Daytona Rebuilds Facilities

Johali

Johali

Team Owner
Contributor
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
26,697
Points
1,033
An e-mail I received this morning.

http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm#tracks

I am excited to share with you that Daytona’s proposed redevelopment project has been officially approved!
This historic project, driven by our commitment to provide race fans with a world-class experience, is scheduled to break ground on July 5, 2013 and is targeted for completion in January 2016, in time for the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 58th DAYTONA 500.
Once completed, Daytona International Speedway’s new frontstretch will blend the modern amenities that today’s sports fans demand with the heritage that race fans expect from Daytona. The stadium will feature new, larger seats, upgraded ticket gates and entrances, 40 escalators, 10 elevators and 11 football field size fan entertainment areas with new and additional restrooms, concessions and merchandise locations.
As part of the redevelopment, Daytona International Speedway will reduce its capacity by nearly one-third of our current capacity.
 
Hey TRL, 40 escalators and 10 elevators, you can go racing again. :)
 
Good thing we already have an account...1/3 is a huge drop for Daytona. Ticket prices are going to soar.

They really needed the upgrades. Great to hear they finally got approved and based on the renderings it should look like a world-class facility.
 
3 year project, they are going to tear the hell out of the place, and they are doing it with front pocket money. I bet it takes them even longer and it will be a showplace when they are done.
 
The eventual decrease in capacity could occur in stages following the 2014 DAYTONA 500 and will include the complete removal of the backstretch grandstand by the start of the 2016 motorsports season
Click to expand...

So I guess the Battle at the Beach wont be around for too long. Hope they bring it back to Irwindale.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
I hope they keep the Battle at the Beach. I'm sick of the East Coast racers getting shafted by NASCAR and by the television networks.
Click to expand...

Don't see how they can keep it if they are getting rid of the grandstands that they use for the Battle at the Beach. TBH, The track they made for that race was crap anyway. Does a caution flag coming out every other lap really help the east coast racers or does it just make them look like crap drivers on a nationally televised event? Shouldn't bother having the race there if they can't make a real track for them to race on . If they don't move it back to Irwindale then they should at least move it to a real track in Florida. New Smyrna or somewhere else.
 
toledo47 said:
Don't see how they can keep it if they are getting rid of the grandstands that they use for the Battle at the Beach. TBH, The track they made for that race was crap anyway. Does a caution flag coming out every other lap really help the east coast racers or does it just make them look like crap drivers on a nationally televised event? Shouldn't bother having the race there if they can't make a real track for them to race on . If they don't move it back to Irwindale then they should at least move it to a real track in Florida. New Smyrna or somewhere else.
Click to expand...


New Smyrna is too big for the perimeter cars. That'd be an incredibly boring race. It might make for a better K&N race though - which, honestly, is the only race you care about of the three. Not to mention, if that race leaves Daytona, it won't be televised - which is the whole point of it.

Going back to Irwindale further polarizes the East Coast fans which is where the majority of NASCAR fans are. Our drivers aren't going to go all the way to the other side of the country to race against Irwindale Speedway regulars.
 
Johali said:
Five Flags.
Click to expand...

Five Flags is alright, I saw the K&N race there this year. It's a nice little short track, decent facility. Track surface is rough, facility is kinda old looking. Not of the caliber of Daytona or Irwindale. Not including tracks that host Cup/NNS, Irwindale is the nicest short track facility that I have been to. It's really a crime that they have not had the NNS there yet. I mentioned New Smyrna, although actually I have never been there, could be a dump for all i know. I think it is near Daytona though. They sure were promoting New Smyrna big time at the Battle at the Beach, they had a table set up giving out fliers, the commentators mentioned races there during speedweeks...

I don't really know which track would be suitable for this race, but as it is, the event needs to be fixed. I didn't see any good press about the Battle at the Beach, everything was negative. It wasn't broken at Irwindale (except the lack of sponsorship...).
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
New Smyrna is too big for the perimeter cars. That'd be an incredibly boring race. It might make for a better K&N race though - which, honestly, is the only race you care about of the three. Not to mention, if that race leaves Daytona, it won't be televised - which is the whole point of it.

Going back to Irwindale further polarizes the East Coast fans which is where the majority of NASCAR fans are. Our drivers aren't going to go all the way to the other side of the country to race against Irwindale Speedway regulars.
Click to expand...

