Lesa France Kennedy Previews DAYTONA Rising for Worldwide Media at Le Mans

Lesa France Kennedy discussed DAYTONA Rising today at Le Mans

Hundreds of international media members got an in-depth look at the vision behind the $400 million DAYTONA Rising project from International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy at the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans press conference in France this morning.

Many of those same media will be among the first to experience the finished product, as the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 30-31 will be the inaugural event in what has been dubbed the "World's First Modern Motorsports Stadium."

"DAYTONA Rising is the complete re-creation of the Daytona International Speedway, home of the Rolex 24 At Daytona," Kennedy said. "DAYTONA Rising will fundamentally change how our guests experience our races, and transform the quality of entertainment at our flagship racing facility."

In addition to providing specifics of the DAYTONA Rising project, Kennedy gave the media a brief glimpse at the history of Daytona International Speedway, which opened in 1959 under the direction of her grandfather, Bill France Sr. She made a point to clarify the importance of the word "International" in the names of both the Daytona International Speedway and International Speedway Corporation.

"My grandfather dreamed of more," she said. "He imagined and then created a 2.5-mile race track with 31-degree banking in the turns, an engineering concept never seen before. He was not satisfied with creating the most important track in stock car racing, however. He wanted his sparkling new facility to play a major role in international motorsports.

"To further that end, he came up with a brand-new concept of creating a road course on the infield so Daytona could host sports car and motorcycle racing."

Daytona International Speedway has hosted major international sports car races since 1962 and 24-hour races since 1966. The 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona will be the 54th running, but few will be as greatly anticipated.

"We are taking guests to new heights – literally – creating sightlines never before experienced," Kennedy said. "In motorsports, the best seats in the house often are at the very top. Our brand new fourth level provides views of the entire track, including the road course, and on a clear day, even the Atlantic Ocean.

"Three new concourse levels will span the frontstretch with 11 social areas that we're calling 'neighborhoods,' each the size of a football field. For those who visited us this past January, you may have gotten an early look. You won't believe your eyes when you return in January 2016."

IMSA Wire