrance to the new tunnel under Turn 1. The demolition work will provide for a wider entrance to the tunnel and make it easier for large vehicles -- RVs as well as race-team haulers -- to negotiate the turn at the tunnel entrance. Track president Robin Braig said the tweaking will also improve the plans for getting fans into the infield from the Turn 1-area grandstands, and back out again. "We've taken a look at the pedestrian flow from the grandstands," said Braig. "That area is also a tram turnaround. We flat-out had our directions wrong for the pedestrian flow. We're adding a stairwell from the grandstands to that side of the tunnel, so fans will have their choice of taking the tram or walking into the infield. "It will improve the pedestrian flow and relieve that 'pinch point' for two-way traffic."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-14-2005)
  
  
• Hotel Rooms a problem for Daytona 500?: Damage from last summer's hurricanes could have a significant impact on this season's Daytona 500, because about 3,700 hotel rooms of the city's 13,548 were knocked out of commission by the storms and many may still be under repair when SpeedWeeks kick off. It's unclear how reservations with those properties will be handled, or even how many of those Daytona 500 ticket holders are even aware of the situation. About 60 Daytona Beach hotels and a number of high-rise condos were damaged by the hurricanes. (Winston Salem Journal)(1-13-2005)
  
  
• 3 Doors Down Begin World Tour at Budweiser Shootout: 3 Doors Down, one of America's most popular bands, will perform during the 27th annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night, Feb. 12 at Daytona International Speedway. The performance will be nationally televised on FOX and comes just days after the release of the band's new album Seventeen Days (Republic/Universal Records) which hits stores February 8th. 3 Doors Down will perform their new single "Let Me Go" and lead singer Brad Arnold will sing the National Anthem before the start of the All-Star race, which features last year's pole winners as well as previous Budweiser Shootout champions. Following the conclusion of the 70-lap no-holds barred, non-points race under the lights that jumpstarts the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, 3 Doors Down will kick off their world tour with a post-race concert, which will be free for all who purchase a Budweiser Shootout ticket. Twenty drivers are eligible for the Budweiser Shootout, two shy of the record 22 in 2002. Among the 2004 pole winners eligible to compete in the Budweiser Shootout under the lights include 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman. Among the past Budweiser Shootout champions eligible are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace. Tickets for the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(fingerprint inc./Anheuser-Busch PR)(1-5-2005)
  
  
• Bye-bye Twin 125's, Hello Gatorade Duel at Daytona: Qualifying races that help set the field for the Daytona 500 will be 25 miles longer and have a new name in 2005. The races, formerly called the Gatorade 125s, will now be known as the Gatorade Duel at Daytona. Each race will now go for 150 miles, a move that could force teams to adjust their pit-stop strategies at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. There also will be a longer break between the races, which will be held on Thursday, Feb. 17, during Speedweeks in 2005. Qualifying for the 2005 Daytona 500 will begin on Sunday, Feb. 13. Only the two fastest cars secure starting spots for the 500 on that day, the front-row spots on the starting grid. Speeds from that qualifying session are used to determine the lineup for the Gatorade Duel, with drivers in odd-numbered positions in the qualifying results in the first 150-miler and those in the even-numbered slots going into the second qualifying race. The top-14 finishers - aside from the driver already assured of a front-row spot in the 500 - in each qualifier will line up in order of finish starting with Row 2 for the 500. Finishers from the first Duel race will get the inside spots on each row, with finishers from the second getting the outside spots. The remaining spots in the 43-car field are awarded based on qualifying speeds and provisionals [which supposedly in 2005 will only be a past champ](ThatsRacin.com)(12-17-2004)
  AND more at the Daytona International Speedway site: Gatorade Duel At Daytona: The Daytona 500 uses a different qualifying procedure than any other race in the world. On Budweiser Pole Day, Sunday Feb. 13, only the fastest two cars solidify their starting spots for the Daytona 500. The fastest qualifier will earn the pole for both the Daytona 500 and the first 150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying race. The second fastest qualifier earns the outside pole for the Daytona 500 and will start on the pole for the second 150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying race, held on Thursday, Feb. 17. Drivers qualifying in odd-number positions will compete in the first Gatorade Duel race while drivers that qualify in even-number positions duke it out in the second Gatorade Duel race. The top-14 finishers, not including the pole sitter in the first 150-mile qualifying race, will line up behind the Daytona 500 pole sitter; while the top-14 finishers, not including the outside pole sitter in the second 150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying race, will line up behind the outside Daytona 500 pole sitter. The next eight Daytona 500 starting positions (31-38) are awarded to the drivers with the fastest speed after pole qualifying. The final five positions (39-43) are given to teams that are entitled to a provisional [supposedly no provisionals except a Champ Prov will be used in 2005, so it may end up as drivers with teams in the top 35 get places then buy speed].(DIS Site)(12-17-2004)
  
  
• 3 Doors Down To Perform National Anthem at DIS: Republic/Universal recording group 3 Doors Down will sing the National Anthem during the 27th annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night, Feb. 12 at historic Daytona International Speedway. The performance will be nationally televised on FOX and comes just days after the release of their new album Seventeen Days which hits stores on February 8th. 3 Doors Down will perform and then sing the National Anthem before the start of the All-Star race, which features last year's pole winners as well as previous Budweiser Shootout champions. Following the conclusion of the 70-lap no-holds barred, non-points race under the lights that helps jumpstart the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, 3 Doors Down will kick off their world tour with a post-race concert, which will be included in the race admission.(DIS PR)(12-17-2004)
  
  
• Update on Daytona Infield Renovation: Daytona International Speedway's multi-million, multi-faceted infield renovation is beginning to see the light at the end of the Turn 1 tunnel. With the Turn 1 tunnel covered and re-paving of the Turn 1 track section complete, "The World Center of Racing" will see its first track activity since the Pepsi 400 Weekend in July. The ARCA RE/MAX Series will take to the historic 2.5-mile tri-oval on Dec. 18-19 for a two-day test session in preparation for the season-opening Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 on Saturday, Feb. 12. The test session will be free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand available through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.
  Even though there's a test session on the calendar, there's still plenty of work remaining on the infield renovation project, which is scheduled to be complete in time for December's Daytona KartWeek. Other recent developments include:
  * The curtain wall around the Daytona 500 Club has been completed and dry wall is continuing in both the interior and exterior. Pavement on the Gatorade Victory Lane area is expected soon.
  * The stairs for the viewing deck above one of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series garages are scheduled to arrive this week and be installed.
  * At the new Turn 1 tunnel, the entry roads have been paved and the area is being prepped for sod and landscaping.
  * Two of the new motorcycle track sections have been boxed out and lime rock placed.(DIS PR)(12-6-2004)
  
  
• Junie tours Daytona renovations; unsure of team plans: Legendary NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team owner Junie Donlavey made a surprise visit to historic Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday and took a tour of the infield renovation site with Speedway President Robin Braig. Donlavey toured the multi-million dollar, multi-faceted infield renovation site that includes a new state-of-the-art tunnel, waterfront specialty vehicle parking, new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series garages, new Gatorade Victory Lane and a uniquely-designed Fan Zone with prime viewing of the garages and inspection bays.
  "Nobody will ever believe what you're doing here," Donlavey said. "This is unbelievable because it's laid out so good and it's for the benefit of the fans and car owners and crews. It's perfect. You had somebody with a lot of knowledge to be able to layout something like this." Donlavey, who still enters a car in races from time to time, has one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victory to his credit with driver Jody Ridley back in 1981 at Dover, Del. At Daytona International Speedway, Donlavey won three consecutive Hershey's 300s between 1972-74 with driver Bill Dennis and captured a Gatorade 125-mile qualifier with Schrader in 1987. Standing inside the new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series garages, Donlavey said he was unsure if he will attempt to qualify a car in next year's Daytona 500. But after touring the new Daytona infield, he says he'll definitely consider it. "I hadn't thought much about it, but I'm hoping that we can get something together and do it," Donlavey said Race fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the massive construction project can visit DAYTONA USA and take the Speedway Tour, which costs $7.50 plus tax. The Oldfield Grandstand is also open and free to the public. The Speedway's Web site, www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com, will also have weekly updates on the infield renovation project. Tickets for Speedweeks 2005 events, including the 47th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(10-27-2004)
  
  
• Daytona Testing to Talladega? UPDATE NO..at Daytona: Daytona 500 testing in January could be moved to Talladega, according to NASCAR sources, because the recent spat of hurricanes has put infield reconstruction at Daytona far behind.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-11-2004)
  UPDATE: Despite erroneous media reports, Daytona International Speedway will be the site for NASCAR testing for the 2005 season as well as NASCAR Preseason Fan Fest. "Daytona International Speedway weathered the recent hurricanes and we're looking forward to January testing," said Robin Braig, Daytona International Speedway track president. "Contrary to what fans may have read, "The World Center of Racing" will be the place to see all of your NASCAR favorites as well as the Grand American Series."(DIS PR), for the January testing schedule, see Jayski's Testing Page.(10-11-2004)
  
  
• DIS Infield Renovation Still On-track: As a third hurricane - Hurricane Jeanne - made its way through the Volusia County area last weekend, Daytona International Speedway and DAYTONA USA all weathered the storm with no significant damage. The multi-million infield renovation project at the "World Center of Racing" also went unscathed, with no significant damage to the project and no concerns of delay. The infield renovation project, which is scheduled to be completed in time for December's Daytona KartWeek, includes amenities such as a state-of-the-art tunnel, a uniquely designed Fan Zone with viewing of the new NASCAR Nextel Cup and NASCAR Busch Series garage areas, waterfront specialty vehicle parking and a new Gatorade Victory Lane where fans can now also be part of the Victory Celebration. Other developments in the infield renovation project include:
  * Excavation of the tunnel is complete.
  * Construction beginning on the floors in the new Victory Lane Club.
  * Final garage walls going up and roofs being placed on the NASCAR Busch Series garages.
  * Additions on the Infield Media Center are taking shape with walls and steel being installed.
  Race fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the massive construction project can visit DAYTONA USA and take the Speedway Tour, which costs $7.50 plus tax. The Oldfield Grandstand is also open and free to the public.(DIS PR)(10-1-2004)
  
  
• Daytona USA close due to possible hurricane: Due to the threat of Hurricane Jeanne, DAYTONA USA, the "Official of Attraction of NASCAR," closed at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24 and will remain closed on Saturday, Sept. 25 and Sunday, Sept. 26. DAYTONA USA will reaccess operating hours when the storm has passed. For more information on DAYTONA USA, contact (386) 947-6800 or log on to www.DAYTONAUSA.com.(DIS PR)(9-25-2004)
  
  
• Walls Going Up As Infield Renovation Project Takes Shape At DIS: Daytona International Speedway's multi-million infield renovation project is now deep into its third month of construction and buildings in the historic infield are beginning to take shape. The Victory Lane Club, located near the center of pit road, has gone vertical with the installation of walls with the help of cranes. Walls are also going up on the first NEXTEL Cup viewing garage while foundations are being set on the second NEXTEL Cup garage and the infield media center extension. Among the newest fan amenities included in the multi-million dollar infield renovation project are a state-of-the-art tunnel that will accommodate team transport vehicles and guest's specialty vehicles, anuniquely designed Fan Zone with roof-top viewing of the new NASCAR Nextel Cup and NASCAR Busch Series garage areas, waterfront specialty vehicle parking and a new Gatorade Victory Lane where fans can now also be part of the Victory Celebration. Other fan amenities at the "World Center of Racing" include free parking and tram service, the popular Fan Walk display area outside of Turn 4, information booths located throughout property during events and the pedestrian bridge. Race fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the massive construction project can visit DAYTONA USA and take the Speedway Tour, which costs $7.50 plus tax. The Oldfield Grandstand is also open and free to the public.(DIS PR)(9-14-2004)
  
  
• NASCAR Announces 2005 Preseason Thunder Dates: The 2005 NASCAR Preseason Thunder test schedule at Daytona International Speedway will kick off with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, which, along with its usual newsworthiness, also will enjoy the distinction of being the first event housed at the Speedway’s newly renovated infield and garages. Leading off next season’s edition of NASCAR Preseason Thunder will be the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams that finished in odd-number positions in the final 2004 car owner point standings. They will begin testing Tuesday, Jan. 11 and conclude Thursday, Jan. 13. The rain date is Friday, Jan. 14. All NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams will test Saturday, Jan. 15 and Sunday, Jan. 16. The rain date is Monday, Jan. 17.
  All NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams that finished in even-number positions in the final 2004 car owner point standings will be on track Tuesday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 20. The rain date is Friday, Jan. 21.
  All NASCAR Busch Series teams will be on track Saturday, Jan. 22 through Monday, Jan. 24. The rain date is Tuesday, Jan. 25.
  Fans, too, have their chance to participate in NASCAR Preseason Thunder. The Speedway’s Oldfield Tower grandstands, located just outside Daytona USA, will open free of charge to fans to watch the NASCAR preseason action. Also, four Fan Fests – whose proceeds will benefit the Speedway and NASCAR-designated charities – are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 12, Saturday, Jan. 15, Wednesday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 22. Adding to the 2005 NASCAR Preseason Thunder anticipation will be the Speedway’s new multi-million dollar infield renovation, which includes new garages for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series, a new Victory Lane and a new Fan Zone.(NASCAR PR)(8-31-2004)
  
  
• DIS contests OHSA findings: Daytona International Speedway is contesting federal findings that the Speedway failed to follow proper procedures in events surrounding the death of track worker Roy Weaver. OSHA slapped the Speedway with two citations following a six-month investigation into Weaver's death. He was killed instantly after being struck by a race car while attempting to pick up debris off the course in Turn 2. OSHA officials converged on the Speedway following the Feb. 8 death of Weaver, who was working on a clean up crew during the IPOWERacing Dash 150 race. He jumped off the back of a Speedway truck and was struck by a car that was going an estimated 100 mph. Weaver, 44, of Ormond Beach, was the first track worker killed since the Speedway opened in 1959. On Aug. 6, OSHA investigators levied one citation and a $6,300 fine against the Speedway for failing to have a written protocol to dictate when workers can step onto the track. In all, OSHA cited the Speedway with 13 violations and levied fines totaling $11,175 -- with only one of the violations dealing with Weaver's death. Other citations dealt with issues including a security employee without hearing protection and a track worker without a helmet.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(9-1-2004)
  
  
• DIS Fined in track workers death: Federal labor officials cited the Daytona International Speedway Friday for failing to enforce safety procedures that could have prevented the February death of a track worker during a stock-car race. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued $11,175 in proposed fines, including a $6,300 penalty for the alleged violation that contributed to the death of track-crew supervisor Roy H. Weaver III on Feb. 8. The other $4,875 in penalties stem from other potential work hazards, including hearing loss, that federal investigators found during inspections at the track, but were not related to the accident. Weaver, 44, of Ormond Beach, Fla., was struck and killed by a race car during the IPOWERacing 150 while he was removing debris from the track. Several racing officials said at the time of the crash that the fact that the driver involved, Ray Paprota, is a paraplegic was not a factor in the accident. James Borders, area director of the Jacksonville office for OSHA, said a fine against a racing venue for a worker's death is rare. The citations against the Speedway are ranked as "serious," meaning that Speedway officials knew or should have known about the potential dangers to its employees. The maximum penalty for a serious citation is $7,000. Borders said the penalty for Weaver's death was adjusted because OSHA had not inspected the track before and had no prior history with the Speedway. The Speedway has 15 days to pay the fines, have a meeting with OSHA officials, or appeal the citation to OSHA's review commission. According to the 13-page citation released Friday, OSHA investigators found that the Speedway did not enforce safety procedures concerning when employees may enter the track during a race. Borders said the track should have a policy similar to what fire departments follow when fighting a major fire. The report also cited the Speedway for other potential problems found during OSHA investigations. According to the report, an employee clearing material on the racetrack apron wasn't wearing a helmet while cars passed by, a radio headset had spots of blood that weren't cleaned before being stored, and the Speedway didn't check that medical workers had up-to-date Hepatitis B vaccinations and annual training about blood-borne diseases.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-7-2004)
  
  
• Fans struck by lightning..OK: The three unidentified men were struck while walking past souvenir trailers before the start of the Nextel Cup Pepsi 400. They were transported to the care center and held briefly for observation, track spokesman David Talley said. Talley said the men had only minor injuries and were released.(FoxSports)(7-4-2004)
  
  
• Some fans protest new infield plans at Daytona: Tent-pitching fans' fears that the planned overhaul of the Speedway infield might not leave much room for them kicked up a small protest Saturday afternoon. Bulldozers are lined up to level the garage area of Daytona International Speedway to begin a $50 million renovation soon after the Pepsi 400 competitors speed off. Before Speed Weeks rolls around in February, it's anticipated that 15 acres of the infield's Lake Lloyd will be filled in and replaced with a new waterfront boardwalk with souvenir bazaars and other places to shop. Most controversial, though, is the plan to add 500 more spaces for recreational vehicles. At about noon Saturday, about two dozen people marched around "Tent City" urging that the tradition of tents and vans in the infield remain. For the renovation or not, both sides could agree one change would be for the better: infield showers.(Daytona Beach News Joural)(7-4-2004)
  
  
• AI2 Singer and US Marine to sing Anthem: Lyric Street Records recording artist and "American Idol 2" sensation Josh Gracin will sing the National Anthem for the 46th annual Pepsi 400 on Saturday night and will perform a 30-minute pre-race concert. The 23-year-old Gracin, currently a U.S. Marine based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif., recently released his self-titled album earlier this month and his current single "I Want To Live" is 14th on the Billboard Singles Chart.(DIS PR)(7-2-2004)
  
  
• NFL QB Named Grand Marshal for the Pepsi 400: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich has been named Grand Marshal of the 46th annual Pepsi 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday night, July 3 at Daytona International Speedway. Due to a scheduling conflict, NBA All-Star guard Tracy McGrady, who was recently named Grand Marshal for the Pepsi 400, will be unable to attend. "I'm excited to be part of the Pepsi family and take over the duties from Tracy," Leftwich said. "I'm looking forward to being part of the festivities for the upcoming Pepsi 400 and giving the starting command." Leftwich, a 2003 first-round draft choice from Marshall University, threw for 2,819 yards and 16 touchdowns in his rookie season for the Jaguars. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in December after leading the Jaguars to two home victories. During his college career, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback was a prolific passer for the Thundering Heard, compiling 11,903 yards and 89 touchdowns. As a three-year starter for one of college football's most explosive offenses, Leftwich set Mid-American Conference records for passing yards and total offense. Tickets for the Pepsi 400 Weekend are still available online at daytonainternantionalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at 1-800-PITSHOP.(Speedway PR)(6-29-2004)
  
  
• Infield renovation: Following the Pepsi 400, the Daytona International Speedway will begin a multi-million dollar infield renovation, which includes a new tunnel, new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup garages, new NASCAR Busch garages, a new Gatorade Victory Lane, a Fan Zone, new specialty vehicle parking, new scoring trilons and expansion of the existing media center. The massive undertaking is scheduled to be completed in time for the Speedway's World Karting Association events in December. The project will not alter the layout of the track's surface.(DIS PR)(6-29-2004)
  
  
• National Anthem on Pole Night: From a field of approximately 150 singers, Orlando's Tara Rowell emerged after three weeks of competition to capture first place in Daytona International Speedway's inaugural "Straightaway to Stardom" singing talent contest. By claiming the win, the mother of four will now showcase her talent in front of thousands by singing the National Anthem at the Circle K Pole Qualifying Night for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 1.(DIS PR)(6-29-2004)
  
  
• New Emergency Plan at Daytona: Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR unveiled a new emergency services game plan to safety workers Saturday, but the procedure for halting a race remains a sticking point for some. About 130 part-time emergency services employees attended Saturday's meeting, which was closed to the media, to review track procedures and voice concerns about their safety during Speedway events later this week. Two key changes will be in place for the Pepsi 400 weekend events. First, track observers on platforms around the 2.5-mile oval will switch over to the primary emergency services radio frequency and spot for safety workers attending to an accident site. Observers previously were responsible only for spotting oil and debris on the track. Track worker Roy Weaver was killed in February after being struck by a race car during a caution period. Second, the Speedway's new three-tier command radio communication system also is designed to alleviate needless chatter by allowing only a few safety officials to speak at any time. The stopping of a race with a red flag, meanwhile, remains in the hands of the sanctioning body [NASCAR]. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said by phone Saturday that race officials want safety workers to communicate red flag requests to those in NASCAR's chase vehicle, who in turn will report to the control tower, where the final decision rests. If the chase vehicle is not there, safety workers can communicate directly with the tower. Race officials will meet with another group of Speedway safety workers today.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-27-2004)
  
