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Track News: Longterm
Daytona to Provide Event Ticket Protector Insurance
Ticket buyer reimbursed if unforeseen circumstances occur
In an effort to reinforce that “Fans R 1st @ Daytona” Daytona International Speedway has partnered with World Access to offer Event Ticket Protector Insurance to ticket buyers who are unable to attend events due to unforeseen circumstances. The coverage, an optional purchase in addition to the ticket, will be $6.25 per ticket and is available for all NASCAR, Grand American and Motorcycle events at DIS beginning in 2008.
With the insurance provided by World Access, fans will be reimbursed if a medical issue, traffic accident, jury duty, employment termination or any other covered reasons prevents the insured from attending a race. Additional covered reasons are included in the policy.
“Through this partnership, fans can rest assured that if an unexpected situation arises, their ticket purchase will be covered,” said Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig. “We are glad to be able to offer this service to our fans that visit us at the ‘World Center of Racing.’”
World Access is a leading specialty insurance and assistance provider. They also offer Event Ticket ProtectorSM Insurance coverage for concert and other sporting tickets.
Daytona To Add Second Fan Deck To Sprint FANZONE
Construction Expected To Be Completed In Time For Jan. 26-27 Rolex 24
The Sprint FANZONE, located in the heart of the infield of Daytona International Speedway, will be bigger and better for DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 and the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17.
Beginning in mid-October, a second FANDECK will be added atop the Sprint Cup Series garages on the south side of the Sprint FANZONE. The new fan deck, which will include a bridge connecting it to the north fan deck, adds an additional 23,500 square feet to the Sprint FANZONE and provides race fans with a view of the south side of the Sprint Cup Series garages.
“The FANDECK is one of the most popular amenities inside the Sprint FANZONE and a second FANDECK will be another reason race fans will want to be inside this fan-friendly area,” Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. “Race fans will now be able to get a birds-eye view of garage activity on both sides of the Sprint Cup Series garages.”
Construction on the expansion of the FANDECK will be completed in time for the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 26-27.
The Sprint FANZONE was constructed in 2004 during Daytona International Speedway’s multi-million dollar infield renovation and made its debut in 2005.
Besides the FANDECK, other amenities included in the Sprint FANZONE are the Goodyear Legends of Daytona area, the Budweiser Bistro, the Last Lap merchandise store and the Entertainment and Media Zones.
A Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race access pass for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 is $90 (must already have purchased a race ticket). For the other days during DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008, an advance Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race pass is $25 (must be purchased two weeks before event date).
January 08 Preseason Thunder Testing Dates At Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Testing dates for the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway have been finalized.
The first wave of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams will test in preparation for “The Great American Race” on Jan. 7-9 with Jan. 10 serving as a rain date. The second wave of NEXTEL Cup Series testing will be Jan. 14-16 with Jan. 17 serving as a rain date.
The NEXTEL Cup Series teams will be split into two groups based on the owner’s points following the NEXTEL Cup race weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Among the drivers expected to be in the first wave of teams (odd-numbered teams in the owner’s standings) will be three-time Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon, 2006 Daytona 500 champion Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch.
Among the expected drivers in the second wave (even-numbered teams in the owner’s standings) are 2007 Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr. and Jamie McMurray.
Testing dates for 2004 Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will join Hendrick Motorsports for the 2008 season, will be announced at a later date.
Other testing dates for Preseason Thunder include:
· Jan. 4-6, Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve in preparation for the 46th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 26-27, all teams.
· Jan. 11-13, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in preparation for the Feb. 15 Chevy Silverado 250, all trucks
· Jan. 18-22, NASCAR Busch Series in preparation for the Feb. 16 Camping World 300 presented by Chevrolet, two different sessions
NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest dates, which will coincide with January’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Busch Series and Rolex Series testing sessions at the “World Center of Racing,” will be held on the following dates:
Jan. 5: The Roar Before The Rolex 24
Jan. 8: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Fan Fest
Jan. 12: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Fan Fest
Jan. 15: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Fan Fest
Jan. 19: NASCAR Busch Series Fan Fest
The Fan Fest events start at 5 p.m. but fans may enter the SPRINT FANZONE beginning at 9 a.m. to watch all of the exciting testing action on those days. Admissions for the NEXTEL Cup Fan Fest dates are $15 while Busch and Craftsman Truck Series admissions are $10. The Roar Before The Rolex 24 admission is also $10.
Fans will be able to get a sneak peek on teams as they prepare for DIRECTV Speedweeks 2008 with inquisitive fan forums with many of their favorite drivers as well as enjoying all the state-of-the-art amenities in the popular SPRINT FANZONE.
Also included in NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests will be bands, show cars, pit stop demonstrations, displays, a silent auction and hot laps around DIS (additional charge).
Fans can continue to watch all of the January testing sessions free from the Oldfield Grandstands located just outside of The Daytona 500 Experience.
Tickets for Preseason Thunder Fan Fests are available online at http://www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas 2008 has new name and race date
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is announcing the following points of interest regarding the 2008 NASCAR Weekend at LVMS:
Tickets for the 2008 NASCAR Weekend are slated to go on sale Monday, Aug. 6. Neon Garage passes (which in 2008 will include pit access), pre-race activities passes and Lucky 7 preferred parking also will be available that day. Race fans may order tickets by logging onto the LVMS website (www.lvms.com) and clicking on "Tickets" or by calling 800-644-4444.
The 2008 Sprint (formerly Nextel) Cup Series event will be known as the UAW-Dodge 400. The proposed purchase of a majority stake of Chrysler from DaimlerBenz by Cerberus Capital Management necessitates the name change.
NASCAR Weekend is set for Feb. 29-March 2 - one week earlier than the 2007 event. The new dates call for the following schedule: Qualifying for both the UAW-Dodge 400 and Sam's Town 300 will be Friday, Feb. 29. The Sam's Town 300 event will be Saturday, March 1 and the 11th annual UAW-Dodge 400 will be run on Sunday, March 2.
"Our ticket-renewal process yielded the highest renewal rates that we've ever experienced," said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. "Our Ticket Services group has worked overtime in order to launch public-sale tickets a month earlier than in the past.
"I want to add that we've also had a very successful relationship with the United Auto Workers and its National Training Center, and we look forward to continuing that sponsorship under the name of the Dodge brand.
"The earlier race date is not new for Las Vegas Motor Speedway. From 1998-2004, NASCAR Weekend at LVMS was the first weekend in March. This date change in 2008 will allow NASCAR to continue the momentum from the start of the season without an open date just two weeks into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule."
FOX Sports will televise the UAW-Dodge 400 for the eighth consecutive year, while ABC/ESPN will broadcast the Sam's Town 300.
50th Running of Daytona 500 highlights 2008 schedule
“World Center of Racing” schedule filled with prestigious events
From stock cars’ most prestigious race – the Daytona 500 – to sports cars’ most prestigious road race – the Rolex 24 At Daytona – Daytona International Speedway again shows why it is billed as the “World Center or Racing” with the release of its 2008 racing schedule.
The 2008 action-packed calendar with high profile sanctioning bodies such as NASCAR, Grand American, American Motorcycle Association (AMA) and World Karting Association (WKA), has something for everyone that thrives on speed, adrenalin and the history of famed DIS.
“Once again it’s evident why Daytona International Speedway is called the ‘World Center of Racing’”, said DIS President Robin Braig. “We’re excited to host some of motorsports most prestigious and high profile events and look forward to another exhilarating year of racing.”
NASCAR: NASCAR returns to Daytona for January Testing and Preseason Thunder and continues its visit in February at the 2008 edition of DIRECTV Speedweeks. Testing: Jan. 7-9 – NASCAR Sprint Cup, first session; Jan. 11-13 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck (all trucks); Jan. 14-16 – NASCAR Sprint Cup, second session; and Jan. 18-22 – NASCAR Busch Series (all cars). NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests: Jan. 8 – NASCAR Sprint Cup Fan Fest; Jan. 12 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Fan Fest; Jan. 15 – NASCAR Sprint Cup Fan Fest; Jan. 19 – NASCAR Busch Series Fan Fest. DIRECTV Speedweeks and Daytona 500: The three-week speed festival highlights include the 30th annual Budweiser Shootout (Feb. 9), Gatorade Duel At Daytona (14th), the 9th annual Chevy Silverado 250 Craftsman Truck Series (15th), the 50th annual Camping World 300 presented by Chevrolet Busch Series race (16th) and the 50th running of the Great American Race – The Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17th. July Sprint Cup Weekend: NASCAR returns to DIS in July for the Mid-Summer Spectacular under the lights with the 50th running of the Daytona 400 (July 5) as well as a Busch Series event (July 4) and the Grand Am’s Brumos Porsche 250 Rolex Sports Car Race (July 3rd).
GRAND AMERICAN: In a race featuring superstars from the worlds of sports car racing, NASCAR and open-wheel racing, the Rolex 24 At Daytona will take place on Jan. 26-27. The No. 01 TELMAX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley and drivers Scott Pruett, Salvador Duran and Juan Pablo Montoya will look to defend their title in this impromptu all-star gathering. Grand Am also visits DIS for testing Jan. 4-6 and the Brumos Porsche 250 Rolex Sports Car Race in July. The Roar Before the Rolex 24 Fan Fest will take place Jan. 4-5.
AMA: March means bikes as the Daytona Supercross By Honda visits DIS on the 7th and the 67th Daytona 200
By Honda comes calling on the 8th. Also on the 8th, the AMA opens its Superbike Championship competition. March 2 welcomes back the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series endurance motorcycle racing series. Oct. 16-19, motorcycles make a return appearance at “The World Center of Racing” highlighted by the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series 8-Hours of Daytona.
WKA: The latest tradition of Daytona’s Cometic KartWeek will feature hundreds of karts on the Speedway’s infield half-mile sprint course located in the infield between Turns 3 and 4 and on the Rolex 24 Road Course of the famed facility in December (dates TBD). In addition to the on-track excitement, the tradition of inducting karts of the drivers who earned the most victories during the previous year’s Daytona KartWeek by Cometic into the Daytona 500 Experience – the “Official Attraction of NASCAR” will continue.
Tickets to all exciting events at Daytona International Speedway are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
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