Big Structural Changes Coming to Daytona Speedway; Casino Gambling in Future?

Current NASCAR

So posted.

Speedway proposes new grandstand, suites, entrances

DAYTONA BEACH The world caught a glimpse Tuesday of what Daytona International Speedway could become in the future, a vision that stacks a fourth level of seating onto the top of the nearly mile-long front stretch grandstand, adds a new structure for additional suites and creates new concourses where fans could take a break from the track.

The next chapter for the 54-year-old track could also bring improved seating, upgraded concession areas, five grand new entrances for fans and possibly the removal of low-level seating that suffers from obstructed views.

Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood unveiled conceptual renderings Tuesday afternoon that contemplate leaving the track's existing structures in place but making all those changes as part of a proposed multiyear redevelopment of the historic facility built by Bill France Sr. in the late 1950s.

"The world center of racing deserves this kind of project," Chitwood said. "We're the flagship brand for the company, for the sport. This is the birthplace of NASCAR. I think the expectations that our fans have is we have this major stadium sports field."

Chitwood revealed the images of what a revamped Daytona International Speedway could one day look like during NASCAR's annual "state of the sport" event in Charlotte, N.C., where the NASCAR Hall of Fame is located.

Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO, as well as several other top NASCAR officials were also at Tuesday's event in North Carolina.

Before any improvements could be tackled, International Speedway Corporation's board of directors would have to give its approval. ISC is Daytona International Speedway's parent company. Chitwood said he doesn't expect he'll be ready to go before the board and other senior executives until later this year.

If he gets the thumbs up, he said then he could start solidifying a timetable, budget and detailed plans for improvements that could include the number of new seats to be added to the current 147,000.

Mayor Derrick Henry is among top city officials hoping everything comes together.

"I'm excited about everything they plan to do," Henry said Tuesday. "That would make the experience for the fans that much greater." He added he hopes the city can create more new development that fans can enjoy as well.

The track overhaul idea evolved over the past year following a facility audit of International Speedway Corp.'s properties across the country that included a look at what in Daytona Beach needed work, Chitwood said.

"We thought, 'What would it look like if we really invested in Daytona, not just fixed this or fixed that?' " he explained.

The idea grew to include a proposal to overhaul the 480 acres around the Speedway as well as another 180 acres of International Speedway Corp. land just north of the track on the other side of International Speedway Boulevard.

To add what it wanted to the properties, Speedway officials spent months last year working through the process at City Hall to have the land rezoned as a planned master development.

That new zoning was approved, and it allows the Speedway to build up to 2 million square feet of shops, restaurants and nightclubs; up to 1,785 hotel rooms; movie theaters with a combined maximum 5,000 seats; up to 1,600 multifamily residential units; and 950,000 square feet of industrial uses.

If it's legalized in Florida, the Speedway also wants to add casino gambling on the two sites straddling International Speedway Boulevard.

The Speedway's list of improvements it would like to make around the track include adding new metal panel screening to the exterior of the grandstands, five new track entrances that could each have a sponsor, thousands of additional seats for fans and elevators.

The Speedway is also looking at extending the pedestrian bridge over International Speedway Boulevard so it connects more directly with the track and adding hotels, shops and restaurants on the east, west and south sides of the track.

For now, the Speedway will focus mostly on the front stretch grandstands, Chitwood said.

was you at this race ? in 1957 --

Stock Car Racing History

Finishing 6th in the 57 beach race was the #43 Petty Engineering Olds driven by ... Bill Lutz. He's shown here racing eventual second place finisher, Johnny Beauchamp. Trailing Beachamp is Tiny Lind in the Petty 188.

was you at this race ? in 1957 --

Stock Car Racing History

How about that view of Tiny Lund's #188 Petty Engineering Olds at 9:50!

And good timing with this video find. I stumbled across a honeypot of photos from 1957 speed runs and the race at the beach on Getty Images last night.

http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&p=1957+daytona&assetType=image

Nashville's Field of Broken Dreams

Current NASCAR

I went to one Busch race and one IRL qualifying event at the big track. That's it. Many around Nashville and outside of it asked me why I didn't support it more. WHY?? I generally got pretty defensive about being questioned about it. I've traveled to Daytona, Talladega, and other southern tracks. I've flown to see races in Loudon, Texas, and Vegas. Why? Because I expected a fun trip and entertaining race with friends.

Racing at the Nashville track was boring, and I simply chose to spend my time and money elsewhere. Dover made a business decision as all companies do, and it simply didn't pan out for them. The big risk didn't return a big reward. Board rooms wrestle it all the time. It wasn't a charity or a "home town" team. Just because I am a racing fan didn't obligate me to attend races there, and I've always resented any in the media who insinuated otherwise. I enjoy Titans football and Predators hockey games, but I don't go to all their games. As a matter of fact, I can count on two hands the number of Titans games I've attended since they moved here in 1998.

Had Dover and GM Cliff Hawks created a more exciting track and promoted the races better, who knows. I do agree they were paddling upstream by only having Busch/Nationwide and IRL events. Nashville wasn't / isn't the only track struggling to draw large crowds to those types of standalone events.

Another reason - though maybe related to my comment about Cliff - was the tone of insulting promotional arrogance towards the middle TN racing fan base. The track routinely tried to make us think they were all but running "Cup Lite" out there by bringing in Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, and Kevin Harvick. I know the difference between Cup and NW/Busch - and I wasn't going to pay top dollar for the latter.

I am sorry the track is gone as the loss of any track isn't fun. Folks lost jobs, Nashville got labeled again, Dover's investors took it in the shorts - again, and the Wilson County and State of Tennessee taxpayers are still likely edgy not knowing if Dover will indeed fully service all the bonds issued to build the place.

Blondes Have More Fun!

Current NASCAR

Perhaps so, but I think these blondes had MORE fun.

OK, so maybe it was HERB NAB having the most fun in that final pic vs. the blonde... or Bobby... or Judy... or the brunette.

Blondes Have More Fun!

Current NASCAR

With GoDaddy's announced changes in ownership and marketing direction, I think we'll see a shift in their support of her over the next year or so. Combine that with what I expect to be underachieving results, and I think its more likely her Cup will be described as a Sprint vs. one sponsored by a former sponsor of Kyle Petty and Tony Raines.

Passing of Joe Carver

Stock Car Racing History

NASCAR pulled its 2 Cup dates from Nashville in 1984 around the time of Warner Hodgdon's financial fiascoes. A few years later, 2 groups put proposals before the Metro Fair Board to lease the track. One was fronted by Boyd Adams - the other by Darrell Waltrip and Joe Carver.

The DW/Carver group's proposal said it would work with NASCAR to return Cup racing to Nashville. Adams' group PROMISED it would get "Winston Racing" back. The Fair Board was (and remains) too stupid to know the difference between Winston Cup and just regular RJR-backed, Winston-sponsored, weekly series racing. Also as I recall (though I don't have Tennessean articles right now as research), I'm pretty sure I remember Adams' group proposing to give a bigger cut of concession sales to the Fair Board.

So with racing myopia and a clear vision of greed, the Fair Board agreed to lease the track to Adams' group over DW and Carver. To Adams' credit, he did get NASCAR and Winston-sponsored racing to return as he'd proposed. The little track even got a few more Busch races thrown its way before the Dover folks derailed things like a Wal-Mart building in Small Town USA.

But as we all know, Cup has never returned. Could DW and Joe have pulled it off? We'll never know. But considering where DW was in his career and Joe's promotional expertise, I'm inclined to believe they could have made it happen. If nothing else, they probably could have worked local networks better with folks such as Gary Baker to improve or relo racing in Nashville on a more orderly and timely basis than what happened with Dover.

Updating Sam Ard's Page by Patsy Thompkins~Keisler

General

I'm almost ashamed to admit this, but I didn't appreciate Sam's racing accomplishments "in the moment". My dad and uncles intro'd me to the racing careers of Butch Lindley, Harry Gant, LD Ottinger, Jack Ingram, Morgan Shepherd, Neil Bonnett and a few others that raced LMS occasionally out of Nashville. It was much later that I realized what Sam won from the sport - but also the price he ultimately is now paying.

I sincerely hope folks do learn more about Sam's career from back in the day - but also the challenges he faces today along with the difficulties endured by Jo and other caregivers who have the love, compassion, and endurance to work through another 24 hour cycle.

We all share a lot of chatter here plus clicks of Likes, Favorite, Follow, and Friend. But some frank but understanding discussions about life's issues when it comes to situations like Sam and Jo's is needed too IMO. I read an article today at thatsracin.com from Tom Higgins about Herb Thomas. He said he first met him at a dinner in 1965 when Herb said "I thought folks had forgotten about me". Racing's history and life's journeys are too fragile to forget folks. I for one look forward to updates - even if they're difficult to absorb.

48 Years Ago - January 17, 1965 at Riverside - Jarrett Burned, Foyt Crashed, Gurney Won

Stock Car Racing History

And on this day in Petty history - nothing happened. Richard was home on the couch as the season opened at Riverside under a Chrysler boycott.

What Did Danica See?

Current NASCAR

NOOOO! The whole Te'o girlfriend thing wasn't real? And I thought it was ME who was the fraud.