  
• SAFER Install underway at DIS: Installation of Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barriers are currently underway at Daytona International Speedway. The project to install the SAFER barriers is scheduled to be complete by June 27. The Pepsi 400 Weekend is scheduled for July 1-3. The SAFER barrier at Daytona International Speedway will run continuously for 3,050 feet from the entrance to Turn 1 through the exit of Turn 2 and 3,050 feet from the entrance to Turn 3 through the exit of turn 4. Additional SAFER barrier with a length of nearly 900 feet will run along the inside Superstretch wall and another 900 feet of SAFER barrier will run along the inside wall of the skid pad in Turn 4. In the tri-oval, there will be 1,270 feet of SAFER barrier.(DIS PR)(6-8-2004)
  
  
• SAFER at Daytona...go watch: A specialized construction crew will begin hanging so-called "soft walls" on the turns around the Daytona International Speedway starting Monday. The walls will give when struck by a race car, helping protect the driver from serious injury. The soft walls are hardly soft -- they are made of steel and sheets of hard foam. But when the $2.3-million job is finished, in time for the July 3 Pepsi 400 and related races, the track's most dangerous walls will be much more forgiving than the existing concrete. The Speedway and its owner, International Speedway Corp., are paying Indianapolis-based Elrod Fabrication to install the SAFER barriers over the next few weeks. Jeff Elrod, president of the fabrication company, said the absolute completion date is June 26. The SAFER barriers will front the outside concrete walls in Turns 1 through 4 and in the tri-oval, the dogleg turn at the start-finish line. Elrod will also install SAFER on the inside walls exiting Turns 2 and 4.
  Want to Watch? Race fans and engineering buffs may observe the installation of the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier at Daytona International Speedway. The Speedway will open a section of the Oldfield Grandstands at no charge. The track also runs sightseeing trams through the infield everyday. Call the Speedway for tram ticket information at (386) 253-7223.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-6-2004)
  
  
• Dale Jr. President of DIS...for a day UPDATE lots of announcements: NASCAR says Dale Earnhardt Jr. will serve as "president" of Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday. His duties are scheduled to include the announcement of the purse for the July 3 Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup race as well as the selection of the paint scheme for the Pepsi 400 pace car.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(6-2-2004)
  UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion, took on a second job on Wednesday, President of Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt Jr. filled in for Speedway President Robin Braig and performed several presidential duties at the "World Center of Racing" which included:
  · Selected the paint scheme for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo that will pace the Pepsi 400 on Saturday, July 3. It's the first time since 1969 that a Chevrolet has paced the Pepsi 400 and the first time a Monte Carlo has paced the field in the history of the mid-summer classic.
  · Announced that Orlando Magic guard and NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady will serve as Grand Marshal for the Pepsi 400.
  · Announced a record purse of $5,804,363 for this year's Pepsi 400 on Saturday, July 3, an increase of more than $800,000. The winner of this year's Pepsi 400 will collect a minimum of $266,475.
  · Offered a special 8-pack ticket package for the Pepsi 400 weekend for $308. The package includes four general admission tickets to the Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo and four Superstretch tickets for the Pepsi 400. The offer, which is good June 2 through June 8, is available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or go online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Earnhardt Jr. also worked at the counters selling tickets at the ticket office.
  · Looked over the new infield renovation plans for the Speedway. The construction for the new garages, Gatorade Victory Lane, tunnel, fan walk and specialty vehicle area will begin following the Pepsi 400.(DIS PR)(6-3-2004)
  
  
• 2005 Daytona 500 Tickets On Sale NOW: ~ 272 Days Until The 2005 Daytona 500 ~
  On Saturday, May 29, ticket sales for the 47th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 2005 went on sale. Prior to Saturday, May 29, renewals and deposits for seat assignments for the Daytona 500 were taken by the ticket office at Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona 500, the kick off to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, is the biggest, richest and most prestigious stock car race of the year. Daytona International Speedway offers several convenient methods for fans to purchase tickets to the "Great American Race."
  Online at www.DAYTONA500.com
  Calling 1-800-PITSHOP
  Visiting the Daytona International Speedway ticket office inside the lobby of DAYTONA USA
  Also available for purchase through www.DAYTONA500.com or 1-800-PITSHOP include:
  Tickets for other Speedweeks 2005 events, including the Hershey's 300 NASCAR Busch Series race, the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and the Crown Royal IROC Series, the Gatorade 125's and the Budweiser Shootout.
  Hospitality packages including the Daytona Club, the Green Flag Club and the Party Zone.
  Pre-race pit passes for the Daytona 500.
  Tickets for the upcoming Pepsi 400 Weekend on July 1-3, including the Pepsi 400 on Saturday night, July 3, the Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday night, July 2 and Circle K Pole Qualifying Night and the Paul Revere 250 presented by Brumos Porsche on Thursday, July 1.(DIS PR)(5-30-2004)
  
  
• Circle K To Sponsor Pepsi 400 Qualifying Night Circle K will sponsor pole qualifying for the Pepsi 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway. Circle K Pole Qualifying Night will be held under the lights on Thursday night, July 1. Tickets for Circle K Pole Qualifying Night and the Paul Revere 250 presented by Brumos Porsche are available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(4-10-2004)
  
  
• Changes Coming at Daytona UPDATE: Daytona International Speedway is expected to announce today a massive construction project which will dramatically change the look of the entire infield. Speedway president Robin Braig has called a press conference today to explain the redevelopment plans, which include a new Nextel Cup Series garage area, a tunnel under Turn 1 and a different location for Victory Lane. DIS also plans to fill part of trademark Lake Lloyd to make room for more parking inside the track. This enormous capital project, which will cost International Speedway Corp. millions of dollars to complete, is designed to modernize the 2.5-mile tri-oval, which opened for business in 1959. North American Testing Company, an engineering subsidiary of ISC, drew up all the construction plans for the Speedway's facelift. The Speedway has canceled its fall schedule of events -- including Fall Cycle Scene and the Grand American season finale -- with the hope of completing all this work in time for Speed Weeks 2005. According to sources familiar with the project, many of the buildings and structures in the garage and paddock areas will be razed or moved to other locations outside Speedway property. The Benny Kahn Media Center, which is now an auxiliary press area, and NASCAR's current technical and inspection areas, will be demolished. The tin-roof shelters that serve as the Busch Series garage will be relocated outside the Speedway as cover for company vehicles. Several small buildings behind pit road -- the Pepsi scoring room, Victory Lane and the Speedway's operations department -- will be dismantled or destroyed. Once those facilities have been removed, the Speedway will build a series of concrete buildings to house a state-of-the-art garage area for a variety of competitors. The new garages will add heating and air conditioning -- a new standard in the racing industry. The area now known as the Nextel Cup garage will be refurbished and used by various competitors during the peak of Speed Weeks events. Another source said the Speedway may use this opportunity to create a premium grandstand/suite area along pit road. DIS has always built new grandstand seating on the outside of the course. The operations and maintenance facility, which is now housed behind the scoring stand and takes up a large chunk of valuable infield realty, will be relocated to an area outside the track, beyond Turn 2. When the Speedway was being built in 1958, it boasted a set of tunnels in Turn 4 that allow traffic to flow to and from the infield during an on-track event. Those tunnels will remain in place. The new tunnel system in Turn 1 will be more than twice the size of the originals, big enough to allow campers, motor homes and even tractor-trailers to pass under the racing surface. Lake Lloyd was created when construction crews in '58 needed dirt from that area to form Daytona's famous 31-degree banking. Once the area was dug out, the Speedway turned it into a water retention sight and named it after a former local car dealer.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(3-24-2004)
  UPDATE: In one of its most aggressive construction projects since Daytona International Speedway was built in 1958, track officials on Wednesday announced an exciting, multi-million dollar, multi-faceted infield renovation project making "The World Center of Racing" not only the most prestigious track on the NASCAR circuit, but one of the most modern as well.
  The immense project, scheduled to begin following the 46th running of the Pepsi 400 on July 3, will include a new tunnel, new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup garages, new NASCAR Busch garages, a new Gatorade Victory Lane, a Fan Zone, new waterfront specialty vehicle parking, new scoring trilons and expansion of the existing media center.
  The massive undertaking is scheduled to be completed in time for the Speedway's World Karting Association events in December. The project will not alter the layout of the tracks surface.
  "Without a doubt, this is one of the most expansive and aggressive projects at Daytona International Speedway," said DIS President Robin Braig. "Our goal has always been to make "The World Center of Racing" unique and fan friendly. Our new amenities make it just that for our fans, officials, competitors and sanctioning bodies."
  Specifically, the infield 'face-lift" includes:
  * A new tunnel located in Turn One will be able to accommodate team transport vehicles and guests specialty vehicles.
  * New NASCAR NEXTEL Cup garage area.
  * New NASCAR Busch series garages similar to the NASCAR Nextel Cup garages.
  * A new Gatorade Victory Lane which will include a "Victory Lane Club" for fans wishing to experience the excitement of the area during post-race revelry.
  * A Fan Zone, located between the NASCAR NEXTEL and NASCAR Busch garages with a "Walk of Champions."
  * Expansion of the existing media center to accommodate ever-growing media covering events at Daytona International Speedway.
  "The fan experience has always been a priority for International Speedway Corporation," said ISC President Lesa France Kennedy. "Our additional fan amenities continue to keep Daytona International Speedway in the forefront of fan-friendly facilities."(DIS PR see morr at the DIS Site)(3-25-2004)
  
  
• Pretty Cool: Daytona International Speedway officials announced that fans renewing their Speedweeks 2005 event tickets will be automatically entered in its "Win a Daytona 500 Pace Car Contest." Speedweeks events include NASCAR's most prestigious race "the Daytona 500"* the NASCAR Busch Series Hershey's 300, the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, the Gatorade 125s and the Budweiser Shootout. One lucky fan participating in the easy, online renewal option will be randomly selected to drive home the 2004 DAYTONA 500 Corvette Pace Car. By renewing on line last year, Curtis Porter of Warner Robbins, Ga., won the 2003 Daytona 500 Grand Prix Pace Car and received his new vehicle during the pre-race ceremonies for the Pepsi 400 at the "World Center of Racing." Tickets for the 46th annual Pepsi 400 scheduled for July 3 and other Daytona International Speedway events are available online at or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(3-18-2004)
  
  
• More night races? Triple Points for the Daytona 500? more Fox ideas: More night races and the Daytona 500 counting more than any other race are some of the ideas David Hill, Fox Sports Television Group chairman, says he'd like to see NASCAR enact. Hill, whose network broadcasts the first half of the NASCAR schedule, admits his ideas are not likely to be followed. "I've always believed that NASCAR would make fantastic prime-time entertainment," Hill said in a conference call this week. "The problem is that you've got 200,000 people who have got to get to work the next morning." Even so, he says night racing could work. "I've always believed that the next step forward for this sport is to regularize the races," he said. "If I had my way, I'd mandate that every track had lights so fans knew every Friday night was a Truck race and every Saturday night was a Busch race and Sunday was a Cup race." Hill said he would like to see quadruple points awarded at Daytona and the schedule changed to where the season finale takes place the weekend after Thanksgiving instead of the weekend before. Hill also said that he's "cautiously optimistic" that Fox can make money off the TV contract. Fox, NBC and their partners paid more than $2.4 billion to broadcast NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series events beginning in 2001. NBC's contract ends in 2006. Fox's contract ends in 2006, but it has the option to extend that through 2008.(Roanoke Times)(2-21-2004)
  
  
• NASCAR apologizes to fans for inconveniences during presidential visit: Some Daytona 500 attendees seated near President Bush's suite Sunday complained they couldn't return to the grandstands after using the bathroom, grabbing a soda or buying a T-shirt. Daytona International Speedway officials responded Monday by placing a formal apology on the track's Web site for any inconveniences fans faced while Bush met NASCAR drivers, posed with military personnel and gave television and radio interviews. "We want to get (fans) in their seats as soon as possible to enjoy the experience," Speedway spokesman David Talley said. "Unfortunately, we were doing exactly what the Secret Service asked, and that was holding people up until the president was done." A group of 75 employees from Bright House Networks were asked to move to another suite Sunday to make room for the president, but a company spokesman said no one minded. "It was kind of honor that our suite was where he wanted to take in the race," said spokesman Brian Craven. A spokesman with the United States Secret Service said Monday he was unaware of the complaints and declined comment.(Daytona Beach New Journal)(2-17-2004)
  
  
• Daytona 500 sold out: All grandstand seats for the 46th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15 at historic Daytona International Speedway are sold out, Speedway officials announced today. While all the grandstand seats are sold out, fans can still purchase infield tickets for the "Great American Race" - the kick off to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. "We're happy to announce that the Daytona 500 is sold out," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "The fans continue to show that the Daytona 500 is the premier stock car race in America."
  Tickets are available for the next NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway - the 46th annual Pepsi 400 on Saturday night, July 3 - can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com by or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. To reserve a ticket package for the 2005 Daytona 500, call the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.(DIS PR)(2-15-2004)
  
  
• Speedway death ruled accidental: The death of a Daytona International Speedway safety worker was ruled an accident Monday, but questions remain over what caused the grisly incident during Sunday's IPOWERacing Dash Series 150.(see full story at the Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-10-2004)
  
  
• Commemorative Daytona 500 Program Distributed Coast to Coast: A commemorative newsstand edition of the award-winning Daytona 500 program will be available to race fans unable to attend NASCAR's most prestigious race - the Daytona 500. The program hit newsstands in major grocery chains and mass retail outlets throughout the nation on Feb. 3. The unique cover of the 256-page program features a special Mickey Mouse Event Car as well as s the ultimate prize in motorsports, the Harley J. Earl trophy - presented to the winner of NASCAR's most prestigious motorsports event - the Daytona 500. Although there will be 5 different Daytona 500 program covers, only the Mickey Mouse design can be purchased at newsstands nationwide. The Daytona 500 souvenir program features in-depth features on all of the events of Daytona's Speedweeks. Driver profiles, race reviews and historical retrospectives, along with hundreds of photographs, fill the 256 full-color pages. The publisher's editorial and photography staff has been recognized by various professional and media organizations, including the International Automotive Media Awards, for their work.(DIS PR)(2-9-2004)
  
  
• Tragic News at Daytona: A Daytona International Speedway safety worker was killed Sunday afternoon when he was struck by a race car being driven by a paraplegic competitor in a race during activities leading up to next week's Daytona 500. Roy H. Weaver III, a 44-year-old track crew supervisor, was picking up debris in the Turn 2 area of the 2.5-mile track after a crash during the IPower 150 when he was struck by a race car being driven by Ray Paprota. Paprota, 41, is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of injuries he suffered in an automobile crash in 1984. He uses specially modified hand controls to accelerate, brake and change gears in his race car. Sunday's race was the first held under authority of IPower, a sanctioning body that bought what was formerly known as the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series late last year. The race had been slowed under a yellow for a wreck in Turn 4 that required Tony Billings of Pfafftown, N.C., to be cut from his car. Late Sunday, Billings was listed in stable condition at Halifax Medical Center. The cars were stopped on pit road under a red flag while the Dash series garage was cordoned off with security workers and police. The Volusia County medical examiner came to the garage and officials took photos of Paprota's car. More than two hours after the incident took place, but before Weaver's death was confirmed, the race was resumed and shortened from 60 to 40 laps. Danny Bagwell, whose Alabama-based team had helped Paprota prepare his race cars for competition, was the winner.(see full story at ThatsRacin.com)(2-8-2004)
  
  
• DAYTONA USA adds IMAX Theater to Attraction Experience: Beginning in late March, early April DAYTONA USA, the official attraction of NASCAR, will be home to "NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience." The IMAX theater in Daytona Beach will be only one of 236 in the world. DAYTONA USA's 247-seat Pepsi Theater will be fully equipped with IMAX technology and a four-story screen as "NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience" puts fans in the driver's seat to explore the world of today's elite NASCAR drivers and teams.
  Narrated by Golden Globe Award-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland, "NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience" will feature rare behind-the-scenes glimpses as well as gripping action on the track.
  "Race fans can literally feel like they are in the drivers seat," said DAYTONA USA General Manager Mike Manning. "We're excited to offer IMAX and many other unique motorsports experiences to our guests." DAYTONA USA is a one-of-kind interactive motorsports attraction, which features a variety of hands-on activities utilizing advanced technology. The Ultimate Motorsports Experience is a high-energy experience designed to appeal to everyone, regardless of his or her level of racing knowledge or enthusiasm and includes three different simulators, an award-winning movie and "A Pit Stop Challenge."
  Founded in 1967, IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies. IMAX's businesses include the creation and delivery of the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX and IMAX 3D technology, and the development of the highest quality digital production and presentation. As of September 30 2003, there were more than 235 IMAX theatres operating in 36 countries. To date, more than 700 million people have enjoyed The IMAX Experience® at specially-designed theatres around the world.
  DAYTONA USA, the official motorsports attraction is open 9:00am to 7:00pm/et and holds extended hours during race events. Call (386) 947-6800 for more information or visit www.DAYTONAUSA.com.(DIS PR)(2-9-2004)
  
  
• Corvette to pace the field: General Motors has provided the Official Pace Car for the Daytona 500 during the entire "Modern Era" of NASCAR and this year is no exception. The 2004 Corvette Coupe, considered "America's performance icon," will continue that tradition and pace this year's Daytona 500, the opening race of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on Feb. 15. Today's Corvette continues to deliver excitement by combining the perfect blend of performance, technology and content. Nearly 1.4 million Corvettes have been sold worldwide in its 51-year history. Corvette will pace four events at the Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks this month, including the Budweiser Shootout, the Gatorade 125-Mile qualifying races, the Hershey's Kisses 300 and the Daytona 500. These four events help make up the 57 national NASCAR events Chevrolet will pace in 2004 season (26 Nextel Cup, 18 Busch, and 13 Craftsman Truck races).(GM PR)(2-8-2004)
  
  
• President Bush to attend Daytona 500: President Bush will attend the Daytona 500 Feb. 15 in Florida. Bush plans to spend that Sunday night in Florida where his brother, Jeb, is governor, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Friday in announcing the trip to the auto race. That same night in Wisconsin, Democrats are scheduled to hold a debate in advance of that state's primary on Feb. 17. (AP/NASCAR.com)(2-6-2003)
  
  
• LeAnn Rimes to sing National Anthem at Daytona 500 and have a concert: Double Grammy award-winning superstar LeAnn Rimes, whose hits include "How do I Live", "Can't Fight the Moonlight", and "We Can", will headline the NEXTEL Tribute to America, the pre-race extravaganza leading up to NASCAR's most prestigious race - the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15. Rimes, who has one of the most spectacular voices in pop music, will also sing the National Anthem prior to the 46th running of the "Great American Race." Her pre-race concert, the first-of-its-kind at the Daytona International Speedway, and the National Anthem will be televised live on NBC.
  The NEXTEL-sponsored extravaganza entitled the NEXTEL Tribute to America will pay tribute to people, places and events symbolic of America and will feature nearly 4,000 cast members on the Speedway's historic five-acre tri-oval grass. The show's finale will feature Grammy Award Winning Musician, Lee Greenwood singing his marquee track, "God Bless the USA".
  In addition to Rimes, Orlando native and reigning Miss America, Ericka Dunlap, has been added to a growing list of celebrities, including Grand Marshal Ben Affleck, scheduled to take part in festivities surrounding the "Great American Race" - the Daytona 500. Tickets for Speedweeks 2004 and the 46th annual Daytona 500 are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-6-2004)
  
  
• Whoopi Goldberg Named Honorary Starter for Daytona 500: Academy, Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy and Tony-Award-winning superstar Whoopi Goldberg will serve as Honorary Starter for the 46th annual Daytona 500. Coverage of "The Great American Race" begins Sunday, Feb. 15 at 12:00noon/et on NBC-TV. As the Daytona 500's Honorary Starter, Goldberg will drop the green flag, signaling drivers to begin racing the 2.5 mile course for its 200 laps - or 500 miles - duration. Goldberg currently headlines NBC's hit comedy "Whoopi," which she also executive produces, starring as Mavis Rae, an opinionated pop-diva-turned-hotel-owner. The series airs Tuesday nights at 8:00pm/et. For the Daytona 500 festivities, she will join other popular celebrities who have duties for the drivers. Academy Award-winner Ben Affleck ("Good Will Hunting," "Paycheck") will serve as Grand Marshal, proclaiming the command "Drivers, start your engines!" In addition, Affleck - commandeering the driver's seat of the official Grand Marshal pace car -- will also lead the 43-car field in pace laps before the race. Tickets for Speedweeks 2004 and the 46th annual Daytona 500 are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(2-4-2004)
  
