CLICK HERE FOR VIEW AN EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING ONE-MINUTE, 30-SECOND VIDEO THAT FEATURES NASCAR VICE CHAIRMAN MIKE HELTON, A STOCK CAR FANS SINCE CHILDHOOD, AND THE AMAZING 100-YEAR-OLD JUANITA ‘LIGHTNIN’ EPTON, WHO SOLD TICKETS TO THE BEACH-ROAD COURSE RACES IN THE 1940s AND 50s. ALSO INCLUDED IS PRICELESS B-ROLL FOOTAGE OF MAN AND MACHINE VS THE ELEMENTS OF THE DAYTONA BEACH-ROAD COURSE.
“Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR”
VIDEO LINK ALSO BELOW:
· NASCAR’s three national series make their historic first attempts at the iconic DAYTONA Road Course inside Daytona International Speedway this weekend, highlighted by Sunday’s Go Bowling 250 for the NASCAR Cup Series.
· NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton tells the story of how the 4.1-mile Daytona beach-road course, which competed half on the sands of the beach and the other half on the asphalt of Florida state road A1A, helped launch the sport of NASCAR. The NASCAR Cup Series, then known as the Grand National Series, raced on the beach-road course from 1949-58, and served as the foundation of Big Bill France’s creation of NASCAR, which originated in 1948.
· ‘Lightnin,’ who was married to NASCAR’s original chief of timing and scoring – the late Joe Epton – recalls incredible memories of drivers zooming through the tide followed by screaming tires on the blacktop, along with the incredible excitement that fans experienced. ‘Lightnin,’ who turned 100 just weeks ago, still works today at the Daytona International Speedway ticket office and is loved by thousands across the globe.
· After the beach-road course’s final event in ’58, the new Daytona International Speedway held the first DAYTONA 500 in 1959. As a part of the 2.5-high banked track that he built, France incorporated a road course. The Rolex 24 At DAYTONA is North America’s premier sports car event, having first run on the layout in 1962. Motorcycles, featuring the DAYTONA 200, have been a staple on the road course since 1961. Now, France’s NASCAR Cup Series makes a return to Daytona on a road course, more than 60 years later.
· There will be three NASCAR races on the 14-turn, 3.61-mile DAYTONA Road Course:
o UNOH 188 At The DAYTONA Road Course: NASCAR Xfinity Series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 3:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
o Sunoco 159 At The DAYTONA Road Course: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Sunday, Aug. 16, 12:00 p.m. ET (FS1)
o Go Bowling 235 At The DAYTONA Road Course: NASCAR Cup Series, Sunday, Aug. 16, 3:00 p.m. ET (NBC)
· A limited number of fans will get the opportunity to take in the doubleheader on Sunday (Aug. 16), consisting of the NASCAR Cup Series and Gander Trucks. Fans can get tickets, which start at $49 (both races included) for adults and $10 for kids 12 years old and younger, by visiting www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or calling 1-800-PIT-SHOP.
· The limited number of fans for the doubleheader of action is in accordance with public health officials and local, state and federal authorities on amended safety protocols and procedures that will provide a safe experience for all fans in attendance.
· Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.
