FYI WIRZ: Daytona Rising Is a Radiant Stadium, Not Beach Sunshine

Sunrises on Daytona Beach can be a spectacular array of colors and clouds day after day, but that’s not the realm of Daytona Rising, a name chosen by Daytona International Speedway for its $400 million stadium reconstruction.

It’s re-imagining, really, as it will incorporate extensive changes that motorsports fans have never known at racing events.

It’s expensive and extensive, even colossal, but that has been the DIS vision from the very beginning.

When William “Bill” France Sr. and believers built DIS in 1959, they dreamed big and plowed high.

The banking at the 2.5-mile tri-oval track was intended to be steep so that speeds could be higher and fans could get a better view of the cars in action. Builders stacked the sandy soil as lofty as gravity would allow given the configuration, so that when the sand started to roll off or back, 31-degree turns were created.

When the current project that began on July 5, 2013 is done in January 2016, there will be 101,000 new, wider seats. The present seating capacity of 147,000 will be reduced considerably when the backstretch grandstands are removed after the 2015 July 5 Coke Zero race. 

When completed, the frontstretch grandstands will be pleasantly unrecognizable, with 30 rows of seats built higher for a panoramic view of the iconic track. Multiple spacious, towering concrete decks will back up the seating where concessions, restrooms and shaded comforts will allow fans to escape the weather—sunny or rainy.

The new construction will feature five expanded and redesigned fan entrances called "injectors," making for easier and faster arrival and departure. Numerous escalators will provide a lift-and-descend service for fans to each level. 

When fans arrive in July, they will be treated to the new seating arrangement for the top two levels. More numerous restrooms and temporary concessions will make the race experience better for fans.

During a recent tour up escalators and around the spacious levels, Daytona president Joie Chitwood III shared what he believed fans will experience. 

“Fans are going to be blown away,” he said. “They will not experience anything this unique or special. It’s truly a motorsports stadium from the sidelines, comfort, amenities, concourses, vertical transportation. We’re knocking it out of the park.”

A recent grand tour up top with Chitwood impressed Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano.

“To see what Joie has been doing here is remarkable,” Logano said. “He hasn’t missed a beat. The structure, the way the people will flow. Best comfortable seats. The best sound system so fans can hear what’s going on. Putting data out there is special.”

Joey shared his take on Joie.

“I told Joie he has two jobs now,” he said. “It’s enough to try to run a racetrack. But trying to build something of this status. This big. And promote races coming up. I don’t know how he does it. I’m glad I’m not him.” 

When asked if he was aware of the big DIS plans when he came aboard, Chitwood was quick to answer.

“I did not, but boy I’m excited to be in the middle of it,” he said. “What a great opportunity. It’s special. Yes, it’s stressful. But it’s unique with the heritage that Daytona represents. Every day we show up excited to make sure we do a great job for our fans.”

Logano was genuinely impressed.

“And I didn’t even see all of it,” he said. “There’s a lot more. The whole experience seems to be so much greater now.”

Chitwood knows what his team faces.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re ready to go January 2016,” he said. “But we’re on schedule. We’re on budget. Come January, we’ll see if we did a good job.” 

DIS recently announced that tickets for the 2016 Daytona 500 are now on sale. With that announcement, it advertised its new venue as follows:

"First Opportunity for Fans to Experience 'The Great American Race' in Newly Redesigned, First-of-Its-Kind Motorsports Stadium."

Fans attending a Daytona event will now have at least two thrilling experiences to share—racing and seating.

Even in July, breezes that flow with the Atlantic Ocean will help fans enjoy a summer race by being able to seek shade and comfort high in the sky on wide concrete concourses. Wind traversing top levels will soothe many motorsports devotees.

The winners at the next Daytona events will surely be interviewed, but fans in attendance will also be interviewed, as they will have new stories to tell.

Dwight Drum

It’s hard to imagine, but the sunny turf in Daytona Beach will be even brighter.

FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of topics by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com. Unless otherwise noted, information and all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official release materials provided by sanction and team representatives.