  
• Record Daytona 500 Purse Increases Nearly $2 Million: The 46th annual Daytona 500, the biggest and most prestigious race in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, will boast the biggest purse in the history of stock car racing. The posted awards for this year's Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15 are $15,972,313, an increase of nearly $2 million from last year's posted awards. The posted awards for last year's Daytona 500, won by Michael Waltrip, were $14,030,129. "The Daytona 500 is the ultimate prize in stock car racing," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "It only stands to reason that the biggest race of the year command the biggest purse." The first driver to take the checkered flag in the Daytona 500 will pocket a minimum of $1,391,730. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers will receive a minimum of $986,325, $693,550, $541,750 and $413,950 respectively. The last-place finisher in the Daytona 500 will earn a minimum of $177,058.(DIS PR)(2-2-2004)
  
  
• Hogan to be Grand Marshall of DIS Truck Race: Professional wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan will serve as grand marshal and give the command "Drivers, start your engines" for the inaugural nighttime running of the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday night, Feb. 13. Joining Hogan in the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 pre-race ceremonies will be his daughter Brooke Hogan, who will sing the national anthem. The Florida Dodge Dealers 250 will go green for the first time under the lights on Friday night, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. The season-opening race in the Crown Royal IROC Series will warm things up with a 40-lap event at 5 p.m. Tickets for the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 and the Crown Royal IROC Series are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(1-28-2004)
  
  
• Nextel to Sponsor Daytona Pre-Race Show: Daytona International Speedway says new NASCAR title sponsor Nextel will sponsor the pre-race show and festivities before the Feb. 15 Daytona 500. The "Nextel Tribute to America" is expected to feature nearly 4,000 cast members and feature a performance of "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood. Q&A Entertainment will produce the show, portions of which are expected to be broadcast by NBC.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(1-25-2004)
  
  
• Eagle Practices for the Daytona 500: Bird's eye view: African Fish Eagles Phoenix and Isa made an appearance at Daytona International Speedway, taking part in practice flights as they prepare for pre-race activities during the "Great American Race" on Feb. 15. Tim Smith, Assistant Supervisor of Animal Training at Special Events at Sea World in Orlando has been bringing the six-pound birds to the track for the past few weeks "giving the animals the opportunity to see the environment to feel comfortable." Phoenix has flown twice as DIS while Isa is still carrying her yellow rookie stripe. "The superstretch is nice to work the animals on because it won't change much during race time - basically it's a parking lot," Smith said. "However, the frontstretch will change dramatically during race day." Smith and his crew will continue to come out until twice a week until race day. And race day won't get here soon enough. "We take a lot of pride in being able to do venues this large is really neat for us," Smith said. "It's neat to be a part of something this big."(DIS PR)(1-22-2004)
  
  
• DIS Medical Center Closed? Nextel Cup drivers were surprised to learn that the infield medical center was locked and no doctor was on staff during Daytona 500 testing at Daytona International Speedway. Halifax Medical Center is nearby, but drivers nevertheless expressed shock that the infield hospital was closed, particularly after NASCAR's long safety meeting with teams Tuesday. "If there are no doctors here while we're testing, that's absolutely ridiculous," Rusty Wallace said. "There must have been a major malfunction. I'm sure Mike Helton wouldn't let that happen. It's got to be an oversight, and hopefully we'll get that corrected." Bobby Hutchens, the chief engineer for Richard Childress, said, "It surprises me, because in the age we're in we've tried to improve safety, and it bothers me that there is no doctor here, to be able to assist somebody if there's a need. Just thinking about this place and the things that have happened, it really surprises me there's not a doctor on hand."
  Jeff Burton agreed: "Yes, we need to look at that. We need to make sure there is the proper staffing at tests. I don't know whose job that is, NASCAR's or the teams'. But that is something we need to address. It is certainly a question we need to ask - how is it (the infield hospital) equipped, who equipped it, who is responsible if things don't go right.
  Kenny Schrader, though, took a slightly different tack: "I don't know why there isn't a doctor in the infield. And I don't know about doctors in the infield, but if I drive this thing in the fence hard, I want a paramedic at the car. A trauma unit and a doctor who goes to all the races might be fine, but I want a guy who works 12 big traffic wrecks a month, I want him. A guy who isn't afraid to take his Bic pen and jam it in my throat to get me some air. At the track it's first-response. The people we need should be out there in the vehicles."
  NASCAR officials were not in the garage for comment.(in part from the Winston Salem Journal)(1-16-2004)
  
  
• New Tunnel Planned at Daytona: The Daytona International Speedway plans to build a tunnel big enough to accommodate tractor trailers and RVs between Turns 1 and 2 of the tri-oval. However, the truth is the massive and costly project is on a list of capital improvements. "The five-year vision of Daytona International Speedway is up on a wall in our offices," Speedway president Robin Braig said. "With the input of the France family and what we've learned from racetracks they have built across this country, we know how important a tunnel is to a facility. We have a tunnel. It's functional and works well, but a new tunnel and many other enhancements for this track would certainly be something we'd be considering." Braig can't just order up a tunnel. He must convince International Speedway Corp.'s board that the project is needed. The board considers capital improvements for its 12 tracks and decides who gets the money. "They (ISC board) ultimately decide where the money should go," Braig said. Rumor has it, if approved, the project will start right after the Pepsi 400 in July.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-11-2004)
  
  
• Tie the Knot at DIS UPDATE the lucky couple: The winning couple competing for a chance to "Tie the Knot at the Hershey's Kisses 300" NASCAR Busch Series race, will be announced at a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 11:15 a.m. at the Daytona International Speedway Infield Media Center. Five lucky couples were selected to compete in a "Tie the Knot at the Hershey's Kisses 300" Race-off. The winning couple will "Tie the Knot" prior to the start of the Hershey's Kisses 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2004, at Daytona International Speedway.(DIS PR)(1-6-2004)
  UPDATE: Hershey's Kisses Tie the Knot Contest Winners: Teri Lewis and Gene Konzen, Indianapolis, Ind., beat out four other couples for the opportunity to "Tie the Knot" prior to the start of the Hershey's Kisses 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Valentine's Day, February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Lewis, 36, a registered nurse, and Konzen, 39, a firefighter, scored the most points in a Race-off with four other couples at Daytona International Speedway. Judges selected the couple during a Race-off, which pitted couple against couple in a number of fun and challenging events, including a simulated race game; a newlywed and trivia game, and individual couple interviews with the judges. The Grand Prize winning couple will "Tie the Knot" prior to the Hershey's Kisses 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at "The World Center of Racing" on Valentine's Day, February 14. The wedding will take place live before thousands of spectators prior to the start of the race.
  "It's wonderful," Konzen said. "We appreciate everything that you guys have to offer. Hershey's and Daytona, they were wonderful. We couldn't ask for anything else; this was a spectacular trip. It was going to be wonderful no matter what, even if we didn't win. We already said it was great to come down here."
  Being the chosen couple in this contest was a dream come true for Lewis and Konzen, who are both die-hard race fans.
  "When we got engaged and as (Teri) was telling people about that, someone told her about the contest and we thought that would be neat because we were having a really difficult time picking the date because we are so into NASCAR racing," Konzen said. "We have so many races we go to we couldn't figure out what month to have it so we had to pick the off-season anyway. This is the ultimate of all three things: Valentine's Day, Hershey's and Daytona and their grand hoopla of all races (the Daytona 500)."(DIS PR)(1-7-2004)
  
  
  Changing of the guard
  "The World Center of Racing" - Daytona International Speedway - underwent somewhat of a face-lift on Tuesday as the Winston logo panels from the twin scoring "Tri-lon" towers were removed. The 75-foot towers, located in the infield of the Speedway, have been in place since 1981. The familiar red and white Winston panels will be replaced with new NASCAR Cup sponsor NEXTEL logos in time for Speedweeks beginning in January 2004. (Daytona International Speedway photo)(12-31-2003)
  
  
• Oops....not in Winston Salem this year.... Some NASCAR fans are calling Joel Coliseum in search of tickets to the T. Wayne Robertson NASCAR Winston-Cup Preview, not realizing that the preview normally held in January is moving to Daytona. More than 100 telephone calls since Friday prompted officials to post a notice on the coliseum's Web site, along with a link to the new preview, which will be held Jan. 7-20 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. The new preview, called the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, will include numerous bands, pit-stop demonstrations and fan forums with drivers, according to the speedway's Web site. The fan fest will coincide with the annual NASCAR Preseason Thundertest sessions, and will include drivers from the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.(Winston Salem Journal)(12-30-2003)
  
  
• Here ya go...... Daytona International Speedway To Host NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest.
  Bands, pit stop demonstrations and inquisitive fan forums with your favorite drivers are just some of the exciting features fans will experience at the all new 2004 NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at historic Daytona International Speedway [this takes place of the old Winston Preview that was held in Winston Salem, NC].
  Coinciding with January's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Busch Series testing sessions at the "World Center of Racing," officials at the Speedway announced dates for the unique NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest.
  The 5-10 p.m. events will be held on the following days:
  Jan. 7 &14: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Fan Fest
  Jan. 10: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Fan Fest
  Jan. 17 & 20: NASCAR Busch Fan Fest
  Scattered along the frontstretch outside the gates of legendary DIS, the scheduled fan festivals will feature show cars, bands, sponsor displays, race team haulers and other exhibits. The high-energy event will also include fan forums, engine building and pit stop demonstrations, silent auctions and food and fun all set in the shadow of one of motorsports most storied venues.
  On each Fan Fest day, fan forums with drivers and NASCAR officials will be moderated by MRN, FOX or NBC celebrity announcers.
  While all displays and entertainment outside is free to the public, tickets to enter the NEXTEL Cup events are $10 and $5 for the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck events. Only fans purchasing tickets to the Cup, Busch and Truck Fan Fest events will receive gift bags that will include: driver's autographed pictures, DAYTONA USA admission vouchers, NASCAR Magazine, posters and other fan goodies.
  Fans can also experience the high-speed excitement of all testing sessions free.
  NASCAR Preseason Thunder annual testing sessions at Daytona International Speedway are as follows:
  Jan. 6-8: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (odd owner's points)
  Jan. 10-12: NASCAR Craftsman Truck
  Jan. 13-15:NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (even owner's points)
  Jan. 17-18: NASCAR Busch Series (odd owner's points)
  Jan. 20-21: NASCAR Busch Series (even owner's points)
  Proceeds from the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest will benefit Victory Junction Gang Camp, NASCAR Wives Auxiliary, Speediatrics and Brenners Children's Hospital.(Daytona International Speedway PR)(12-9-2003)
  
  
• The new 'Preview' in Daytona: NASCAR announced plans today for a new preseason fan-oriented event that will coincide with the annual NASCAR Preseason Thunder test sessions in January at Daytona International Speedway. “NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan-Fest at Daytona”will involve drivers from all three of NASCAR’s national series – the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, the NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Those three series test Jan.6-22 at Daytona. All three series open the 2004 season at Daytona International Speedway in February. Combining the preview event with the other activities surrounding NASCAR Preseason Thunder will give fans more opportunities to enjoy NASCAR in the city where the sport was founded in 1948 – Daytona Beach. Fans will be able to watch their favorite teams test cars for the new season, see and interact with their favorite drivers, visit the Daytona USA attraction and tour Daytona International Speedway. In addition, the new event will continue to benefit multiple charities. NASCAR will release more details on the “NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan-Fest at Daytona” in the near future.(NASCAR PR)(10-8-2003)
  
  
• 2004 Daytona testing:
  Jan. 6-8 - NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing (odd owner's points)
  Jan. 10-12 - NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series testing
  Jan. 13-15 - NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing (even owner's points)
  Jan. 17-18 - NASCAR Busch Series testing (odd owner's points)
  Jan. 20-21 - NASCAR Busch Series testing (even owner's points)
  
  
• UPDATE 12-30-2003 - Driver List...so far: Bands, pit stop demonstrations and inquisitive fan forums with your favorite drivers are just some of the exciting features fans will experience at the all-new 2004 NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest.
  
  Fan Fest Dates:
  NEXTEL Cup Series Drivers - Jan. 7 + 14
  Busch Series Drivers - Jan. 17 + 20
  Craftsman Truck Series Drivers - Jan. 10
  
  Fan Fest Times: NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests are from 5:00pm to 10:00pm on the selected dates.
  
  While all displays and entertainment outside is free to the public, tickets to enter the NEXTEL Cup events are $10 and $5 for the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck events. Only fans purchasing tickets to the Cup, Busch and Truck Fan Fest events will receive gift bags that will include: driver's autographed pictures, DAYTONA USA admission vouchers, NASCAR Magazine, posters and other fan goodies.
  
  Proceeds from the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest will benefit Victory Junction Gang Camp, NASCAR Wives Auxiliary, Speediatrics and Brenners Children's Hospital.
  
  To purchase tickets to Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, call the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-RACE.
  
  more info at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com
  
  

  Cup Drivers

  Jan. 6-8
  Matt Kenseth [#17]
  Dale Earnhardt Jr. [#8]
  Kevin Harvick [#29]
  Tony Stewart [#20]
  Kasey Kahne [#9]
  Kurt Busch [#97]
  Jamie McMurray [#42]
  Michael Waltrip [#15]
  Mark Martin [#6]
  Jeremy Mayfield [#19]
  Scott Wimmer [#22]
  Dale Jarrett [#88]
  Ricky Craven [#32]
  Joe Nemechek [#01]
  Ward Burton [#0]
  Kyle Petty [#45]
  Jeff Green [#43]
  Derrike Cope [#50/37]
  
  Jan. 13-15
  Jimmie Johnson [#48]
  Jeff Gordon [#24]
  Ryan Newman [#12]
  Bobby Labonte [#18]
  Terry Labonte [#5]
  Ricky Rudd [#21]
  Jeff Burton [#24]
  Rusty Wallace [#2]
  Robby Gordon [#31]
  Sterling Marlin [#40]
  Greg Biffle [#16]
  Elliott Sadler [#38]
  Scott Riggs [#10]
  Brian Vickers [#25]
  Jimmy Spencer [#7]
  John Andretti [#1]
  Johnny Sauter [#30]
  Casey Mears [#41]
  Ken Schrader [#49]
  Larry Foyt [#14]
  
  

  Busch Drivers

  Jan. 17-18
  Kevin Harvick [#21]
  David Green [#37]
  Bobby Hamilton Jr. [#25]
  Kasey Kahne [#38]
  Mike Bliss [#20]
  Joe Nemechek [#87]
  Mike Wallace [#4]
  Johnny Sauter [#27]
  
  Jan. 20-21
  Kyle Busch [#5]
  Ron Hornaday Jr. [#2]
  Jason Keller [#57/22]
  Kenny Wallace [#23]
  Stacy Compton [#59]
  Ashton Lewis [#46]
  Tim Fedewa [#12]
  Dale Earnhardt Jr. [#8]
  Michael Waltrip #99]
  Casey Atwood [#14]
  Mark Martin [#9]
  
  
• CART and the Frances/ISC? An Indiana judge has cleared away the first hurdles in the planned takeover of CART assets. Judge Frank Otte overruled attempts to slow down the process and thus torpedo the plans of Open Wheel Racing. The CART lawyers argued that if there were delays there would be nothing left. The objections had been put forward by legal teams representing California Speedway and Road America, both of which have outstanding legal issues with CART. Mike Hile, an attorney representing California Speedway said that he is also representing a group of investors which is interested in making a bid for the CART assets. The identity of this group remains unknown although Hile said the bid would come from a company called 88 Corp.
  88 Corp is the owner of California Speedway and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the International Speedway Corporation. This is a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United States, currently promoting more than 100 events annually. The Company owns and/or operates 12 motorsports facilities. In addition it owns and operates MRN Radio, the nation's largest independent sports radio network and the Daytona USA theme park in Daytona Beach, Florida. The company also owns major merchandising subsidiaries. ISC is a publicly-traded company but is controlled by the France Family, the owners of NASCAR. It is also involved in another company called The Motorsport Alliance, a partnership between ISC, the Frances and Tony George, the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League, CART's major rival.(GrandPrix.com)(12-31-2003)
  
  
• DIS Helps Out: Veteran NASCAR driver Mike Skinner helped out as Daytona International Speedway and Volusia County (Fla.) Health Department delivered 5,323 pounds of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank this month. Skinner and his wife, Angie, led a caravan that included the new Mickey Mouse Chevrolet that will lead the Daytona 500 pace lap, three Speedway trucks and a Daytona USA show car hauler taking the food to the organization that helps families in need. "Being able to do something for people that are less fortunate gives us great pride," said Skinner, who has signed to drive a Bang Racing Toyota in the Craftsman Truck Series next year. "It's always nice to be able to help out the community you live in."(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(12-23-2003)
  
  
• Five Couples Selected: Five lucky race fan couples have been selected to travel to Daytona Beach, Fla. to compete in a "Tie the Knot at the Hershey's Kisses 300" Race-off. The winning couple of the Race-off will "Tie the Knot" prior to the start of the Hershey's Kisses 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2004, at Daytona International Speedway. Judges selected the Race-off couples based on their specially designed envelopes and essays explaining why they wanted to "Tie the Knot at the Hershey's Kisses 300" NASCAR Busch Series race in Daytona. The couples:
  Teri Lewis and Gene Konzen, Indianapolis, Ind.
  Dawn Kreager and Kelly Bloss, Stewartstown, Pa.
  Tammy Purkis and Travis Zvolena, Marshfield, Wis.
  Jefflyn LeFevre and Lesley Westbrook, Gainesville, Texas
  Marla Hill and James Darin, Morris, Ill.
  will compete in the Race-off on Wednesday, January 7, 2004. Each finalist couple receives a three-day, two-night trip to Daytona Beach, for the Race-off. The Race-off pits couple against couple in a number of fun and challenging events, including a simulated race game; a newlywed and trivia game, and individual couple interviews with the judges. The winning couple will be announced following judging of the Race-off activities on Wednesday, January 7, 2004. The Grand Prize-winning couple will "Tie the Knot" prior to the Hershey's Kisses 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at "The World Center of Racing" on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2004. The wedding will take place live before thousands of spectators prior to the start of the race. Hershey Foods' sponsorship of the Hershey's Kisses 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2004 includes a specially painted #21 Hershey's Kisses Chevrolet fielded by Richard Childress Racing. Kevin Harvick will look to continue his winning ways next season by driving the No. 21 Hershey's Kisses Chevrolet in this NASCAR Busch Series season-opening event.(Yahoo Biz)(12-19-2003)
  
  
• Affleck named Daytona 500 Grand Marshal: Actor, director and writer Ben Affleck, who captured the 1997 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting and has starred in blockbuster films such as Armageddon and Pearl Harbor, will serve as Grand Marshal for the 46th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15 - "The Great American Race." Affleck, who stars in the upcoming Paycheck, which will be released Dec. 25, will give the command "Drivers, start your engines" in NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious stock car race in the world. His Grand Marshal duties also include leading the 43-car field in the pace laps from the Grand Marshal pace car. "We're excited to have Ben take part in Daytona 500 pre-race festivities to help start the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race of 2004," said Speedway President Robin Braig. "As a huge sports fan, I'm thrilled to serve as Grand Marshal for the 2004 Daytona 500," Affleck said. "I've heard about the excitement and competition of the Daytona 500 and I can't wait to be part of the festivities." Tickets for Speedweeks 2004 and the 46th annual Daytona 500 are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(12-16-2003)
  
  
• Cup drivers in the Daytona 24? Chevrolet is trying to have a big presence in the Rolex Sports Car Series’ Daytona 24 hour early next year. Daytona Prototypes are under construction at Crawford Race Cars in Denver, North Carolina, all powered by GM’s Gen III V8 engines, which GM hopes will be piloted by its Winston Cup stars. Chevrolet is looking at various driver combinations and it’s unclear how many cars will run. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart are strong candidates, and Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon could figure in the mix. Regular GM road racers Kelly Collins and Andy Pilgrim are on deck as well. GM sources say there is no truth to rumors that another car is slated for Bobby, Terry and Justin Labonte.(Autoweek)(11-26-2003)
  
  
• Hershey's To Sponsor February Busch Series Race at Daytona: Daytona International Speedway and Hershey Foods officials announced the season-opening NASCAR Busch Series race at the "World Center of Racing on Feb. 14, 2004 will be called the Hershey's Kisses 300. The Hershey's Kisses 300 race will feature a specially painted Hershey's Kisses #21 Chevrolet fielded by Richard Childress Racing. Kevin Harvick will drive the Hershey's Kisses #21 car in the first Busch Series event of 2004. In addition to the Hershey's Kisses 300 sponsorship announcement, Hershey Foods also announced the "Tie the Knot at the Hershey's Kisses 300" promotion that will coincide with Feb. 14 racing event. This unique promotion offers one lucky "race fan" couple the opportunity to get married at the track in Daytona on Valentine's Day prior to the Hershey's Kisses 300 race. Complete contest details are available at hersheyskisses.com.(DIS PR)(10-6-2003)
  
