Jack Hege, believed to be the only person to have attended every Daytona 500, will see his streak end this year because of a broken left arm suffered in April that has not healed properly and required surgery in December. Hege, who lives in Lexington, N.C., first went down to Daytona in 1958, witnessing the final race on the beach course. He enjoyed the experience so much that he returned the following year when the race moved to Daytona International Speedway and the first Daytona 500 was held. Hege, who turns 84 on Feb. 9, just kept going back to Daytona after that, telling me three years ago that “I’ve never known any other home except Daytona.” He even delayed knee surgery to attend last year’s Daytona 500 to keep his streak alive. Hege still has his ticket to the 1959 Daytona 500 he attended. Two years ago, NASCAR honored Hege by seating him among the celebrities for the drivers meeting before the race and introducing him to the competitors in honor of his Daytona 500 streak. Hege was injured when he fell backward and tried to catch himself in April. He continued to suffer complications from the injury and had surgery in December. His arm is in a sling and still has screws in the bone.(full story at the Virginian Pilot)(2-1-2011) UPDATE: Jack Hege, who is believed to be the only person to have attended every Daytona 500 as a spectator, will see his streak continue with the help of a NASCAR Sprint Cup team. Richard Childress Racing will fly Hege to Daytona on Sunday morning so the 84-year-old Lexington, N.C., man can watch the race. Hege first attended a race at Daytona in 1958 — the final race on the beach course — and came back the next year for the first race at Daytona International Speedway and has never missed a 500 here since. “It’s unbelievable,” Hege said. “It’s unbelievable. I didn’t dream I’d ever get to go (this year).” Hege had said last month because of health concerns that he would not be able to attend this year’s 500. Roush Fenway Racing and Joel Edmonds, spotter for Greg Biffle, had inquired earlier about trying to get him to the 500 to keep his streak alive. Hege declined the offers as he recovered from surgery in December for a broken arm. Hege’s doctor cleared him on Wednesday to fly to Daytona. Hege told an RCR official, who also invited him, that he would be able to go. When Hege talked to David Hart of Richard Childress Racing about the trip, he admits: “I hated to hang up. I wanted to keep talking and talking and thanking people for what they’ve done for me. (Hart) said that Richard wanted to do something for me, saying that anybody that had went through what I went through for 53 years, deserves some help. I appreciate it.” Now, Hege is thinking about how he wants to go to the 2012 Daytona 500. “It’s something to look forward to,” Hege said. “It helps a person keep going. It means a lot to me.”(Virginian Pilot)(2-19-2011)
