| Gentlemen, start your engines and ladies,
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| | usually occurs one week in advance of the
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| grab your beach bag. It's NASCAR time in
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| | actual race. The remainder of the field
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| Daytona Beach, Florida. 2006 is already
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| | is established by qualifying races of 150
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| wooing a track full of die-hard race car
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| | miles. During 2004 and before, the
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| drivers and fans are pulling up trackside
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| | qualifying races were 125 miles.
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| to get a glimpse of the action. Make sure
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| | After the Daytona 500, Wisk Presents the
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| you're there in 2006 for non-stop
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| | Daytona 500 After-Party which includes a
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| excitement at every turn on the track!
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| | dinner buffet, complimentary soft drinks,
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| The season begins with the forty-fourth
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| | a cash bar, live entertainment and much,
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| Rolex 24 which kicks off the 2006 Grand
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| | much more. You must purchase advance
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| American Rolex Sports Car Series on the
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| | tickets to attend this party. ConAgra
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| weekend of January 26-29. Considered one
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| | hosts the Monday morning Champion's
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| of the most prestigious endurance races,
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| | Breakfast event which features car
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| the entry list features 73 entries which
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| | induction festivities, a buffet
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| will exceed the 2005 entry list by eleven
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| | breakfast, and more. This event also
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| cars. Benny Parsons will act as the Grand
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| | requires advance purchase of a ticket.
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| Marshall for this event.
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| | The Champion's Breakfast marks the
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| On February 11, 2006, the Budweiser
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| | official end of Speed Week at Daytona.
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| Shootout will start their run followed by
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| | Access to the Daytona International
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| the Daytona 500 Pole Qualifying run. The
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| | Speedway is simple and easy from the
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| Shootout represents the beginning of
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| | north and south via Interstate-95 which
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| Speed Week at Daytona, ending with the
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| | lies within two miles of the race track.
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| Daytona 500. On February 18, the
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| | Interstate-4 provides access from the
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| Hershey's Kissable kicks off the NASCAR
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| | west while U.S. Highway 1 provides a
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| Busch Series for 2006. In between are
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| | scenic drive from the north and south.
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| truck races and other events to keep
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| | While visiting Daytona Beach, you'll want
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| every race fan in total bliss.
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| | to take a drive along the white sand
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| On February 19, Daytona Beach hosts the
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| | beaches, one of the only remaining
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| Daytona 500, one of the great American
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| | beaches in Florida that permit driving on
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| traditions in NASCAR racing. The race
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| | the sand. These beautiful beaches extend
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| begins at 2 p.m. Eastern and runs for 500
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| | for miles and provide a unique experience
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| laps on the world-famous track. Of
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| | for anyone who has never had the joy of
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| course, all the big names will be entered
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| | driving alongside the Atlantic Ocean.
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| in the race, including Jeff Gordon, Tony
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| | Just don't leave your car parked on the
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| Steward and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. This year
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| | sand too close to the water at low tide.
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| holds a special treat because Bill Elliot
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| | Every week, cars must be towed onto shore
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| has come out of retirement to return for
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| | when the high tide floods them.
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| this race. Elliot left full-time racing
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| | During Speed Week, accommodations can be
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| in 2003, only running a few races in the
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| | hard to find unless you have made
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| NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Of course, Dale
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| | reservations well in advance. Many race
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| Jr. is a favorite in this race. His
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| | fans book reservations and purchase their
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| father, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. died in a
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| | race tickets a full year in advance. The
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| freak accident during the Daytona 500 in
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| | ocean-front hotels, of course, fill up
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| the 2001 race.
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| | first as do those closest to the
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| Since its beginning in 1959, the Daytona
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| | Speedway. For those who desire very
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| 500 has been one of the most popular
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| | affordable housing for the week, nearby
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| races ever held. The television ratings
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| | towns offer plenty of accommodations
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| for this event indicate that it is one of
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| | within one-half hour's drive from the
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| the most-watched sports events,
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| | track. Even Orlando with all its plush
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| surpassing even the Super Bowl! As the
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| | hotels is only forty-five minutes away on
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| first race of the Nextel Cup Series (in
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| | Interstate-4.
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| addition to being the first biggest race
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| | Camping is a popular solution to the
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| of the year), the fan's race to obtain
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| | accommodations problem during Speed Week.
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| tickets is phenomenal.
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| | There are numerous campgrounds in the
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| The Daytona 500 is a direct offshoot of a
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| | area within a few miles of the race track
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| race once held on the sands of Daytona
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| | and the cost of renting a campsite for
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| Beach. After the 1959 opening of the
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| | the week is very affordable. Because of
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| Daytona International Speedway, the race
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| | Central Florida's mild weather, camping
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| as we know it continues to grow.
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| | poses a viable solution. The nights may
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| That very first Daytona 500 was won by
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| | require a few blankets, however, but most
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| Lee Petty, father of Richard Petty. The
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| | of the daytime temperatures are quite
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| win was most interesting because Johnny
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| | comfortable. Many of the hard-core race
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| Beauchamp was initially announced as the
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| | enthusiasts bring campers, vans and motor
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| winner after both Petty and Beauchamp
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| | homes, purchasing infield tickets and
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| lapped Joe Weatherly on the final lap.
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| | parking for the entire week. Every
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| Three days later, after reviewing
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| | evening, cookouts in the infield bring
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| photographs and video of the finish, the
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| | the smells of steaks, hot dogs and
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| call was overthrown and Petty was
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| | hamburgers to the air. Those gathered in
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| announced as the official winner of that
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| | the infield party with others from all
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| first Daytona 500. His son, Richard, has
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| | over the country both day and night,
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| won the Daytona 500 seven times during
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| | having a thoroughly great time while
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| his career and holds the record for the
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| | enjoying the races.
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| most wins for this particular racing
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| | If you have never been to a Daytona 500
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| event.
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| | to hear those famous words, "Gentlemen,
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| The qualifying for the Daytona 500 is
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| | start your engines", you will never
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| unique in that teams must race their way
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| | forget the experience. Not only will you
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| into the field instead of taking
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| | enjoy the races, but the entire city of
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| qualifying laps. The first row is set
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| | Daytona Beach will provide memories for
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| through one round of qualifying that
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| | years to come.
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