  
• More on DIS's Lease: A sealed document that had been stored in a safe states that International Speedway Corp.'s 25-year option to extend its lease of publicly owned land to 2032 remains valid and can be exercised anytime before 2007. That contradicts statements reported last week suggesting the Speedway "revoked" the 25-year option and might be forced in 2007 to renegotiate terms of the tax-free, low-rent deal forged in the late 1950s. Speedway attorneys requested a public meeting to find out exactly where the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities Commission, which oversees the 443 acres underneath the Speedway, stands on the status of its lease. In a May 1994 memo, Thomas T. Cobb, longtime former attorney for the Facilities Commission, stated the Speedway and 443 acres underneath it would revert to public ownership on Nov. 8, 2007, unless a new lease is negotiated. But in the sealed documents provided to The Daytona Beach News-Journal after last week's story was published, Cobb stated the 25-year option in the original lease remains valid. It can be exercised at any time before 2007 -- giving the Speedway the right to use the public land for $20,000 a year through 2032.(Daytona Beach News Journal(9-27-2003)
  
  
• Daytona Beach to raise the rent for DIS? In four years, the public could own the Daytona International Speedway. And if that doesn't happen, there's a chance the International Speedway Corp. will be paying considerably more to use the place. It all hinges on Nov. 8, 2007, when the Speedway's original 50-year lease expires. On that date, 443 acres of publicly owned land and everything on it -- grandstands, offices, garages and public exhibition space -- will revert to public control unless the Speedway agrees to a new lease, according to a recently discovered memo by Thomas T. Cobb, the attorney who negotiated the deal to build the track a half century ago. Cobb, longtime attorney for the five-member commission that regulates use of the property, wrote the memo in May 1994 to help the commission begin new lease negotiations. Under a new lease, the Speedway could wind up paying far more than the $10,000 a year rent it currently pays under what Cobb called a "sweetheart" deal negotiated in 1957. The Speedway doesn't think it needs to renegotiate. The multi-million dollar corporation plans in 2007 to exercise a 25-year renewal option built into the original lease, Glenn Padgett, chief counsel for operations for International Speedway Corp. said Tuesday.
  See full story at the Daytona Beach News Journal.(9-17-2003)
  
  
• Another Daytona Race under the lights? Daytona International Speedway president Robin Braig and his staff recently have kicked around issues that will impact Speed Weeks 2004. Braig is continuing discussions with NASCAR about possibly moving another event -- with the exception of the Daytona 500 -- to a prime-time starting slot. The Budweiser Shootout went under the lights this year and will continue as a nighttime race next season. But any other NASCAR-sanctioned Daytona activity, from practice and qualifying to races, is fair game.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(8-17-2003)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Tickets on Sale: Prior to Saturday, Aug. 2, renewals and deposits for seat assignments for the 46th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 15, 2004 were taken by the ticket office at Daytona International Speedway. "Nothing beats experiencing the 'Great American Race' in person," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "We encourage our guests to get their tickets as early as possible as the Daytona 500 has traditionally been a sellout since the inaugural event in 1959." Tickets for the Daytona 500 and other Speedweeks 2004 events are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Also available for purchase through 1-800-PITSHOP include: Hospitality packages including the Daytona Club, the Green Flag Club and the Party Zone; Pre-race pit passes for the Daytona 500; Four different travel packages for Speedweeks 2004.(DIS PR)(8-8-2003)
  
  
• ISC Revenues Up, Income Down: International Speedway Corp. today reported record net revenue for the second quarter but said income fell. Total revenue was up almost 2.5 percent to $119.6 million compared to $116.7 million in second quarter 2002, but net income was down more than 13 percent to $12.5 million, or 24 cents per diluted share. The company said the drop includes a $2.8 million charge for work to reconfigure Homestead-Miami Speedway. For the first six months of the year, net income fell 4.5 percent to $37.9 million, or 71 cents per diluted share, compared to $39.7 million, or 75 cents per diluted share, during the first half of 2002. Total revenue was up from $242.5 million in the first six months of 2002 to $250.4 million this year. The company attributed the increase to higher attendance for events at California, Richmond, Homestead-Miami and Phoenix, increased broadcast and media revenues and higher overall spending by corporate customers.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter - free)(7-9-2003)
  
  
• DIS Opposes Parking Surcharge: Daytona Beach officials looking for ways to ease a budget squeeze might ask race fans to dig a little deeper when they pay to park. But Daytona International Speedway officials are lining up to oppose a proposal from the city manager's office to add a $1 surcharge to paid parking costs. "In the city's effort to shore up its financial position, we're happy to do our part," said John Graham, International Speedway Corp. vice president for business affairs. "But we're very much opposed to anything that singles out the Speedway or race fans." City officials say they could net as much as $40,000 from a dollar parking surcharge, and the additional charge would be negligible to race fans. "They're charging $20 to $30 a day," Deputy City Manager Paul McKitrick said. "What's an extra dollar to them?" City officials want to tap directly into the tourist dollars from special events to ease a cash crunch from rising costs, including about $1.7 million in employee raises. Although the sales-tax income rises during events, the city gets a share of that money based on population -- not actual collections.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(7-4-2003)
  
  
• American history on display at Daytona: As part of Fourth of July festivities, NASCAR fans attending this weekend's activities at Daytona International Speedway will have an opportunity to view one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence. The display is part of The Home Depot's sponsorship of the Declaration of Independence Road Trip, a traveling exhibit featuring the document.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(7-3-2003)
  
  
• DIS President To Meet With Select Fans: Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig believes that not only do "moms know best," but fans have pretty good insight as well. With that, as part of its track-wide, comprehensive initiative called Fans First!, Braig will meet with several fans in town for the Pepsi 400 weekend on July 2-5 to discuss ways to enhance their race experiences. The "Meet & Greet" is a hands-on effort to improve the race time experience for its thousands of guests that visit the "World Center of Racing" each year. Braig will meet with fans from North Carolina, Michigan, Florida and Alabama to get feedback on those things important to race fans traveling to DIS events including, traffic patterns, free parking and shuttle information, and guest information assistance centers. Continuing to build on its Fans First! initiative which launched in early June, Daytona International Speedway recently named Jay Gritton as Manager of Guest Services. Gritton's new role includes management of the Speedway's front door areas where a guest's first impressions occur, including the gates, guest information centers, disabled guest assistance carts and usher programs. Fans First! also focuses on expanded training of event staff and volunteers, plus participating in the Speedway's fan feedback forums.(DIS PR)(6-27-2003)
  
  
• Free Preview NASCAR in car in Demand: iN DEMAND will offer NASCAR fans and viewers a free-preview of the innovative and ground-breaking NASCAR IN CAR on iN DEMAND package “ television's first enhanced multi-channel digital sports package “ on Saturday, July 5, for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The July 5 free preview of NASCAR IN CAR on iN DEMAND marks the start of the second half of the 2003 NASCAR season and the availability of the package to digital cable subscribers for the half-season rate of $89. NASCAR fans were first invited to preview the NASCAR digital package on iN DEMAND at the start of the season during the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, 2003, at Daytona International Speedway. More information at www.indemand.com.(6-26-2003)
  
  
• Free Trackpass for Daytona: This year NASCAR.com is providing fans free access to TrackPass for the weekend of the Pepsi 400 on July 3-6. NASCAR.com users will have full access to all of TrackPass' features, including PitCommandcoverage of the Pepsi 400 on July 5 at 8:00pm/et. Users will be able to view Live Leaderboard timing and scoring coverage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series practice and qualifying events, NASCAR Busch Series qualifying and race, as well as exclusive multimedia features such as live in-car race audio, condensed races, and searchable video clips. To take advantage of the free TrackPass trial, fans only need to log on to NASCAR.com July 3-6. Since its launch in February 2002, TrackPass has attracted over 150,000 signups.(NASCAR PR)(6-26-2003)
  
  
• NFLer Warren Sapp and Model Angie Everhart Grand Marshals; Evans to sing National Anthem at Daytona: Super Bowl champion and Florida native Warren Sapp, and supermodel Angie Everhart, will add "Grand Marshal" to their list of distinguished accomplishments as both will serve as Grand Marshals for Daytona International Speedway's 4th of July Weekend extravaganza, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pepsi 400. In addition, RCA recording artist Sara Evans, whose single "Born to Fly" propelled her to the top of the Country Music Charts and garnered rave reviews in Rolling Stone Magazine and the Los Angeles Times, will perform a pre-race concert on the superspeedway's frontstretch and will also sing the National Anthem at the Pepsi 400 before a national television audience and thousands of race fans. Sapp will give the command of "Start Your Engines" at the nationally-televised nighttime spectacle, while Everhart will get the race underway by leading the field from the Pontiac Grand Marshal car.(NASCAR.com)(6-24-2003)
  
  
• Daytona 500 best friends to RV's: The Good Sam Club, the world's largest membership organization of RV owners, announced Monday its award winners for the 2nd annual Welcome Mat Awards. The awards recognize those businesses that know how to accommodate RVs and offer good service to the growing number of RVers. The Daytona 500 was tapped as best RV-friendly NASCAR event, and the Florida RV Supershow was tapped for best RV-friendly RV show. The voting process took place over several months. Nearly 1 million members of the Good Sam Club were eligible to vote.(Orlando Business Journal)(6-17-2003)
  
  
• Some Rules Changes for Daytona: NASCAR on Friday issued a four-page technical bulletin to all Winston Cup teams outlining several changes that must be made to cars for next month's Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The most visible change is the requirement of an additional rear roof air deflector, which will likely slow the cars slightly as well as help keep them stay grounded should they get involved in an accident. NASCAR recently conducted a wind-tunnel test with a third roof flap and discovered a change in the air deflector improved the efficiency and performance of the two flaps currently in use. Several other, minor changes were outlined in the bulletin, including rules mandating the height and thickness of air filters, quarter panels, and the fuel cells.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-13-2003)
  
  
• Winn-Dixie, PepsiCo to Sponsor Summer Busch Series Race at Daytona: Daytona International Speedway announced a multiyear agreement for the 250-mile Busch Series race on Pepsi 400 weekend. In 2003, Winn-Dixie and PepsiCo will jointly sponsor the race, known as "The Winn-Dixie 250 Presented by PepsiCo," to be held under the lights on Friday, July 4 at 8:00pm/et. Winn-Dixie is building from its previous relationship with the Daytona International Speedway, as promotional partner of The Daytona 500. In order to share in the celebration of this new relationship with race fans and customers, Winn-Dixie is selling tickets to the race at select stores for a discounted price when customers use their Customer Reward Card. Tickets for the Winn-Dixie 250 Presented By PepsiCo and the 45th running of the Pepsi 400 are available.(DIS PR)(6-7-2003)
  
  
• ISC Selling....shares: International Speedway Corp. has announced plans to sell 3.47 million shares held by the France family and Penske Performance Inc. Today's Daytona Beach News-Journal says the sale could raise about $66 million for the Penske unit and will end Penske's corporate investment in ISC. Penske Chairman Roger Penske, however, would continue to hold about 20,000 shares as an individual, the story says. Penske joined forces with ISC in 1999 when it acquired several tracks owned by Penske Motorsports. ISC says the 1.8 million France shares being sold by a family holding company, White River Investment L.P., are part of an estate planning strategy for the family. The newspaper says the family will remain the company's single biggest shareholder with about 19.3 million shares.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(5-9-2003)
  
  
• Spys at Daytona USA?After Michael Waltrip won his second Daytona 500 in February, his #15 NAPA Chevy was rolled into Daytona USA for public display -- or easy pickings? There are whispers out there that several Winston Cup teams, bound and determined find the strength of DEI's restrictor-plate fleet, sent people to photograph and measure Waltrip's sitting duck car. "It's a great story to say people are going to Daytona to look at our car," Waltrip said Wednesday while doing a media tour in California. Daytona officials said no one carrying a tape measure has entered Daytona USA after paying the $16 adult admission price. Nobody has taken measurements of the car and nobody better try it in the future. "There's no way they can get close to the car," Speedway spokesman David Talley said. "We don't allow anybody to get close to the car or touch it. They can come take pictures if they want, but they can't take out a tape measure and get up to the car, touch it or measure it." Daytona USA has at least one employee near the car at all times and security makes regular sweeps through the building. Talley said if somebody was caught messing with Waltrip's car, they'd get the bum's rush. "We'd call security and escort them out of the building," Talley said. NASCAR heard the same story about spies doing detailed measurements of Waltrip's car and immediately called the Speedway about it.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-24-2003)
  
  
• Rally Race: The Great Race, the longest-running cross-country vintage rally in the country, will finish July 5 at Daytona International Speedway. As many as 120 vintage automobiles -- they must be at least 45 years old -- are scheduled to take part in this event, which will encompass more than 4,000 miles in 16 days. The rally starts June 20 at Michigan International Speedway and will finish at DIS with a ceremony on the grid immediately prior to the Pepsi 400. Winston Cup team owner Jack Roush plans to enter one of his vintage cars in the event.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-20-2003)
  
  
• Pepsi 400 staying put - in July: "We're not going to discuss the 2004 schedule until we've firmed it up and had discussions with everyone involved," NASCAR's Jim Hunter said. "I don't know if we've done that at this point in time. We'd like to release the schedule by August or September." But Hunter and Daytona Intl Speedway spokesman David Talley would talk about one part of the schedule -- the Pepsi 400. It will remain as Winston Cup's midseason stopping point. "I don't foresee in the near future the Pepsi 400 being moved to the end of the season," Talley said. Hunter was even more adamant on the subject. "There are no plans to do that," he said. "In our conversations with the tracks regarding realignment 2004, I haven't heard that even come up as an option. That's not on the drawing board."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-17-2003)
  
  
• Penske Leaving ISC: Roger Penske will give up his spot on the board of directors of International Speedway Corp. prior to ISC's annual meeting on April 9, according to a report published in the current issue of National Speed Sport News. The weekly publication cites an ISC-issue proxy statement saying that Penske will exit as vice chairman and will give up his seat on the board, which will reduce its membership from 17 to 13. Walt Czarnecki, executive vice president of the Penske Corporation, will also leave the ISC board. Greg Penske, Roger's son, will retain a seat on the board, the published report said.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-29-2003)
  
  
• Centennial of Speed: Celebrating 100 Years of Motorsports in Daytona/Ormond Beach, FL, is being held this weekend [March 28-30], see their site at www.centennialofspeed.com and columns and info at the Daytona Beach News Journal.(3-28-2003)
  
  
• DIS Announces Changes to Public Relations Staff: Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig announced that David Talley has been named Director of Media Relations for the Speedway. Talley, who recently served as International Speedway Corporation's Director of Corporate Communications, will continue his Corporate Communications duties, as well as focus on media relations, public relations and consumer programs for the Speedway.(DIS PR)(3-28-2003)
  
  
• Birthplace of Speed Centennial Celebration: On Friday, March 28, Daytona's racing history will come full circle with the return of the vintage vehicles that jump-started their motorsports history, which stretches back 100 years, Birthplace of Speed Centennial Celebration. This celebration of speed and sand actually begins Wednesday, when the City of Ormond Beach, FL opens and dedicates it's Birthplace of Speed Park at the intersection of A1A and Granada Boulevard. The following day will feature a classic car exhibit divided between Fortunato Park and The Casements. Some of the cars will make their way to the beach for parade laps. Then on Friday, racing returns to the beach for the first time since 1958. The Antique Auto Beach Races program starts at 11:00am/et and continues until 3:00pm/et. It will have a carnival-like atmosphere, including an antique airplane fly-over and a parade lap of participants.(Full Story at the Daytona Beach News Journal and see the site: www.centennialofspeed.com for full Celebration info)(3-23-2003)
  
  
• Medical Concern at Daytona: The possible suspension of emergency services at two major Central Florida trauma centers due to the state's worsening medical liability crisis poses a serious threat to NASCAR drivers and fans, says a top official at the Daytona International Speedway. Lesa D. Kennedy, executive vice president of International Speedway Corp., said in a March 11 letter to Gov. Jeb Bush that she is concerned about the possible suspension of Level 1 trauma services at Orlando Regional Medical Center and Level 2 trauma services at Halifax Memorial Hospital in Daytona Beach.(Orlando Business Journal)(3-14-2003)
  
  
• NASCAR defends decision to red flag Daytona 500: Fans and drivers weren't the only ones disappointed with the rain-shortened Daytona 500. As it turns out, NASCAR also wasn't thrilled with the early end to its biggest race of the season. "It's our Super Bowl, too, and the way it ended was personally disappointing to me," Winston Cup director John Darby said Friday. "After watching the race that long, it had just reached a point where it was all starting to come together and was about to get interesting." Michael Waltrip won Sunday's race when NASCAR called it after a second hour-long rain delay. The event ended 91 laps short of its scheduled 200. Because 109 laps had been completed, the race had passed the halfway point and was considered an official event. With no evidence that the rain would let up, NASCAR officials determined it would be impossible to resume on Sunday. Coming back on Monday to finish it was not considered an option because the event was already official. "The general practice that we've always been pretty solid about, that's no big secret and is not going to change, is that if we get past halfway and you can't complete it that day - that's it," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. Darby said NASCAR made the only decision it could, based on the rule book. "As bitter and disappointing as it might seem, our decision is in black and white," he said. "If we make an exception because it is the Daytona 500, then later in the season when we are in the middle of 20-straight weeks of racing, we've opened up a can of worms when we try to come back on a Monday to finish a race that is already official."(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(2-22-2003)
  
  
• The Shortest '500': The Daytona 500 has never been rained out, and Sunday's 109-lap race was only the fourth in history not run to 500 miles. Here's the history of the abbreviated events:
  1965 - 332.5 miles - Rain - Fred Lorenzen
  1966 - 495 miles - Rain - Richard Petty
  1974 - 450 miles - Shortened due to U.S. energy shortage - Richard Petty
  2003 - 272.5 miles - Rain - Michael Waltrip.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-17-2003)
  
  
• Daytona 500 at Night? on a Sunday? If the Daytona 500 is moved to prime time to accommodate television, it may be run on Sunday night, Fox Sports president Ed Goren said this week. Drivers support more night races in general and are receptive to a prime-time start for the Daytona 500, but overwhelmingly, they prefer Saturday night races. NASCAR, which is in the third year of a six-year, $2.4 billion contract with Fox, NBC and their cable partners, is looking at ways to increase value for the networks. That could mean more night races, later starting times for Sunday afternoon races and running the Daytona 500 in prime time, NASCAR president Mike Helton said recently. Fox officials were thrilled with the ratings for the first nighttime Bud Shootout last Saturday. The race drew a 5.5 nationally, winning the night for Fox by a wide margin. And that was against upgraded programming two networks offered as part of their February sweeps packages.(more at Tampa Tribune)(2-15-2003)
  
  
• ALL coolers to be checked at Daytona: Security personnel at Daytona International Speedway will attempt to check every single cooler that comes into the track during race week. About 200,000 fans are expected to attend the Daytona 500 on Sunday, and officials at the track have raised security levels back to where they were this time last year, when the memories of the Sept. 11 attacks were still fresh. "Fans will have to be patient, but it can be done," track spokesman Glyn Johnston said Thursday, where a much smaller crowd attended the Gatorade 125 qualifying races. Although the track won't release numbers, Johnston said an increased number of police and security personnel will be present, in part because of the recently heightened terror alert. Last week, the federal government put the nation on "high" alert for a possible terrorist attack. Part of the heightened security means all air traffic other than commercial flights that fly into Daytona's adjacent airport will be banned within a three-mile and 3,000-foot radius around and over the track. The ban, which began Wednesday, includes all banner planes, blimps and news helicopters. Making the process smoother at Daytona is the continued ban in the 135,000-seat grandstand on any cooler bigger than 6x6x12 inches - about enough to carry a six-pack. All of those coolers must be soft-sided. Since the ban has been put in place, some fans have complained, saying it's a way for NASCAR to make more money, by forcing them to buy more concessions inside the track. Fans are also limited to a 18x18x4-inch clear, plastic bag to carry track souvenirs. They also must wear binoculars and scanners around their necks and take them out of carrying cases before entering. Restrictions in the infield aren't nearly as stringent, but all vehicles will be subject to search.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(2-14-2003)
  
  
• No-fly zone at Speedway result of terror alert: The buzz of airplanes, blimps and helicopters over Daytona International Speedway will be silenced starting Thursday. In the name of security, federal agencies Monday banned aircraft including blimps, banner planes and news helicopters from flying lower than 3,000 feet within three nautical miles of the Speedway. The ban won't affect commercial flights and private planes with registered flight plans. They will be allowed to take off and land at Daytona Beach International Airport, but will be closely monitored by Federal Aviation Administration officials. Television viewers may not even notice the flying ban, according to the people behind the airborne cameras. The Goodyear blimp, which is carrying a television camera for ESPN Sports during Friday's IROC race, will "as always, comply with whatever restrictions are in place," said Jennifer Arnold, a company spokeswoman.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-13-2003)
  