I wanted to like the other races! Really! They just sucked! Steve Park and Kyle Larson were kinda entertaining...
The races were televised live from Irwindale, so TV isn't the problem...
Plenty of K&N drivers from the east did go out there for the race. Late model drivers though, I didn't keep track of where they were from, but I would imagine they were all from the west, yes
. Seems like there are already better big late model races in the east coast than the Battle at the Beach anyway. Like the 300 Lap race at Martinsville, etc....
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
Most of the people who complained about that race having too many wrecks and stuff go to Bowman Gray all the time and eat that stuff up like chocolate.
Click to expand...

The racing at the Daytona short track and Bowman Gray sucks. I've been to both, I'll probably go back to both, but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone... Big cars like late models and K&N cars shouldn't be on those tracks. Its just a joke.
 
toledo47 said:
The racing at the Daytona short track and Bowman Gray sucks. I've been to both, I'll probably go back to both, but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone... Big cars like late models and K&N cars shouldn't be on those tracks. Its just a joke.
Click to expand...


I've never been to Bowman Gray - will probably go this year but it's nowhere near the top on the list of tracks I want to visit.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
I've never been to Bowman Gray - will probably go this year but it's nowhere near the top on the list of tracks I want to visit.
Click to expand...

It's a really neat facility, very unique feel to it. It felt a lot bigger than a 1/4 mile to me. Cool place, worth checking out, but don't expect the racing to be great!
 
toledo47 said:
It's a really neat facility, very unique feel to it. It felt a lot bigger than a 1/4 mile to me. Cool place, worth checking out, but don't expect the racing to be great!
Click to expand...


I've seen a lot of good races this year - and I've also seen some really bad ones. If I go to a race and have my camera and flash with me, it's guaranteed to be a horrible bore. :(
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
I've seen a lot of good races this year - and I've also seen some really bad ones. If I go to a race and have my camera and flash with me, it's guaranteed to be a horrible bore. :(
Click to expand...

Hey, at least a boring race can still make some nice pictures! Nice looking cars still look good in photos even if they are single file the entire race!
 
toledo47 said:
Hey, at least a boring race can still make some nice pictures! Nice looking cars still look good in photos even if they are single file the entire race!
Click to expand...


The one race I didn't go to at Lonesome Pine, race ended in a .006 second photofinish. Man I was pissed.
 
Looks like Daytona is investing in the future of Nascar . Pretty damn smart move.
 
toledo47 said:
Five Flags is alright, I saw the K&N race there this year. It's a nice little short track, decent facility. Track surface is rough, facility is kinda old looking. Not of the caliber of Daytona or Irwindale. Not including tracks that host Cup/NNS, Irwindale is the nicest short track facility that I have been to. It's really a crime that they have not had the NNS there yet. I mentioned New Smyrna, although actually I have never been there, could be a dump for all i know. I think it is near Daytona though. They sure were promoting New Smyrna big time at the Battle at the Beach, they had a table set up giving out fliers, the commentators mentioned races there during speedweeks...

I don't really know which track would be suitable for this race, but as it is, the event needs to be fixed. I didn't see any good press about the Battle at the Beach, everything was negative. It wasn't broken at Irwindale (except the lack of sponsorship...).
Click to expand...



New Smyrna is a lot like Bristol...banked all around...Decent track
 
Any chance, while they're tearing the place up, that they take some banking off the track to slow the cars down a bit so they can get rid of those damn restrictor plates ?
 
Keep in mind the track was built in the late 50's and many of the seats added in the 60's. They're in pretty rough shape going out toward the turns. When I was there last summer, I was suprised at the conditions of some of the seating.
 
MRM said:
Keep in mind the track was built in the late 50's and many of the seats added in the 60's. They're in pretty rough shape going out toward the turns. When I was there last summer, I was suprised at the conditions of some of the seating.
Click to expand...

Did you ever get to sit in any of the "Overlapping Folding Chair" sections talk about Sardines!
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
Actually, the July Daytona race gets pretty bad ratings compared to most races - but I think that has to do more with it being on TNT than anything.
Click to expand...

I agree. The 400 is the most-watched race on TNT by a solid margin. The fall Talladega race is always one of ESPN/ABC's most-watched races, and it's certainly their best during the NFL season. The spring Talladega race is FOX's most-watched after the early-season hoopla dies down (usually after Vegas).
 
At Bristol...Yes

At a huuuge track like Daytona? No thanks
 
Yep, they're working on it.

BT0HYONIgAAbA01.jpg:large
 
Johali said:
Thanks DP, I've been there many many times and know knew my way around perfectly but now I may have to consult a map next year.
Click to expand...
I think NASCAR was trying to sweep this Daytona rebuilding news under the rug by diverting our attention to some 'Fixing the Chase' story. Those guys..... they'll do anything!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom