Lesa France Kennedy Promises “Brand New Experience” At Daytona

The new Daytona Int’l Speedway will not only show what a motorsports facility can be, but will provide a blueprint that other facilities can build on, said ISC CEO and NASCAR Vice Chair Lesa France Kennedy during a presentation that opened Day 2 of the Daytona Rising/NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum in Las Vegas. "Our fans are going to have a brand new experience," she said. “It will be a true, modern motorsports stadium. Something like we haven’t seen before."

The facility has a variety of features designed to help fans move around more easily, including 43 escalators and 17 elevators. The grandstand has been elevated to improve sight lines, and while there will be more social areas for mingling, with more than 1,600 video screens in the stadium, Kennedy said fans will not lose track of the action. “Our fans bring their families and stay for the entire day," she said. “So once they get into the facility, they want to have a chance to socialize with their friends and family, as well as seeing the event."

The new facility will have a soft launch with the Rolex 24 at the end of January before the grand opening around the Daytona 500 in February. Ross Nethery, SBJ Managing Editor