  
• Daytona 500 name, not for sale: In a sport where everything is for sale for the right price, the Daytona 500 remains one of the last notable exceptions. And if officials at Daytona International Speedway - and NASCAR - have their way, it always will be. "The Daytona 500 just isn't a name you'd want to give up," said Jim France, son of the track's founder and president of its parent company, International Speedway Corporation. "The name for the event, we think, is pretty universally accepted. It's a significant brand in and of itself." There are 36 official races and two all-star events on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule. Twenty-six of the 38 have title sponsors, a decrease of five from last season. The value of those title sponsorships varies greatly depending on the race and the facility, ranging from six to seven figures. However, all of the remaining events other than the Daytona 500 have their title sponsorships on the market. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway had been the only other holdout until it put the title sponsorship for the Brickyard 400 on the market last fall. The asking price is $6 million for three years, according to the sales presentation being offered by the track to potential buyers. For that price, Indianapolis is promising tickets, pit passes, a floating billboard on the lake along the backstretch that's bound to be captured by network cameras, track signs, logo flags, hospitality areas, Internet banner ads, program ads, and radio ads among other benefits. The price does not include television exposure. Networks aren't obligated to refer to the title sponsor, since they're competing for the same advertising dollars. If the Brickyard 400, a 9-year-old event, is able to seek a $6 million asking price, what would title sponsorship to the Daytona 500 - NASCAR's premier event - be worth? "Probably in the $75 million for 10 years range," said a representative for one of the 500's presenting sponsors, who insisted on anonymity because of his relationship with the race. The lure to sell the title to the highest bidder has been tempting, France said, but not worth the ramifications. As presenting sponsors, company names don't appear in the name of the race. However, they are allowed to use the Daytona 500 and its logos in their advertising and promotions. Presenting sponsors also receive signs in Victory Lane and along pit road, as well as tickets and suites for the race and other luxury accommodations.(Augusta Chronicle)(2-13-2003)
  
  
• Tix still available for the Daytona 500: There are still some tickets available for the Daytona 500. "`We have always sold out the 500,'' said Kathy Catron, senior manager of publicity for Daytona International Speedway. "`But we still have some tickets left.'' The only tickets available are a combination package - the Daytona 500 and Saturday's Busch Series Koolerz 300 - selling for $175. They are available on the Internet at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by phone at (386) 253-7223. If you just want to experience Daytona International Speedway, there are plenty of tickets available for Thursday's Gatorade Twin 125 qualifying races, Friday's Craftsman Truck Florida Dodge Dealers 250 and Saturday's Busch race. And infield tickets for the 500 are available for $90.(Tampa Tribune)(2-11-2003)
  
  
• Security at the Daytona 500/Speedweeks: Come early. Take cameras out of carrying cases. Bring clear plastic bags and soft-sided coolers. These are tips officials at Daytona International Speedway are giving race fans who plan to attend this week's races and avoid long lines. Security concerns stem from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the possibility of new attacks as the nation prepares for war with Iraq. The Bush administration placed the nation on a heightened state of alert Friday by raising the threat level from the yellow, or "elevated," level to the orange "high" level based on "specific and credible" threats indicating al-Qaida terrorists were planning large-scale attacks. Last year, law enforcement and Speedway officials tightened security in response to the 2001 attacks. "It's the same drill this year. Nothing has changed," said Glyn Johnston, the Speedway's director of communications. Johnston and law enforcement officials said they had no information about threats to the area during Speed Weeks, which brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors and concentrates them in a confined area leading up to Sunday's Daytona 500. But like their counterparts in other areas of the country, officials don't want to take any chances. "We realize nothing is impossible within the warped mind of a terrorist," said Terry Sanders, a captain with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office who works with special events. Officials declined to release specifics of their security plans, except to say plans would involve multiple agencies -- including the Daytona Beach Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement -- and resemble last year's plan. Last year, hundreds of officers helped patrol track grounds and direct traffic. They guarded gate entrances, checked car trunks and truck beds and poked mirrors under vehicles. The Federal Aviation Administration restricted the airspace last year to one nautical mile around the Speedway. Officials are restricting what a person can bring into the Speedway: one soft-sided bag or cooler no larger than 6 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, and one clear plastic bag no larger than 18 inches by 18 inches by 4 inches. People can still "bring cameras, scanners and binoculars, as long as they're not in bags," Johnston said. He advised people to arrive at least an hour early for the race. Officers also rely on spectators and race fans for security, said Sgt. Al Tolley of the Daytona Beach Police Department. "We rely on people who see something suspicious to give us a call," Tolley said.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-10-2003)
  
  
• A Buc at the Daytona 500: Tampa Bay Bucs guard Kerry Jenkins, an avid NASCAR fan, has been invited to attend the Daytona 500 as NASCAR's guest. NASCAR officials made the offer after reading a story in The Tampa Tribune about Jenkins' interest in stock car racing. Jenkins followed the sport while growing up in Alabama and attending Troy State University. As with many celebrity guests, Jenkins will be given a tour of the garage area and pits and will attend the pre-race drivers meeting. He'll have a seat in a NASCAR suite.(Tampa Tribune)(2-8-2003)
  
  
• Dale Earnhardt Tribute Concert news: Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Alabama are the first four acts booked for the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Concert to be held June 28 at Daytona International Speedway. The concert, a fund-raiser for the Earnhardt Legacy Foundation, will be the first non-racing event in the track’s history. Tickets will be sold beginning March 3 to premium level subscribers to the Dale Earnhardt Inc. website to be launched next week, then will be sold to the public through Ticketmaster outlets beginning March 22. Reserved grandstand tickets will cost $55 and stage level tickets will be $65. Other premium level ticket packages will also be sold at $333 and $1,000. Kraft, the presenting sponsor of the concert, donated $500,000 to the Legacy Foundation.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-7-2003)
  
  
• Wayne Brady, Tony Hawk Added to List of Celebs at Daytona 500: Daytona International Speedway announced today that two-time Emmy-nominated comic actor Wayne Brady will wave the green flag to signal the start of the 45th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 16. An Orlando native, Brady is the host of the nationally syndicated talk show, "The Wayne Brady Show" for Buena Vista television.. He is additionally known for his work on ABC's hit comedy "Whose Line is it Anyway", which earned him two Emmy Award nominations.. Brady also tours the country with his own, live improvisational theatre show. But before the green flag drops, skateboarding's primary icon Tony Hawk will participate in the pre-race festivities for the Daytona 500 as a distinguished guest of Daytona International Speedway. Now 34, Hawk is best known for his "900" (two and a half spins above a 12-foot-high halfpipe), which existed only in theory until he landed it at the 1999 X-Games. He is the author of a best-selling autobiography, HAWK: Occupation Skateboarder and was awarded ESPN's. ESPY award for Best Alternative Athlete. In 2001, the California resident received the first-ever ESPN Action Sports Achievement Award for his unparalleled status in skateboarding. His best-selling Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game won three Blockbuster Awards for Favorite PlayStation, Dreamcast and GameBoy Game.. In addition, the Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards awarded Hawk Best Male Athlete and Best Video Game. That same year he also created the Tony Hawk Foundation to help finance public skateparks in low-income areas nationwide. Brady and Hawk join a star-studded list of celebrities participating in this year's Daytona 500, including Grand Marshal John Travolta and Mariah Carey, who will perform the National Anthem.(DIS PR)(2-7-2003)
  
  
• Speedway Honors Scouts at Pole Qualifying Day: Members of the Central Florida Council of Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council will get an opportunity to put on their uniforms and enjoy a day of NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition, as Daytona International Speedway celebrates Scout Day on Sunday, Feb. 9. A popular outing which drew hundreds of members in 2002, Scout Day will honor the area's scouts during the Speedway's Bud Pole Qualifying Day for the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series 150. As in past years, eligible scouts and scout leaders will include only active members of the Central Florida Council of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who are in uniform (shirt and hat). Scouts and scout leaders should report between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. to the grandstand entrance at Gate 18, just west of the Winston Tower, where they will be checked in by a designated scout representative. Scouts will then receive free admission to the unreserved frontstretch grandstands to watch the day's events. Family members and friends of the scouts can purchase General Admission tickets for $20 per person (children 11 and under are free with a paying adult.) These tickets may be purchased at Ticket Booth D, adjacent to Gate 18. The NASCAR Goody's Dash Series 150 will start at 11:00am/et followed by Bud Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 at 1:15pm/et. Only the pole and the outside pole are up for grabs during the qualifying session. For more information on Scout Day, call (386) 947-6416.(DIS PR)(2-5-2003)
  
  
• New Daytona 500 Movie Makes Debut At DAYTONA USA: DAYTONA USA rolled out the red carpet on Thursday as the remake of the "The Daytona 500" made its premiere in the Pepsi Theater inside the "Official Attraction of NASCAR." "The Daytona 500," which gives the race fan the ultimate Daytona 500 film experience as they watch their favorite drivers and teams prepare for the "Great American Race," is all new. Mentor Films captured a good portion of its filming of the "The Daytona 500" during Speedweeks 2002. "The Daytona 500" is a large-screen format film presented on a screen 55 feet wide and almost three stories tall. With such a large screen, the fan can feel as if they're in the driver's seat. The film also runs at 24 frames per second for a remarkably clear picture and add to that DAYTONA USA's exclusive ThunderRound-Sound. To view the new "The Daytona 500," purchase tickets to DAYTONA USA online at www.DAYTONAUSA.com or at the gate.(DIS PR)(1-31-2003)
  
  
• Scheduling Change For Daytona Inspections: Events playing-out at Daytona International Speedway during a 10-day grind, known as Speedweeks, it can present a real challenge for NASCAR. Top on that list is potentially Feb. 8, with both qualifying for the Daytona 500 and the Bud Shootout scheduled, not to mention the corresponding inspections. In prior years NASCAR would fill the labor-intensive inspection lines with both Shootout and Daytona 500 cars. But not this year. Winston Cup Director, John Darby has made the call to inspect the cars for the Shootout on Feb. 6 and then the Daytona 500 cars on Feb. 7, thus ensuring quality inspections for all cars. Inspections are vital as the teams try to improve their on-track chances with anything they can think of that’ll reduce drag by 10 drag-horsepower or increase the engine power by 10 horsepower.(Ford Racing)(1-30-2003)
  
  
• 24 Hours of Daytona News - Live Scoring: Lance Norick, who has 154 career starts on the Truck Series circuit and plans to run a limited BGN [#26 Dr Pepper car] schedule this year, will join the Morgan-Dollar Motorsports team in the Rolex 24 At Daytona this weekend. Rob Morgan, the co-owner and co-driver for the team, knows Norick well -- Morgan also fields a truck (#46 currently driven by Dennis Setzer) in the Truck Series.(Daytona Beach News Journal). Other drivers driving in the race with NASCAR background include: Kyle Petty, Derrike Cope, Kevin Lepage, David Donohue, Christian Fittipaldi, Chris Bingham, Justin Bell, Boris Said, David Murry, Rick Carelli and J.C. France (of the France family) plus 16-year-old USAC driver Tom Hessert III from Cherry Hill, NJ will run in the race. Speed Channel will carry 16 hours of live coverage starting on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 12:30pm/et and finishing with the checkered flag at 1:00pm/et and the Victory Lane celebration that follows. Also Grand American Road Racing Association will provide Zippo Live Timing & Scoring on its official website - GrandAmerican.com - throughout the entire 41st Rolex 24 At Daytona event weekend, January 30 - February 2.(1-28-2003)
  
  
• Going to Daytona? Check out your seat number: Your seat number -- even the name of the grandstand -- may be different. But after a software upgrade, Daytona International Speedway wants to assure all fans the location of their seats hasn't changed.(see NASCAR.com for the full story)(1-28-2003)
  
  
• John Travolta Grand Marshal of the Daytona 500: John Travolta, who has earned Academy Award nominations for his performances in both "Saturday Night Fever" and "Pulp Fiction," will give the command to start engines as Grand Marshal for the 45th annual Daytona 500. Travolta, whose next film "Basic" will be released on April 18, has an affection for speed as a seasoned jet pilot, owner of his own 707 and as a spokesperson for Qantas Airlines to encourage air travel. Travolta will also give the command in front of a "hometown" crowd. Travolta is a sometimes resident of Florida.(DIS PR)(1-16-2003)
  
  
• Speedweeks Concerts: SHeDAISY will perform a pre-race concert prior to the start of the inaugural nighttime running of the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Utah-born siblings Kristyn, Kelsi and Kassidy Osborn make up SHeDAISY and will perform a concert shortly after the conclusion of the Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series season opener, which goes green at 4:30 p.m. SHeDAISY will also sing the national anthem before the 8 p.m. Budweiser Shootout. Four-time Grammy nominated Christian rock band "Third Day" will perform a post-race concert at the track following the Feb. 15 Koolerz 300, the season opener for the NASCAR Busch Series. In addition, Third Day's talented lead singer Mac Powell will sing the national anthem before the start of the Koolerz 300. Tickets for the Daytona 500 and other Speedweeks 2003 events are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.(DIS PR)(1-16-2003)
  
  
• DIS Offers Several Different Ways To Get Up Close To The Action: Daytona International Speedway is offering several different race packages that put fans where they have never been before. If you've ever wanted to watch the races from pit road, the Paddock Club Fan Suite is the way to go. The Paddock Club Fan Suite is located on pit road up close to all the action on the track. Fans will be able to drive inside the track, park next to their suite and enjoy three days of exciting racing action on Feb. 13 (Gatorade 125's), Feb. 15 (Koolerz 300) and Feb. 16 (Daytona 500).
  A new way to watch all the racing action outside of the track is through the Turn 3 Reserved Terrace Parking Package, which offers the only specialty vehicle parking outside of the track where you can still view all of the racing action. Guests will be able to park their specialty vehicle right next to fence alongside the Superstretch entering Turn 3 beginning Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. and will be able to stay through Daytona 500 on Feb.16.
  DAYTONA USA is holding a Daytona 500 after-race party immediately following the race.
  More info and prices on these packages, see the DIS Site.(1-15-2003)
  
  
• Mariah Carey To Sing National Anthem For Daytona 500: Daytona International Speedway announced that Grammy Award winning artist Mariah Carey, the biggest selling female pop artist of all time, will kick off the festivities for the Feb. 16 Daytona 500 by singing the National Anthem. "We're thrilled to have this superstar join us for the 'Great American Race'," said Speedway President Robin Braig. "We're honored to have Mariah. I know her incredible voice will stir the hearts of our guests and our competitors." Tickets for the Feb. 16 Daytona 500 as well as other Speedweeks events are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway Ticket Office at (386) 253-7223.(DIS PR)(1-9-2003)
  
  
• Let's Have a Parade: Daytona Beach will hold a Daytona 500 parade Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. on Beach Street, downtown. The event will include 15 bands from around the country as well as representatives from local schools, dance teams, city officials and civic clubs and organizations. To register, call 1-800-545-0935, ext. 118. For event details, call the Daytona Beach Partnership, (386) 872-3272.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-9-2003)
  
  
• Daytona Fuel Spill and a patch? UPDATE 2: the spill news is tad old but: Daytona International Speedway had to close its 2.5-mile tri-oval course Friday and Saturday morning because of a diesel fuel spill in Turn 2. ""There was a leak in one of the jet dryers,'' Speedway spokesman Glyn Johnston said. ""It leaked fuel on the track, not a lot, and then tires ran through it and spread it on down the way.'' The dryers, which sound like a jet engine, are used to blow water and debris off the track surface. They are pulled behind a safety truck. ""The leak was completely contained,'' Johnston said. ""They had to wash down the track and do one thing after another to clean it. Today (Saturday) our operations team did several checks on the track and swept it, blew it dry again and ran a car over it to make sure the area was OK from a safety standpoint.'' The Speedway is hosting an ARCA test session this weekend [Dec 22]. ARCA competitors sat around Friday and Saturday morning until the track was declared raceable on Saturday afternoon. ""We look at it like a weather situation,'' Ron Drager, ARCA president, said. ""Everybody that wanted to be here and get laps is going to get every thing they came to get.''(Daytona Beach News Journal)
  sources tell me that the speedway may need to patch the area as the fuel ate some of the asphalt away.
  UPDATE: hearing from sources at the track where there is sports car testing going on and there are no signs of a patch or any mention of any problems.(1-3-2003)
  UPDATE 2: At least at this test, teams will also be taking a hard look at the race track. During an ARCA test in December, a fuel spill in Turn 2 caused some concern about the track's surface, with some minor "pebbling" occurring when bits of the track pulled up in that test and during last weekend's Grand American Road Racing Association test for the Rolex 24 sports car race. Track staff has continued to treat the surface with limestone to soak the fuel residue out of it and after the sports car test the dark fuel stain and traces of limestone were apparent.(NASCAR.com)(1-7-2002)
  
  
• Panch's Celebrate at DIS: Bettie and Marvin Panch were able to celebrate their 50th anniversary Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway thanks in part to the efforts of Bill Wimble and Steve Petrasek. Panch greeted fans and signed autographs Wednesday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, where he nearly lost his life four decades ago. Wimble and Petrasek, who sat with Panch at the head table Wednesday, were among a group of five men who risked their lives in 1963 to save Panch from a burning sportscar. Wimble was a race car driver and Petrasek worked for Firestone Tire's racing division.(full story at the Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-2-2003)
  
  
• Ticket Prices up in 2003 at ISC tracks: Ticket prices for Cup races will increase about 3 percent next year, while BGN events will stay about the same at International Speedway Corp. tracks [Darlington, Daytona, Homestead, Kansas, Phoenix, Richmond, Talladega, Watkins Glen, Chicagoland, California, Michigan, Nazareth and Rockingham], company officials said Tuesday. At a few locations, such as Michigan International Speedway, the company will experiment with combination-ticket pricing, reducing BGN prices for fans who order their seats in advance. Those who wait until race day will pay higher admissions. Daytona International Speedway is not included in the experiment. DIS is offering backstretch combo tickets for the Feb. 15 Koolerz 300 race and the Feb. 16 Daytona 500 race in the $175-$220 range. Most front stretch seats already have been sold out.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(12-18-2002)
  
  
• Legal Battle Trims Earnings: An expensive legal battle in Texas, coupled with soaring insurance costs, will slow profit growth at International Speedway Corp. next year, company executives said Tuesday. The motorsports company predicted its earnings in the coming fiscal year will be in the range of $2.13 to $2.21 per share, up only 6 to 11 percent from the $2 per share level analysts expect for this year. Over the previous five years, Speedway profits have grown an average 18 percent a year.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(12-18-2002)
  
  
• Bud Shootout Spots: In the season's final Bud Pole qualifying session last Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kurt Busch, driver of the #97 Rubbermaid/Sharpie Ford for Roush Racing, captured the pole for the Ford 400 and secured a spot in next year's nighttime running of the Budweiser Shootout. Last Sunday, Busch followed up his pole with a victory in the Ford 400. The Budweiser Shootout is a non-points All-Star race that kicks off the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The 70-lap race will feature the 2002 Bud Pole winners along with past champions of the Budweiser Shootout. The field for the Budweiser Shootout is now finalized at 19 drivers. Included are Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman, Ward Burton, Matt Kenseth, Ricky Craven, Ricky Rudd, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, Geoffrey Bodine, Ken Schrader, Todd Bodine and Terry Labonte. Joining the Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 8 will be the Advance Discout Auto Parts 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series, which will hold its 200-mile season opener prior to the Budweiser Shootout. Tickets for 2003 Speedweeks events, including the 25th annual Budweiser Shootout, are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.(DIS PR), see my 2003 Budweiser Shootout page.(11-22-2002)
  
  
• ISC Cooler Policy: Over the past few months, International Speedway Corporation has been quietly seeking input from its track operators for their feedback on how their stricter cooler policy is working. While no major changes are expected, they may tweak the policy to make it a little more fan-friendly. If no announcement it made, it means that they're satisfied with the current restrictions (and profits) in place.(MotorpsortsTV)(11-21-2002)
  
  
• DIS Names Senior Director of Media and Communications: Kenny Kane, who has served as Director of Publicity and Business Development at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) since 1999, has been named Sr. Director of Media and Communications at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). Kane will assume his duties Dec. 2. Kane, a native of nearby New Smyrna Beach, will direct the marketing of DIS advertising and image campaigns to support DIS and DAYTONA USA's public relations efforts. Kane began his motorsports career at Daytona International Speedway in 1985 and in 1994 moved on to become PR manager for the Anheuser-Busch NASCAR racing program through the 1998 season. In 1999, he was named Director of Publicity and Business Development at PIR(DIS PR)(11-7-2002)
  
