Curator’s statement
The Daytona 500 is the Super Bowl of NASCAR. I have had the pleasure of attending this event for four years running now. Speed Week is a mix of racing, concerts, celebrity appearances and carnival-style exhibitions and participation. This event is the biggest of the year for NASCAR and can be the building block to a week's long vacation in Daytona, Florida.
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Daytona International Speedway is an experience in itself. The newest addition is Daytona USA. This is a combination of museum, track tours, gift shops, statues and a walk of fame of the winning drivers of past races.
If you buy the Speed Week race package, you get to enjoy qualifying and practice all week, the Duals (two short Cup races), the ARCA race, Truck race, Infinity race and the Daytona 500. Each can be purchased separately or as a package. Word of warning, the Sunday main event is usually sold out way in advance, so planning is a must.
If racing all week isn't enough entertainment, know that Disney World, Universal Studios and Epcot Center are about an hour's drive away. This year, we went to the Kennedy Space Center as part of our trip. I will add a separate trip report on that later.
Places to eat & drink in Florida
Eating can be something to plan for. The track hosts many food vendors that range from chicken strips and fries, to burgers, to pizza or tacos. Like any amusement park, the prices will be high. Along with the food, there are beer and soda bars all around the track. My advice is to eat before going to the track and snack as you go.
Need to know
Something that I had to adjust too was parking areas and parking fees. Depending on what your budget is, you may want to purchase parking with your tickets. The closer you park, the more expensive it becomes. During the main event on Sunday, you are competing with 130,000 people and may wind up walking a long way to have fun.
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