Building on the popularity of exciting nighttime races, the fifth annual Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race will run for the first time under the lights at historic Daytona International Speedway. The kickoff race for the Craftsman Truck Series will go green on Friday night, Feb. 13. The Florida Dodge Dealers 250 is traditionally scheduled during Speedweeks on Friday during the daytime, two days before the most prestigious race on the NASCAR circuit and the most watched motorsports event – the Daytona 500. The inaugural nighttime running of the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at the “World Center of Racing” will be televised live on SPEED Channel in prime time. The Florida Dodge Dealers 250 becomes the second race during Speedweeks to move to nighttime in the last two years. During Speedweeks 2003, the Budweiser Shootout was moved to night and televised in prime time on FOX Sports, which registered its largest rating for a prime time motorsports event – a 5.5 rating, equal to almost six million households. The Speedway lighting system was first utilized for stock cars in 1998 for the Pepsi 400. Besides the Pepsi 400 and the Budweiser Shootout, other races at the Speedway that are held under the lights include: The Winn-Dixie 250 Presented by PepsiCo NASCAR Busch Series race (July 2, 2004) The Rolex 24 At Daytona (Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2004) Paul Revere 250 Rolex Sports Car Series race (July 1, 2004). Tickets for the inaugural nighttime running of the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 and other Speedweeks 2004 events, including the Daytona 500, are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(9-16-2003)