  
• Shootout at night in 2003: The Budweiser Shootout, a non-points race that has kicked off the Winston Cup season since 1979, will be run at night, under the lights at Daytona International Speedway beginning next season. The Shootout will swap days with the traditional date of Winston Cup qualifying for the Daytona 500, with the Shootout running next season on Saturday night, Feb. 8, and Cup qualifying for the 500 on Sunday, Feb. 9, sources said. Fox is scheduled to broadcast Speedweeks events in 2003, but it is unclear at this time whether the Shootout will be televised on Fox or FX. The change will make the Shootout the second new night race for the 2003 season. Lowe's Motor Speedway announced earlier this season its fall Cup race next year would move to a Saturday night. When asked Monday if the 2003 Budweiser Shootout would be a night race in 2003, Daytona International Speedway officials wouldn't comment specifically about the change. "An announcement regarding the schedule of activities for Speedweeks next season will be forthcoming very soon," said Glyn Johnston, Daytona's director of public relations. The Shootout is a 70-lap race featuring the previous season's pole winners as well as former winners of the event. Tony Stewart, who currently leads the Winston Cup series points race, has won the past two Shootouts. The late Dale Earnhardt leads all drivers with six victories in the event.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-29-2002)
  UPDATE: The 25th anniversary of the Budweiser Shootout At Daytona will be held under the lights for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Daytona International Speedway. The Budweiser Shootout has been traditionally scheduled during Speedweeks on a Sunday afternoon, a week before the Daytona 500. But during Speedweeks 2003, the Budweiser Shootout will move to 8:00pm/et, Feb. 8 and will be televised by FOX Sports in prime time. The Budweiser Shootout is a non-points All-Star race that kicks off the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The 70-lap race will feature the 2002 Bud Pole winners along with past champions of the Budweiser Shootout. The field for the Budweiser Shootout currently stands at 18 drivers. Included in the who's who of NASCAR stars are #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #24-Jeff Gordon, #20-Tony Stewart, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #9-Bill Elliott, #88-Dale Jarrett, #2-Rusty Wallace, #12-Ryan Newman, #22-Ward Burton, #17-Matt Kenseth, #32-Ricky Craven, #21-Ricky Rudd, #29-Kevin Harvick, #6-Mark Martin, #09-Geoffrey Bodine, #?-Ken Schrader, #?-Todd Bodine and #5-Terry Labonte. Joining the Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 8 will be the ARCA Series, which will hold its 200-mile season opener immediately prior to the Budweiser Shootout. The only other additional nighttime action during Speedweeks 2003 will be the final Budweiser Shootout practice on Friday, Feb. 7. Other changes to the first weekend of the stock car portion of Speedweeks include moving the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series race and Bud Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 to Sunday, Feb. 9 during the daytime. Tickets for 2003 Speedweeks events are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.(DIS PR)(11-1-2002)
  UPDATE 2: For people who bought tickets in anticipation of a Sunday afternoon race but do not want to attend a Saturday night event, refunds are available by calling the DIS ticket office. Ticket prices for the event have remained in the same range as prices for the ARCA-Budweiser Shootout day last year.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(11-2-2002)
  
  
• Daytona Testing Set for January 2003: NASCAR released today its 2003 testing schedule for the month of January at Daytona International Speedway for the Cup, BGN, CTS and Dash Series. The NASCAR Winston Cup and NASCAR Busch Series 2002 final car owner point standings will determine when teams will test at the 2.5 mile tri-oval. NASCAR Winston Cup car owners finishing in odd-numbered positions in the final standings will test on Jan. 7-9, with Jan. 10 reserved as a rain date. Those car owners finishing in the even-numbered positions will test on Jan. 14-16, with Jan. 17 the rain date. Car owners in the BGN finishing in an odd-numbered position will test Jan. 20-21 (rain date is Jan. 22) while owners who finish in an even-numbered spot will test Jan. 23-24 (rain date is Jan. 25). CTS teams will test Jan. 11-13. Testing for Dash Series teams will be Jan. 18-19.(NASCAR PR)(10-2-2002)
  
  
• Speedway sues boat maker for use of 'Daytona': A Sarasota, FL company that put the name "Daytona" on some of its racing boats and decorated them with checkered flags is facing a court fight with International Speedway Corp. The motorsports giant contends in a federal lawsuit it has exclusive trademark rights to the word "Daytona" for any product or event that involves racing or speed, including boats. It wants the Donzi Marine boat company to stop using the Daytona name and pay it three times any profit that's been made on the Daytona boats since introducing them in 1998. The high-performance speedboats, built in Sarasota, cost between $250,000 and $500,000 each.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(9-28-2002)
  
  
• ISC and Gatorade: International Speedway Corporation (ISC) announced the company and related subsidiaries have entered into strategic, long-term marketing agreements with Gatorade® Thirst Quencher running through 2008. The deal is considered the single largest marketing partnership in ISC history. In addition to sponsorship / rights fees paid to ISC, Gatorade will support its position through themed advertising, promotion and / or other mutually agreed upon marketing support. Under terms of the agreement, Gatorade is designated "Official Sports Beverage" of ISC facilities and is granted exclusive "Official Sports Beverage of Victory Lanes" status effective immediately at: Darlington, Daytona, Homestead, Kansas, Phoenix, Richmond, Talladega, Watkins Glen and Chicagoland. In addition to the facilities noted above, positions will begin in 2003 at: California, Michigan, Nazareth and Rockingham. Throughout the term of the deal, Gatorade will continue to serve as title sponsor of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series' Gatorade 125s and retain its position as Founding Sponsor of DAYTONA USA. In addition, at the beginning of each year, Gatorade will be granted title rights to three NASCAR Winston. Cup Series Pole Days / Nights and to two Indy Racing League Pole Days / Nights at ISC facilities.(ISC PR)(9-28-2002)
  
  
• Pick your seat at Daytona: Fans who purchase tickets for the 2003 Daytona 500 will be able to select their seat for the "Great American Race." Prior to September 1, deposits for seat assignments were taken by the ticket office of Daytona International Speedway. "The Daytona 500 receives the highest television rating of any NASCAR Winston Cup event," said Speedway President Robin Braig. "But nothing beats seeing this race in person. The Daytona 500 has traditionally been a sell out since the race began in 1959. We encourage our guests to select their seats now by calling the Speedway Ticket Office or online at: daytonainternationalspeedway.com." Tickets for the Daytona 500, along with other Speedweeks 2003 events, are available for purchase with seat selection by calling (386) 253-7223.(DIS PR)(9-5-2002)
  
  
• DIS President Takes New Position At ISC: Long-time Daytona International Speedway (DIS) president John Graham, who has held that position since 1994, has been named Vice President of Business Affairs and Corporate Communications for International Speedway Corporation (ISC). ISC Chairman Bill France made the announcement today. In his new role, Graham will oversee ISC's Corporate Communications, help coordinate the company's government and political efforts and manage other key corporate initiatives. Robin Braig, former Executive Vice President and General Manager at Phoenix International Raceway and current ISC Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing, has been named to replace Graham. As president of DIS, Braig will oversee all speedway activities including event entertainment, fan amenities and ticket sales.(DIS PR)(8-10-2002)
  
  
• SAFER at Daytona in 2003? The University of Nebraska researcher who headed development of the SAFER barrier system says the energy-absorbing system could be in place at Daytona International Speedway in time for the Daytona 500 next February. The steel-and-foam system first was used at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 in May and will be in place for the Brickyard 400 this weekend. The barrier would be more difficult to install on a high-banked track such as Daytona, but inventor Dean Sicking told the Dallas Morning News that he is "very hopeful" such issues will soon be overcome.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(8-2-2002)
  
  
• Morons throw stuff on track: was wondering what the heck was all over the track on the last lap, TV showed all the cars dodging objects on the backstretch of the track. From ThatsRacin.com: Although most Winston Cup drivers agreed there was not enough time remaining in Saturday night's Pepsi 400 for NASCAR to use a red flag to ensure a green-flag finish, apparently some fans disagreed. The caution came out on Lap 158 of 160 for a multicar accident. With safety crews still working on removing cars from the backstretch, NASCAR allowed the race to end under caution with Michael Waltrip the winner. When it appeared the red flag was not coming out, hundreds of fans on the backstretch threw seat cushions, beverage containers and more onto the track. "I know one thing, with two laps to go all those people on the back straightaway - and I don't know who triggered it - they threw every seat cushion they had on the back straightaway and there was no way we were going to get the race going again," said Rusty Wallace, who finished second. "I don't know what that was about," Jeff Gordon said. "I ran through it real fast and sent it all over the place. And it was just the backstraightaway people." NASCAR officials said not enough laps remained in the race to red flag it and attempt to end it under green. "We were down to the end and as it turned out with our passionate fans, things got a little crazy," said NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter. Wallace called the decision not to use the red flag, "the smartest thing that ever happened. You just don't want to restart races with three laps to go on a superspeedway. It can be very, very dangerous. Not because I was running second, it was just a real smart thing to do," he said.(7-7-2002)
  
  
• DIS Parking Re-directed: Due to the heavy rains that have continued in the Daytona Beach area, Daytona International Speedway's south lot at the corner of Williamson Blvd and Bellevue Extension will be closed on Saturday. Guests attending the Pepsi 400 will be redirected to the Daytona Beach Community College parking lot or the Speedway's north lot at Bill France Blvd and Clyde Morris Blvd for free parking and shuttle. Speedway officials made the determination today, after last night's storm activity, that the south lot, known as lot 10, will be too wet to safely accommodate guests. The DBCC lot and Lot 7 at Bill France Blvd and Clyde Morris Blvd both provide free parking and shuttle and open Saturday at 8 a.m. Guests from the lots will be shuttled to an area where they can then use the city's Dale Earnhardt pedestrian bridge. Guests with Superstretch tickets can ride shuttles once on Speedway property to their grandstand area. The Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information, please call Daytona International Speedway's information line at (386) 947-6888.(DIS PR)(7-5-2002)
  
  
• Eight People Injured in Lightning strike: A lightning strike on the grounds at Daytona International Speedway left eight people in need of medical attention Thursday. Track officials said track employee Walter Williams and race fans Richard Santora, Alfred and Mary Greene and Dwayne and Derek Decoux were treated and released at care centers at the track, where qualifying for the Pepsi 400 was scheduled for later Thursday. Two other guests, Brian and Tina Decoux, were taken to nearby Halifax Medical Center, where they were treated and released. Around 4 p.m., a strong thunderstorm swept through Daytona Beach, drenching the raceway and halting Winston Cup practice.(ThatsRacin.com)(4th of July 2002)
  
  
• Restrictions for reporters at DIS: Daytona International Speedway will restrict news reporters' coverage of this weekend's Pepsi 400, saying that only sports writers are welcome to visit drivers in the pits, fans in the grandstands or news conferences in the media center. The policy, which International Speedway Corp. official Raymond Burns said was first enforced at February's Daytona 500, is unusual among both auto racing and other sports venues. A spokesman for ISC's chief competitor, Speedway Motorsports Inc., said his company's tracks have no such restrictions. Burns said the Daytona track elected to restrict access to the 188-seat media center, as well as news conferences by drivers and NASCAR officials, because of a surge of applications for credentials for this year's Daytona 500, which marked the first anniversary of racing legend Dale Earnhardt's death.(Orlando Sentinel)(4th of July 2002)
  
  
• Home Depot to host Gold Medalists: The Home Depot will host seven 2002 Olympic Winter Games medalists at Daytona on Saturday, July 6. Derek Parra, Tristan Gale, Garrett Hines, Rusty Smith, Dan Steele, Monte Meier and Danielle Goyette, who all financed their training by working for the home improvement retailer will sign autographs at The Home Depot Experience rig located at the corporate display area from 2-4pm and attend other pre-race activities as a guest of Home Depot Pontiac driver Tony Stewart. The athletes will watch the Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race from the air-conditioned comfort of The Home Depot VIP suite.(Edelman/Home Depot PR)(4th of July 2002)
  
  
• Security Rules at Daytona: Due to the events of Sept. 11, security will be tighter at Daytona International Speedway for fans attending Summer Speed Week events. New regulations include:
  -- One soft-side bag or cooler no larger than 6 by 6 by 12 inches. Examples: a soft-sided insulated cooler, scanner bag, fanny pack, purse, diaper bag or binocular bag.
  -- One clear plastic bag, no larger than 18 by 18 by 4 inches. The bag may not contain ice.
  -- Binoculars, scanners, headsets and cameras not in bags, worn separately over the neck or on a belt.
  -- Seat cushions. Those with compartments will be inspected.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(7-4-2002)
  
  
• Pepsi 400 Grand Marshal: Award-winning Columbia Records recording artist Jessica Simpson will serve as grand marshal for the 44th annual Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Simpson will give the command to start engines to the field of 43 drivers in front of more than 200,000 race fans at the Speedway and millions of fans around the world watching the mid-summer classic on FOX Sports. She'll sing "America the Beautiful" as part of Saturday's pre-race ceremonies.(DIS PR)(7-3-2002)
  
  
• Part of Hootie to sing National Anthem at DIS: Darius Rucker of "Hootie and the Blowfish" will perform a pre-race concert and sing the national anthem for the 44th annual Pepsi 400 at Daytona on July 6. Rucker, a native of Charleston, SC, will perform a 45-minute pre-race concert on the frontstretch and sing the national anthem in front of more than 200,000 race fans at the Speedway and millions of fans around the world watching the mid-summer classic on FOX Sports.(DIS PR)(6-26-2002)
  
  
• Meet and Greet deal: Fans will have an opportunity to meet Tony Stewart during the STACKER 2/GNC Live Well 250 BGN race by signing up for Tony Stewart's "Suite Deal." For $220 a guest will get three nights of racing action including frontstretch suite access for Friday's inaugural STACKER 2/GNC Live Well 250 BGN race with a meet and greet with Stewart. The race is the only race that Stewart is not running during the July 3-6 Pepsi 400 weekend. Stewart will race the #20 Home Depot in the Pepsi 400 and share driving duties on the #2 Home Depot Judd-powered Crawford with Elliott Forbes-Robinson in the Rolex Sports Car Series Jani-King Paul Revere 250. Here are the nuts and bolts on Tony Stewart's "Suite" Deal. Admission to DAYTONA USA; General admission to the Thursday, July 4 Pepsi 400 Qualifying and the Jani-King Paul Revere 250, Frontstretch suite access on Friday, July 5 to see the BGN race, Complimentary snacks, beverages and a meet and greet with Tony Stewart, Superstretch seat for the Saturday, July 6 Pepsi 400.(DIS PR)(6-26-2002)
  
  
• Shepherd back in the #21 - for a movie UPDATE: Morgan Shepherd Driving #21 Wood Brothers Car For Daytona USA Movie In Daytona This Week: Morgan Shepherd is in Daytona this week driving the #21 Wood Brothers car for a new movie Daytona USA is producing. The first shoot for this film was during speed weeks this past February. He will be there through Wednesday.(Catchfence), I was at Daytona Untl Speedway/DaytonaUSA on Sunday and also saw a Hendrick Motorsports hauler pull in.(5-14-2002)
  UPDATE: Daytona International Speedway has been turned into a movie set this week as Mentor Films completes the filming of the remake of "The DAYTONA 500." Mentor Films, which did a good portion of its filming during Speedweeks 2002, will have "The DAYTONA 500" completed in time for its debut during Speedweeks 2003 in the Pepsi Theater at DAYTONA USA. This week at the "World Center of Racing," Mentor Films has been filming on-track racing as well as an in-depth pit stop sequence with the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy fielded by Richard Childress Racing. In addition to the #29, cars on loan by team for the filming include the #88 UPS Ford, the #24 DuPont Chevy, the #40 Coors Light Dodge, the #19 Dodge, the #10 Valvoline Pontiac, #20 Home Depot Pontiac and the #21 Motorcraft Ford. Morgan Shepherd is among the stunt drivers participating in this week's filming. He's wheeling the #21 Motorcraft Ford for the famed Wood Brothers. Shepherd, who drove for the Wood Brothers between 1992-95 and picked up a NASCAR Winston Cup victory, enjoys being back in the driver's seat of the #21 at Daytona.(DIS PR).(5-15-2002)
  
  
• Pepsi 400 Special: Through April 12, 2002, Daytona International Speedway is offering a special two-day ticket package. The limited offer includes frontstretch seating for both the Stacker 2/GNC Live Well 250 BGN race July 5 and the Pepsi 400 Cup Series race July 6. These prime seats are located in the fans' choice of Turn One at pit road out or Turn Four at pit road in. These prime viewing locations, situated in front of the three-story Winston Cup Viewing screens, give fan's a clear view not only of all the action on the track, but also the Speedway's spectacular pre-race entertainment. Guests who buy the two-day ticket package by April 12 will also receive, at no additional charge, pre-race pit access and a chance see all the action on pit road prior to the start of the 44th Annual Pepsi 400.(DIS PR)(4-3-2002)
  
  
• Special Daytona Ticket: Daytona International Speedway will hold a two-day ticket blitz Wednesday, March 13, and Thursday, March 14, that gives fans a special offer for the Pepsi 400 weekend. On those two days only, fans can purchase a ticket package that includes seats in the Winston, Earnhardt or Petty Tower for the July 4-6th weekend of events, a pre-race pit tour prior to the Pepsi 400 and a prefered parking pass for only $230. The July 4-6th weekend of events at Daytona International Speedway includes the Pepsi 400 Pole Qualifying and Grand American Road Racing Paul Revere 250 on Thursday evening July 4, the Stacker 2/GNC Live Well 250 Busch Series Race and NASCAR Winston Cup Happy Hour Practice for the Pepsi 400 Friday evening July 5, and the Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race Saturday, July 6. In addition to the special ticket package, fans who purchase tickets on that day will automatically be entered into a drawing for the chance to win prizes including a trip to Victory Lane for the Pepsi 400 and a personal call from Bill France Jr., Chairman of International Speedway Corporation. This special offer is only good for purchases on Wednesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 14.(DIS PR)(3-12-2002)
  
  
• Kmart gets out of Daytona deal: Kmart has reached agreement with organizers of the Daytona 500 to withdraw as a corporate sponsor of the race. Kmart decided to withdraw in order to save money while it reorganizes under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The two sides told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan Pierson Sonderby last week that they were at odds over when Kmart notified race organizer International Speedway Corp. of its plan to withdraw. Kmart said it had informed the ISC no later than Feb. 1, and the speedway said the notification came no earlier than Feb. 4. At stake in the dispute is the $685,000 annual corporate sponsorship payment. The earlier the notification, the less Kmart must pay. When they arrived in court on Wednesday, however, attorneys for both sides told Sonderby they had agreed on a Jan. 31 date. They have 30 days to decide how much Kmart must pay to get out of the contract.(Michigan Live/AP), no mention of the #26 and #66 team which Kmart sponsors....thru Rockingham.(2-21-2002)
  
  
• Daytona Sold Out but sitll some infield left: Daytona International Speedway officials announced a grandstand sellout for Sunday's 44th Daytona 500. While all 167,785 grandstand seats are sold out, fans can still purchase infield tickets for the "Great American Race."(Speedway PR)(2-17-2002)
  
  
• No Changes for DIS: Bill France Jr., chairman of the board of NASCAR and chairman of the board of International Speedway Corp., said he will not consider alterations to Daytona International Speedway in an effort to improve competition at the track. Better aerodynamics on the cars have created a problem for NASCAR in its attempt to keep racing at Daytona and Talladega safe and exciting. Some have suggested that a solution would be to bring the cars off the oval in the backstretch and through the short chicane just before turn three, slowing them down and forcing the drivers to lift. "No," France said, "we wouldn't even consider that. I don't think our fans would like it."(Lakeland Ledger)(2-10-2002)
  
  
• Free Qualifying for Scouts: Good scouts can see fast cars for free today at pole qualifying competition for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Active members of the Central Florida Council of Boy Scouts, the Citrus Council Girl Scouts, and their leaders will be admitted free if they arrive in uniform between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Gate 18 grandstand entrance. General admission tickets for family members and friends of scouts are $20. (Children younger than 11 are free with a paying adult.) For more information, call (386) 947-6416.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-9-2002)
  
  
• National Anthem at the 500: Noted Mezzo-soprano and recording artist Denyce Graves will sing the National Anthem for the 44th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway. A native of Washington, DC, Ms. Graves was invited by President Bush to participate in the National Prayer Service in Washington's National Cathedral after the September 11 tragedy. Since then, Denyce Graves has participated in numerous benefit concerts and RCA Records plans to release a recording of patriotic songs by Ms. Graves with the proceeds benefiting various groups affected by the events of September 11. She has been named one of the "50 Leaders of Tomorrow" by Ebony Magazine and was one of Glamour Magazine's 1997 "Women of the Year."(Speedway PR)(2-8-2002)
  
