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