  
• Daytona/ISC Tracks/Cooler/Securtiy Rules UPDATE: After the events of Sept. 11, security will be tighter at Daytona International Speedway for fans attending Speed Weeks events. New regulations allow fans to carry in:
  One soft side bag or cooler no larger than 6-by-6-by-12 inches. Examples: a soft side insulated cooler, a scanner bag, a fanny pack, a purse, a diaper bag or a binocular bag.
  One clear plastic bag, no larger than 18-by-18-by-4 inches. The bag may not contain ice.
  Binoculars, scanners, headsets and cameras not in bags, worn separately over the neck or on a belt.
  Seat cushions. Those with compartments will be inspected.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-2-2002)
  UPDATE: Extensive inspections of Daytona International Speedway are occurring daily and security personnel have been added as track officials prepare for the season-opening Daytona 500. Speedway President John Graham says state, local and federal authorities have been consulted as security plans for “The Great American Race” have been developed by track officials. The increased security is the result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington. Both uniformed and undercover officers will be on security detail for Speedweeks and people, including those in the motorsports community, should always carry photo identification with them. One soft-side bag or cooler no larger than 6-by-6-by-12 inches, and a clear plastic bag, no larger than 18-by-18-by-4 inches, will be allowed per person. Ice may only be carried in the cooler. Strollers, umbrellas, backpacks, fanny packs, large bags and/or camera bags won’t be allowed in the grandstand area. Everything brought through a gate is subject to inspection and coolers will be checked just as they have been in previous years. Items not permitted inside the facility won’t be allowed to be left around a gate area.(NASCAR Scene Plus - need sub to read)(2-7-2002)
  
  
• Starter at Daytona: Angie Harmon, former star of NBC's Law and Order, will drop the green flag on the 44th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17. The 29-year-old actress of Dallas, TX, is perhaps best known for her role as Assistant District Attorney Abbie Carmichael on NBC's popular drama series Law and Order. Harmon got her start in show business when she won a National Cover Girl Contest for Seventeen Magazine at the age of 15. Since then, she has been featured on the cover of Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Entertainment Weekly. Harmon also made headlines when on a Tonight Show appearance in March of 2000, she received a surprise marriage proposal from her then-boyfriend Jason Sehorn, New York Giants defensive back. Sehorn and Harmon were married in June of 2001 and he will join her for pre-race activities for the Daytona 500. As previously announced, Chad Holliday, CEO of DuPont, will be this year's Daytona 500 Grand Marshal.(Daytona International Speedway PR)(2-6-2002)
  
  
• Bridge no cost to DIS? It appears the owners of Daytona International Speedway may not have to write a check to help pay for the new pedestrian overpass that its race fans will start using today. The Haskell Co., the Jacksonville firm that built the bridge spanning U.S. Highway 92, said Friday the cost will be roughly $3.1 million. Under the terms of the deal, that means the Speedway probably is off the hook to pay any cash toward the project. That's because the agreement had the Speedway obligated to pay only the final $250,000 of the project's cost. But because the project's $3.4 million price tag for design and construction anticipated as much as $309,000 in cost overruns, and because the project has come in at budget, the Speedway's $250,000 probably isn't needed, officials said. ISC spokesman David Talley said the company had not seen the final cost figures and that company executives would have to discuss what to do. The overpass -- recently named the Dale Earnhardt Memorial Bridge by the Daytona Beach City Commission -- connects Speedway property with a corporate parking lot across the street. It opened for public use Thursday afternoon. Public safety was the argument for getting the state to cover the costs. The state is paying $3.2 million -- $2 million from an economic development fund and $1.2 million from a state transportation grant. In addition to pledging the $250,000 that may not be needed now, International Speedway Corp. donated less than an acre of land on either side of the bridge, which it valued at $1 million. The city of Daytona Beach will maintain the bridge. That includes cleaning it, touching up the paint and putting in new light bulbs that illuminate the ramps and the sign that welcomes drivers to Daytona Beach.(Orlando Sentinel)(2-2-2002)
  
  
• Scanners at ISC Tracks: International Speedway Corporation, parent company of Americrown Service Corporation, has entered into a marketing agreement that limits scanner related vendors to two companies at their tracks (Calif, Chicagoland, Daytona, Darlington, Homestead, Kansas, Michigan, Phoenix, Richmond, Rockingham, Talladega, Watkins Glen), Racing Electronics and Track Scan. This agreement leaves six scanner vendors in a position that they are not allowed on International Speedway Corporation property. Two of the other vendors are Race-Scan and Frequency Fan Club, not sure of the other four.(in part from a RACE-SCAN Communications PR/Site, see more there)(1-24-2002)
  
  
• Daytona 500 presenting sponsor? UPDATE: Rumor has Coors Light set as a sponsor for the 2002 Daytona 500. The beer company, who currently sponsors Sterling Marlin in the #40 Dodge of Chip Ganassi Racing, may be named the official beer of the season-opening race. The race name will remain the Daytona 500, as it has since its inception in 1959. But Coors Light might be listed as the official beer or presenter of the race.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(1-17-2002)
  UPDATE: Coors Brewing Company Coors will be the official beer of the Daytona 500 and will be a track sponsor of the "World Center of Racing." The multi-year partnership makes Coors an official corporate sponsor of the Daytona 500 and a track sponsor of Daytona International Speedway.(DIS PR)(1-18-2002)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Grand Marshal: Charles O. Holliday, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DuPont, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 44th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 and give the command to start engines for the “Great American Race.” DuPont will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2002 and will have a celebratory paint scheme on the #24 DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon during Speedweeks. Gordon, the 2001 Winston Cup champion and a two-time Daytona 500 champion, will drive the anniversary car in the Budweiser Shootout, the Gatorade 125's and the Daytona 500.(DIS PR)(12-1-2001)
  
  
• NO Watkins Glen for BGN? 2nd DIS? UPDATE 2nd DIS BGN Race Official: RPM 2Nights Ray Dunlap reported on Monday's show, that the BGN race schedule will expand to 34 races in 2002 and Watkins Glen will not be included (and no other road courses will be either). Supposedly the race dates will hold a 2nd BGN race at Daytona, the same weekend as the Cup Pepsi 400(ESPN2 RPM 2Night)(7-3-2001)
  UPDATE: BGN will make a second stop at Daytona next season, according to an ESPN report. The report said that the series will bring the BGN cars back to the 2.5-mile tri-oval in July as a support race the night before the Pepsi 400. The BGN cars annually open their season the day before the Daytona 500 in February. DIS officials would not confirm the move but said it is a possibility. According to the report, NASCAR would drop its lone BGN road-course date at Watkins Glen International, which is also owned by DIS parent International Speedway Corporation(Daytona Beach News Journal), also hear the BGN will not go to Milwaukee or Indianpolis Raceway Park in 2001 and may race at the Indianapolis Intl Speedway(7-6-2001)
  UPDATE 2: Beginning next season, the Daytona International Speedway will add a NASCAR Grand National series race to its Pepsi 400 Winston Cup race weekend. The addition to the BGN schedule will give the series three restrictor-plate races. Currently, the series runs once at Daytona and Talladega each season. Sources said the weekend will be run similar to this season's, with the BGN race held on Friday night and the Winston Cup event on Saturday night(That's Racin')(7-8-2001)
  UPDATE more: Next year's Summer Speed Week program at Daytona International Speedway will have a new look with the addition of a Busch Series companion race. The official announcement is expected to be made Monday by the Speedway. NASCAR is expected to shift the stand-alone Busch Series event from the road course at Watkins Glen (N.Y) International to Daytona. "Until the 2002 Busch Series schedule is released by NASCAR any talk about moving our race is purely speculation and rumor," said Julie Giese, the public relations director at Watkins Glen. The projected schedule for the 2002 Pepsi 400 weekend shows practice and qualifying for the Pepsi 400 and Busch Series event on Thursday, July 4. The Busch race would run the night of July 5 and the Pepsi 400 on Saturday, July 6.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(8-12-2001)
  UPDATE even more: In 2002, the BGN will make a second stop at the “World Centerof Racing” serving as a companion event to the 44th annual Pepsi 400 on July 6. The 250-mile, 100-lap race will be held on Friday, July 5 and will share the night with the final Winston Cup Series practice session nicknamed “Happy Hour.”(DIS PR), no word on the fate of the Watkins Glen BGN race in the PR(8-13-2001)
  
  
• 2nd CTS race at Daytona? UPDATE but: Teams from the CTS were scheduled to test at Talladega Superspeedway the week of July 23, utilizing the 390 cubic inch carburetor and special aerodynamic packages in an attempt to avoid using restrictor plates in 2002. Rumor has it the trucks will run at Daytona in July as well as February next year, meaning all three of NASCAR's top series could be at Daytona for the July Fourth weekend. A race at Talladega is also a strong possibility(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read online)(7-26-2001)
  UPDATE: but the Kansas City Star reports - Kansas Speedway will look very much like this year's. The track should look the same, too. The speedway announced that it will play host for NASCAR Winston Cup/Busch Grand National races on the last weekend in September in 2002, the same weekend as this year's inaugural race. The Busch race will be on Saturday, Sept. 28, and the Winston Cup race will be on Sunday, Sept. 29. The track will also have a NASCAR Trucks/Indy Racing League weekend July 6 and 7 next year(7-28-2001)
  
  
• 34 BGN races in 2002 and NO Watkins Glen? UPDATE 2: RPM 2Nights Ray Dunlap reported on Monday's show, that the BGN race schedule will expand to 34 races in 2002 and Watkins Glen will not be included (and no other road courses will be either). Supposedly the race dates will hold a 2nd BGN race at Daytona, the same weekend as the Cup Pepsi 400(ESPN2 RPM 2Night)(7-3-2001)
  UPDATE: BGN will make a second stop at Daytona next season, according to an ESPN report. The report said that the series will bring the BGN cars back to the 2.5-mile tri-oval in July as a support race the night before the Pepsi 400. The BGN cars annually open their season the day before the Daytona 500 in February. DIS officials would not confirm the move but said it is a possibility. According to the report, NASCAR would drop its lone BGN road-course date at Watkins Glen International, which is also owned by DIS parent International Speedway Corporation(Daytona Beach News Journal), also hear the BGN will not go to Milwaukee or Indianpolis Raceway Park in 2001 and may race at the Indianapolis Intl Speedway(7-6-2001)
  UPDATE 2: Beginning next season, the Daytona International Speedway will add a NASCAR Grand National series race to its Pepsi 400 Winston Cup race weekend. The addition to the BGN schedule will give the series three restrictor-plate races. Currently, the series runs once at Daytona and Talladega each season. Sources said the weekend will be run similar to this season's, with the BGN race held on Friday night and the Winston Cup event on Saturday night(That's Racin')(7-8-2001)
  
  
• Pedestrian Bridge at Daytona: Construction on a new $3 million dollar pedestrian bridge spanning the roadway from the east side of Barnes and Noble parking lot to the Daytona Intl Speedway property near the Winston Tower will start shortly after this week's Pepsi 400 and is expected to completed in early fall. "The contractor would like to have the bridge complete by early November," said Stan Lemke, public works director for Daytona Beach. "We would like that as well." Preliminary plans for the bridge were presented to Daytona Beach on Friday. The contractors, The Haskell Co. of Jacksonville, plan to mobilize building materials and equipment on the site as early as next Monday. The construction should not affect traffic on ISB, also known as U.S. Highway 92, according to Daytona Beach officials.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(7-2-2001)
  
  
• Pepsi 400 Anthem and Tribute: Singer/songwriter Edwin McCain will sing the national anthem for the 43rd annual Pepsi 400 at Daytona on July 7. The South Carolina native, whose music blends folk, soul, rock and other assorted Americana, has produced three albums – “Messenger,” “Misguided Roses” (which featured the top-10 hit “I’ll Be”) and “Honor Among Thieves.” McCain’s latest album “Far From Over” is due out on June 19. McCain and his band have appeared on national television several times and have been featured on a number of soundtracks for motion pictures. Following the completion of the 43rd annual Pepsi 400 on July 7, the largest fireworks display in the Southeast will be part of a tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt(DIS PR)(6-15-2001)
  
  
• No Aero Changes at Daytona: NASCAR is unlikely to make any aerodynamic changes to cars prior to the July 7 Pepsi 400 at Daytona, Winston Cup series director Gary Nelson said. Following the Talladega race in April, NASCAR and driver Sterling Marlin tested some changes, but the results were not helpful. Nelson said NASCAR continues to examine aerodynamic rules and will be go to the wind tunnel next week to test some new ideas. But time is short before a change could be made to cars even if NASCAR was pleased with the results(That's Racin')(6-10-2001)
  
  
• Pepsi 400 Grand Marshal: Britney Spears will serve as grand marshal for the 43rd annual Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on Saturday, July 7 at 8 p.m. at Daytona International Speedway. Spears will give the command to start the engines to the field of 43 drivers in front of more than 200,000 race fans at the Speedway and millions of fans around the world watching the mid-summer classic on the first NASCAR broadcast of the year for NBC. Since earning a spot on the Mickey Mouse Club at age 11, the award-winning artist has quickly gone from being a star in the making to a superstar. Spears’ two albums, “Baby One More Time” and “Oops! .. . I Did It Again” both reached platinum and produced such hits as “You Drive Me Crazy” and “Lucky.”(ISC PR)(5-30-2001)
  
  
• New Asphalt at Talladega/Daytona soon? UPDATE: The Talladega Superspeedway may have a new racing surface as soon as next year. "We're looking at it real hard," said speedway President Grant Lynch. "It does reach a point where the asphalt becomes brittle and you have to do something." Sunday's Talladega 500 will be the 64th Winston Cup race on the 2.66-mile track that opened in 1969 and has been totally repaved only once. The grind of years of pavement pounding have taken a toll. In fact, track owner International Speedway Corp. is considering repaving the tracks at both Talladega and Daytona International Speedway. Officials are talking with contractors and mulling options. Paving the steep banks of NASCAR' two huge superspeedways would require expensive and special equipment. Estimates range between $2 million to more than $6 million, depending on how extensive a job is needed.(Alabama Live)(4-19-2001)
  UPDATE: Daytona International Speedway hasn't been paved since 1979 and has become something of the "gray lady" among International Speedway Corp. facilities. During the most recent Winston Cup weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, which is Daytona's sister look-alike track in Alabama, there was talk that both courses may get a facelift in the near future. But Daytona's president John Graham acknowledged that when DIS gets a new coat of pavement so will Talladega. The resurfacing of Daytona's 2.5-mile tri-oval course probably won't happen for at least two more years. "It wouldn't be done before 2003," said Graham. "Maybe even a year or two beyond that."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-27-2001)
  
  
• Daytona - Big Payday: In the first Daytona 500 in 1959, Lee Petty pocketed $19,050 in prize money for taking the checkered flag. Second-place finisher Johnny Beauchamp earned $7,650. The purse for the race totaled $67,760. How times have changed. This year’s 43rd annual running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18 will award the winner an estimated $1.3 million, with the race’s entire purse totaling $11 million, an estimated increase of $2 million from last year. The second-place finish in the Daytona 500 will be awarded more than $900,000. Tickets are still available for Speedweeks and the Daytona 500(see the Daytona Speedway Site)(2-6-2001)
  
  
• Daytona 500 Nationa Anthem: O-Town, the newest boy band to break onto the pop music scene, will perform the National Anthem for the Daytona 500 at 1:00pm/et on Sunday, Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway(DIS PR)(1-27-2001)
  
  
• Bridge Closed: A malfunctioning drawbridge has Volusia County officials scrambling to make repairs before the start of Speed Weeks in early February. The 50-year-old Memorial Bridge is stuck in the raised position to allow nautical traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway to pass until at least Jan. 19. The bridge is the southernmost of four spanning Halifax River between Daytona Beach and its strip of hotels and motel and the mainland, where the Daytona International Speedway is located. Efforts to repair the panel have been hampered because parts to the 12-year-old equipment are not readily available, Flack said. The parts are being custom-made and should arrive by Friday(Miami Herald/AP)(1-12-2001)
  
  
• Tix for Daytona: Tickets are still available for many of this year's Speed Weeks events, but be prepared to shell out a few more bucks. International Speedway Corp. officials acknowledged Monday that some of its stock car races at Daytona next month will cost a few more dollars to see. However, its exhibition hall, Daytona USA, is not planning any admission-fee increase. In return for the higher prices the Speedway has added more fan amenities, including more shuttles and more free parking. For the premier Winston Cup race, the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, the Speedway has set an infield admission price of $85, up from the $80 charged last year. However the cost of infield and grandstand general admission for the Budweiser Pole Award on Feb. 10 to qualify for the Daytona 500 is $20, the same as last year(Speed Magazine). info on tickets at the DIS Website, they can be purchased too(1-9-2001)
  
  
• Same Rules at Daytona UPDATE - slight change for Fords: NASCAR has told teams the same aerodynamic and engine package used in last fall's race at Talladega will be used in testing(the next two weeks for Ford, GM, Dodge at Daytona). Those rules helped create 49 lead changes and a spectacular finish. Dale Earnhardt went from 18th to first in the final five laps to win. The engines will have 15/16 of an inch restrictor plates, which reduce the airflow to the carburetor and reduce horsepower. The aerodynamic changes include roof strips, increased rear spoiler angle, increased front air dam clearance and a forward-facing flange on top of the rear spoiler(Roanoke Times)
  UPDATE: NASCAR made one slight aerodynamic change for the Ford Taurus in preparation for the Daytona 500 - a change the 20 Ford teams who arrived Monday for the manufacturer's test implemented right away. Each Ford team needed to slightly alter its roof spoiler. The original strip for all car makes was set at 1 and 3/8ths of an inch across the full width of the roof, but the curved shape of the Taurus' roof created more square inches of spoiler area compared to the flatter-roofed Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Ford officials were pleased with the change, saying the move would make the Taurus more in line with other makes as far as the amount of drag the car creates on the superspeedways of Daytona and Talladega(That's Racin'). As for the race? I guess we'll see after testing(1-8-2001)
  
  
• Daytona 500 to move? NO WAY thank goodness: Rumors also were floating around that with Mike Helton at the helm of NASCAR, the 2002 schedule would shift the Daytona 500 from the first race of the season to the season finale or that Daytona International Speedway could lose the Pepsi 400 to another ISC venue. As for the Daytona 500 being moved to the end of the Winston Cup schedule, Speedway spokesman Glyn Johnston flatly denied the rumor(in part from Speed Magazine)(11-30-2000)
  
  
• ISC News: Vertical Alliance was recently engaged by International Speedway Corporation - ISC in conjunction with Hydrogen Media, to integrate 18 web site communities into one fully integrated customer relationship management solution for the International Speedway Corporation (ISC). Customers can now log on at one site, www.iscmotorsports.com and be recognized across the entire family of ISC sites(11-27-2000)
  
  
• Daytona Testing UPDATE: NASCAR has released its 2001 testing schedule for the month of January at Daytona International Speedway for the NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series' teams. BGN 2000 final car owner point standings will determine which days the teams will test. Those car owners finishing in odd-numbered positions in the final point standings (ex. 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc...), will test on January 22nd and 23rd, while car owners finishing in even-numbered positions in the final point standings (ex. 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc...), will test on January 24th and 25th. The schedule is as follows: Winston Cup, Ford Jan 8-10th; Winston Cup, General Motors(Chevy/Pontiac) Jan 11-13th; and Winston Cup, Dodge Jan 16-18th. CTS, all makes Jan 19th-21st; and BGN Car Owner Points, Odd Number Finish, Jan 22-23; and BGN Car Owners Points, Even Number Finish, Jan 24-25th(NASCAR PR)(10-30-2000)
  UPDATE: NASCAR on Sunday informed crew chiefs and drivers it has altered the pre-Daytona testing schedule for January. The dates of the three manufacturers' testing sessions will remain the same, but the three-day tests will be become two-day tests with one rain date. Ford will test Jan. 8-9, with Jan. 10 as a rain date. General Motors (Pontiac and Chevrolet teams) will test Jan. 11-12, with Jan. 13 as a rain date. And Dodge will test Jan. 16-17, with Jan. 18 as a rain date(That's Racin')(11-6-2000)
  
  
• Daytona Expansion: Construction of the Earnhardt Tower at Daytona International Speedway is on schedule, meaning more seats will be available for the 2001 Daytona 500 and Speedweeks. The Earhnardt Tower is 266 feet wide and 104 feet tall and will include restrooms and concession space in addition to its top notch seating. Due to the new grandstand construction, tickets for the Daytona 500 are now available(DIS PR)(10-26-2000)
  
  
• Mickey and NASCAR? Speculation continues over how much interest Disney might have in acquiring a stake in the International Speedway Corporation. Sources have told the Journal that Disney is planning to buy a significant position in ISC stock, and that the only hang-up is NBC's new television contract with NASCAR. Disney is the parent company of ABC. It is unclear how a Disney buy might affect the NASCAR deal(PitNow)(9-2-2000)
  
  
• Daytona and Pontiac: DIS announced that General Motors will serve as the official pace car for all stock car events at the track through the year 2003. Pontiac will once again pace the field of the 43rd annual Daytona 500. Pontiac and Daytona have a long and close history together. The pace car for the first Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959, was a Pontiac Convertible(DIS PR)(8-17-2000)
  
  
• Daytona and Earnhardt: Dale Earnhardt’s name will adorn the new tower seats being constructed at the Daytona International Speedway. The Earnhardt Tower, which encompasses 2,500 seats, is east of the Winston Tower overlooking the tri-oval along the Frontstretch. Construction of the Earnhardt Tower will be completed in time for Speedweeks 2001. Earnhardt, who won the 1990 and 1993 Pepsi 400, is the 12th driver to have his name placed on a grandstand at Daytona. The Speedway’s grandstands bear the names of Barney Oldfield, Ralph DePalma, Joe Weatherly, Sir Malcolm Campbell, Glenn “Fireball” Roberts, Ralph Segrave, Ray Keech, Frank Lockhart, Richard Petty, Davey Allison and Tiny Lund. More seating means more tickets will be available for Speedweeks 2001(DIS PR)(8-16-2000)
  
  
• Daytona Tix: The Daytona International Speedway is now taking order deposits for the 2-Day Superstretch Reserved Seat package - 2001 Daytona 500 and NAPA 300 in February 2001, the same reserved seat for both Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001, and Sunday Feb. 18, 2001. See the Daytona Intl Speedway site(8-11-2000)
  
  
• ISC Story from Speed magazine: ISC not braking on plans for growth by Thomas Brown(7-18-2000)
  
  
• ISC Story UPDATE 2: Herb Part 1: Does NASCAR Favor International Speedway? by Herb Greenberg(6-20-2000)
  UPDATE: 'No Conflict,' International Speedway Claims by Herb Greenberg(6-22-2000)
  UPDATE 2: Herb's Hotline: The Value of Bond Analysts(see middle of story) by Herb Greenberg(6-25-2000)
  
  
• ISC News: U.S. motorsports promoter International Speedway Corp. reported slightly better than expected second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, but warned that weakness at the gate could lead to earnings pitfalls. The company, which owns or operates 11 motorsports facilities including Daytona International Speedway, said lower attendance levels could drag 2001 earnings below estimates. See full Yahoo story at: Intl Speedway Q2 strong, caution flag ahead (Yahoo Biz)(7-11-20000
  
  
• Open House: Daytona International Speedway will have its third annual Community Open House from 6:00 to 9:00pm on June 27 in the speedway's Frontstretch Hospitality area, just west of the Winston Tower. The family event is free and open to the community and designed as a thanks to local residents. For more info, see the Daytona Intl Speedway site(6-15-2000)
  
  
• Daytona Beer: Daytona International Speedway will not have to surrender its liquor license during next year's Bud Shootout, thanks to legislation signed into law this week by Gov. Jeb Bush. See full story at Speed Magazine(6-10-2000)
  
  
• Wildfires...not again? Contained: At approx. 2:00pm/et on Thursday, a wildfire broke out in Daytona Beach, FL just off of Bill France Blvd. Evacuations are being ordered at the present time for sections of Bill France Blvd. north of International Speedway Blvd. and south of Mason Avenue. The exact location of the wild fire is approx. 3/4 to 1 mile from the Daytona International Speedway, between Bill France Blvd. and Fentress Blvd. just south of Mason Avenue. News reporters on the scene say "you can see the DIS from our perimeter." The drought conditions here in Volusia County have been worse than in 1998 when the Pepsi 400 was postponed until October. The city of Orlando has already cancelled all fire works for the 4th of July weekend conditions are so dangerous(Speedracer Returns)(6-8-2000)
  UPDATE: A brush fire that broke out Thursday in Daytona Beach at Mason Avenue has been contained as of early Thursday evening. Investigators say the fire was possibly caused by arson. See story at NewsChannel2000(6-9-2000)
  
  
• Daytona Grand Marshal: Texas Governor George W. Bush will give the command to start engines July 1 for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Speedway President John Graham announced that the Republican nominee for President of the United States will serve as the race’s Grand Marshal. George W. Bush will continue a rich family tradition by serving as a Grand Marshal at Daytona International Speedway. In 1983, his father George Bush, who was then Vice President, served as the Honorary Starter for the Daytona 500. George Bush presided over the Pepsi 400 as Grand Marshal while he was President of the United States in 1992. In 1998, Florida Governor Jeb Bush gave the command to start engines as the Pepsi 400 Grand Marshal(Daytona PR)(6-4-2000)
  
  
• IRL at Daytona? IRL founder and IMS owner Tony George said plans are in the works to bring a race to Daytona International Speedway. "We're not there yet," George said. "I think we can run about anywhere we want, safely." He also said the annual season opener at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando is in jeopardy because of scheduling conflicts at the resort(St Petersburg Times)(5-27-2000)
  
  
• Daytona Fences: Daytona International Speedway is updating and strengthening sections of its protective catch fence after an extensive review of Geoffrey Bodine's horrifying truck racing accident in February. Ray Smith Fencing, based in Tampa, has the contract for the job. The replacement procedure started 10 days ago and should be finished in June, or three weeks before the start of the Pepsi 400, scheduled July 1st(Speed Magazine)(4-29-2000)
  
  
• Florida Taxes: Florida legislators will limit a $2 million-a-year tax refund for racetracks to the Homestead-Miami Speedway under legislation still moving in both the House and Senate. When the measure was first unveiled earlier this year, both Homestead and Daytona International Speedway would have qualified for a tax refund for up to 30 years. Daytona Beach-based racing empire International Speedway Corp. operates both racetracks. But a Senate panel on Monday changed the bill (SB 1294) so that Daytona would no longer be able to apply for the tax refund. The measure was then approved unanimously by the Senate Commerce and Economic Opportunities Committee. See full story at Speed Magazine by Gary Fineout(4-25-2000)
  
  
• Florida Track Tax Break: A $2 million-a-year tax rebate that could benefit Florida's two speedways sailed through a Senate panel Thursday. See full AP story at Speed Magazine(4-14-2000)
  
  
• Daytona Tragedy: An amateur motorcycle racer lost his life in a freak accident at Daytona International Speedway Thursday afternoon. Chris Tatro, Leesburg, was pronounced dead from head injuries and multi trauma at Halifax Medical Center after crashing during an afternoon practice session on the opening day of Bike Week 2000(Speed Magazine) Condolences to the family(3-4-2000)
  
  
• Swaying Seats: In between Speed Weeks races, workers made nighttime repairs to new grandstand seats at Daytona International Speedway after several fans complained that the bleachers swayed beneath their feet during the Twin 125's. Daytona International Speedway president John Graham said several fans complained about the swaying, and the company took immediate action. Thursday night, after fans had filed out of the track, welding crews went to work adding extra bracing beneath the seats in question(Speed Magazine)(3-2-2000)
  
  
• ISC and Florida: Gov. Jeb Bush has warned that he may find it hard to support a $2 million a year tax break being sought this year by International Speedway Corp., owners of Daytona International Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway(Speed Magazine)(2-29-2000)
  
  
• Daytona and Speedweeks: International Speedway Corporation announced record revenues for the Speedweeks events held at Daytona International Speedway from February 3 to February 20, 2000(Yahoo Biz)(2-23-2000)
  
  
• Daytona Parking: The City Commission hit a speed bump Wednesday on plans to accelerate the use of park-and-ride lots for racing events at Daytona International Speedway. Commissioners unanimously approved the use of satellite parking using free shuttle buses beyond walking distance from the Speedway. However, the approval was preliminary and means the city commission has to act again later this month(Speed Magazine)(12-9-1999)
  
  
• Daytona Changes UPDATE: Daytona International Speedway will add a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event to its Speed Weeks schedule next season. The Speedway will make it official on Tuesday during a morning press conference. Among those expected to announce the addition of trucks to Daytona's slate are Dennis Huth, NASCAR vice president of touring operations and international development; John Graham, Speedway president; and the newly crowned NCTS champion. The Speedway has already made room on its busy Speed Weeks schedule for the pickup truck race. DIS has moved the Goody's Dash Series race to Saturday, Feb. 12. It's the same day as Daytona 500 pole qualifying(Speed Magazine)(10-30-1999) -- UPDATE: If's official - Officials with NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway announced today the addition of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing to the Speedweeks 2000 schedule(NOL and DIS Site)(11-2-1999)
  
  
• more seats at Daytona: Daytona International Speedway will be bigger and better in 2000. Construction has begun on an additional 4,000 seats in the Speedway's Superstretch Tower. The additional seating now under construction will add nine rows to the top of the Turn 2 and Lund sections of the Superstretch Tower. General Contractor Coleman Goodemote is working with All-Star Bleachers to complete the project. With completion scheduled for January 2000, the new seating will be finished just in time for the start of Speedweeks February 5, and for "The Great American Race," the Daytona 500 on February 20(Daytona Site)(8-5-1999)
  
  
• CBS Ratings: Saturday night was very good for NASCAR on CBS. The Pepsi 400 was the most watched TV program of the evening, drawing a 5.4 national rating, and seen by 13% of the sets in use (audience share). The race's final 1/2 hour peaked at a 6.3 rating, 15 share. CBS audience was 26% greater than NBC or Fox and 116% greater than ABC. Also, the viewership for the race was 54% greater than for the CBS programming on July 4 last year(7-7-1999)
  
  
• No Bridge? A request by NASCAR president Bill France Jr. for the state of Florida to provide $3 million for a pedestrian bridge at Daytona International Speedway was recently denied. The bridge, which would cost an estimated $4.6 million, would span U.S. 92 (International Speedway Boulevard) and lead to the track's entrance(That's Racin')(6-5-1999)
  
  
• DIS Concert: On Saturday July 3, 1999 from 5:30 - 6:30pm/et John Michael Montgomery will be performing at the Daytona International Speedway as part of the pre-race festivities for the Pepsi 400. This will be a full concert before pre-race. John Michael Montgomery will be performing on stage in front of the Superstretch Grandstands. The concert will be available to frontstretch ticket holders via Jumbotrons, Superstretch ticket holders will see Montgomery live and via Jumbotrons. A Superstretch Grandstand ticket will also include the concert, see the DaytonaUSA Site for info(6-4-1999)
  
  
• Daytona Sale: As of June 3rd-Thursday the DaytonaUSA site is selling tickets for some never before offered seats in The Daytona Sky Tower. These are seats in rows 52 - 61 on the Superstretch. Thy are three day renewable tickets for the Pepsi 400 weekend. The cost is $115 see the DaytonaUSA site for details(6-3/4-1999)
  
  
• Daytona Seats: Daytona International Speedway (DIS) could expand by 5,000 to 10,000 seats pending final approval of the project in July. The International Speedway Corp. board of directors, which met here April 13 behind closed doors following a shareholders meeting, approved $57 million for capital projects at facilities owned by the company. DIS may expand seating(Speed Magazince)(4-24-1999)
  
  
• Additional Daytona News: Daytona has added Winston Tower seats for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Three night package for Pole night, Friday night, and Saturday night. Same reserved seat all three nights for $170. Info and ordering can be done at DaytonaUSA.com (4-16-1999)
  
  
• More Daytona News: Persons purchasing $15 tickets for the Pepsi 400's pole qualifying at Daytona Beach, Fla., will also be able to see a second round of qualifying at no cost. Action on the track will begin July 1 with practice from 3-6pm/et and qualifying for the top 25 positions at 8pm. Fans will be able to return July 2 for practice beginning at 3 pm and qualifying for the last 11 positions starting at 6:30pm. Final practice will begin at 8pm. The Pepsi 400 will begin July 3 at 8pm.(SpeedNet)(4-14-1999)
  
  
• DaytonaUSA: Folks can purchase tickets to: Daytona USA, Daytona USA Annual Passes, Richard Petty Riding Experience Rides online at Daytonausa.comONLINE! Plus more items will be available for online purchase from ISC, such as Winston Cup tickets for Phoenix go on sale online April 23 and hopefully later this week fans can place a deposit ONLINE for the 2000 Daytona 500 tickets, probably Thursday(DaytonaUSA)(4-13-1999)
  
  
• Pepsi 400 Tickets: On Friday afternoon 1:20pm/et, there will be a press conference at Darlington Raceway announcing Online ticket sales for the July Pepsi 400 in Daytona. The live link to purchase tickets will be put in place at 2:00pm/et. ISC will also be unveiling the new website look as well as introducing the new Daytona International Speedway Home Page. The online ticket sales will allow over 200 simultaneous connections to Daytona's ticketing system providing real time seat selection and credit card authorization. The system will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Richard and Adam Petty will be on hand to help with the unveiling and Adam will be demonstrating the system to Richard(DIS Home Page)(3-18-1999)
  
  
• Goodyear Notes: The unusually high tire wear at the Daytona 500, particularly on right fronts, means that Goodyear will almost certainly come back with a different tire for the July 4 race at Daytona and Goodyear's rollover contract with NASCAR virtually precludes any move by Firestone to get into Winston Cup racing. According to NASCAR sources, the Goodyear-NASCAR contract is similar to R. J. Reynolds' contract, which is automatically renewed annually(PitNow/JournalNow)(2-15-1999)
  
  
• Interesting facts: In 1980, Buddy Baker won $102,175 for taking the checkered flag in the Daytona 500. In Sunday's race, 34 of the 43 drivers collected more than $100,000 in winnings and Richard Petty, stock car racing's King with 200 career wins, had 40 victories when he was 28. Gordon, 27, now has 43 victories(icFlorida)(2-15-1999)
  
  
• Daytona Repaving? In a Speed Magazine story - it mentions that there are no immediate plans to pave Daytona International Speedway, but they will probably have to pave it before too long. Bill France, president of NASCAR and chairman of International Speedway Corp., which owns the Speedway, said the problems drivers experience in qualifying - severe shaking in some places - is a somewhat self-inflicted punishment due to chassis setups. The 2.5-mile, high-banked track was last paved prior to the 1979 Daytona 500. At that time, the Speedway fixed a dip on the exit side of Turn 4(Speed Magazine)(2-8-1999)
  
  
• The Shootout and the 500: Only four drivers have won the Bud Shootout and Daytona 500 in the same season: Bobby Allison (1982), Elliott (1987), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Jeff Gordon (1997)(That's Racin')(2-6-1999)
  
  
• Lights during Speed Weeks: It appears that the possibility exists to run some of the February Speed Week events under the lights at Daytona. The greatest possibilities at this point would be the Bud Shootout or the Gatorade Twin 125's. The earliest we could possibly see this happen is the 2000 season.(MRN's Marty's Two Cents Worth)(10-22-98)
  
  
• Records set at Daytona but..: Pepsi 400 at Daytona Produces Record Attendance, Pepsi 400 gets record ratings, attendance, and World Series strikes out Pepsi 400.(10-22-98)
  
  
• GM cars have won 11 of the last 16 races at the two restrictor-plate tracks(10-20-98)
  
  
• Scalping activity along roads near Daytona International Speedway is down from previous years, according to local law enforcement officials. But illegal ticket vendors have found a way to do business on the information highway. Ticket scalpers use Internet to sell Pepsi 400 tickets.(Speed Magazine)(10-14-98)
  
  
• TNN will telecast the Pepsi 400 at Daytona on 10-17 at 8pm/et. The race was of course postponed because of the wild fires in Florida. It was to be seen on CBS.(many sources)(7-25-98)
  
  
• The Pepsi 400 in Daytona has been postponed and will be run the weekend after Talladega, on October 17th, 1998. According to sources on television and radio, Daytona International Speedway officials are saying the "No Refund Policy Will Hold." If fans who have purchased tickets can't make it to the race on the official rescheduled date of October 17th(night race), no refunds will be made. Also the AP reports that the new race date coincides with the start of the World Series(which is on FOX), and it's not clear if CBS will televise the Pepsi 400 then. No more details on this at all. Track officials said that any race fan with questions about the postponement can call (904) 254-7223.
  
  
• Pepsi 400 ticket holders that can't make it to the rescheduled Pepsi 400 can use their tickets at Talledega the week before. Pepsi 400 ticket holders can use their tickets for all "preliminary events" leading up to the Winston 500. A ticket for the postponed Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway will have value back-to-back weekends in October, Talladega Superspeedway officials announced Tuesday. See the story for what the tickets will do for you at: Talladega offers Pepsi 400 promotion - NASCAR Online.(7-14-98)
  
  
• From a story in the USA Today by in the sports TV column by Rudy Martzke: Although CBS Sports President Sean McManus says the "decision's a week to 10 days away," the prevailing opinion at CBS is to televise the rescheduled Oct. 17 Pepsi 400 on CBS instead of TNN.(USA Today)(7-11-98)
  
  
• Massive Expansion to be Complete by Speedweeks 1999: Daytona International Speedway News Release 6/8/1998
  6000 luxury seat will be added to the Winston Tower, and will be available for Speedweeks 1999. 3,800 of the seats will be available through membership in the DAYTONA CLUB. The remaining 2,200 seats have already been sold to race fans around the country. The eight race DAYTONA CLUB package includes spacious chair-back seats for each of the following events: The Bud Shootout at Daytona, FirstPlus Financial 200 (ARCA), Gatorade 125-Mile Qualifying Races for the Daytona 500 (both), Discount Auto Parts 200 presented by ACDELCO Rapidfire (Dash), True Value Firebird IROC XXIII, NAPA AUTO PARTS 300 (BGN), Daytona 500 (Winston Cup). Fans may be interested to know that packages range from $1500 - $1700 and include in-seat service, admission to a stylish hospitality pavilion, full buffet style breakfast, The DAYTONA CLUB grand lunch, and an official Speedweeks souvenir program. Pre-race pit road tours are also available for *each* days event. To reserve a membership in the DAYTONA CLUB, readers' may call the Speedway's Entertainment Services Department at 904-947-6827.(StockCarFans - Nancy)(6-9-98)
  
  
• Fireworks at DIS for the Pepsi 400: Folks coming to the Pepsi 400 can look forward to a terrific fireworks extravaganza after the race. Sources at DIS informed me that the fireworks production will last for at least twenty minutes. The famous Santore's who have done fireworks productions for the city's of Boston, Philadelphia, NYC, to name a few, will be the producer's of the fireworks for the inaugural Pepsi 400 Under the lights. Look for fireworks to be setup near the pits, in Lake Lloyd, and various surprising locations around Daytona International Speedway.(StockCarFans - Nancy)(6-9-98)
  
  
• Sneak Peek for Daytona International Speedway Fans: Local auto racing buffs will get an advanced peek at all the major changes and improvements at Daytona International Speedway. And, yes there have been more changes since February. Now, DIS has a "Homestretch Hospitality Village," and fans will be invited to an "open house" of sorts on June 30. Daytona International Speedway President John Graham will host the open house at DIS from 6pm/et to 9pm/et at the new project just west of the Winston Tower. This will be free and totally open to the public. According to Graham, "We want to thank our community for its support during the past 40 years of racing here at Daytona International Speedway. And, we would like to invite them to experience some our latest and most exciting construction projects."(Daytona Beach News-Journal)(6-3-98)
  
  
• Most of the Pepsi 400 weekend at Daytona Beach, Fla., will take place under the lights, Daytona International Speedway officials announced Monday. Qualifying for the July 4 Pepsi 400 has been rescheduled to Thursday, July 2 at 8:15pm Qualifying was originally scheduled for the afternoon of July 3. Just as the race was moved from its traditional Saturday morning start to Saturday night at the request of fans, so has the Bud Pole Qualifying. Also, 1 1/2 hours of `drafting' practice will be held under the lights July 3. A three-hour practice for the 40th Pepsi 400 will begin at 3 p.m. July 2.(That's Racin')(4-13-98)
  
  
• The Daytona lights: There will be 2,205 light fixtures on 130 poles, with 150 miles of wire, and with 2,600 square feet of mirrors for indirect lighting on the inside of the track, an arrangement that will cost more than $3 million(I also hear 5 million)(7-5-97)
  
  
• It's Official: The Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 1998 will be under the lights. Reported in the Orlando Sentinel. The official announcement was made today. Daytona International Speedway declares independence of the Sun(7-4-97)
  
  
• Daytona International Speedway & ISC officials announced on 7-4-97 that the 1998 Pepsi 400 would be held under the lights. Mussco Lighting will handle the multi-million dollar project, with construction expected to start soon after this weekend's race. No date has been announced for next years event yet (though Dale Earnhardt prefers a Friday Night race, allowing for more fishing time), but the start time is expected to be in the 8PM ET vicinity. Qualifying is expected to be held after dark as well. The cooler temps afforded by a night race are expected to draw even larger crowds, and the start time will also mean less of a chance for those mid-afternoon Central Florida thunderstorms disrupting activities(7-4-97)
  
  
• Daytona International Speedway is expanding and also exploring the prospect of adding lights for night racing. The Daytona Beach New-Journal reported in Friday editions that the addition of 18,000 backstretch seats and 24 elevated "superstretch suites" will boost seating capacity to more than 140,000(5-30-97)
  
  

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