FYI WIRZ: Daytona NASCAR Testing and Fan Fest Is Best $20 Ticket in January

The new year has hardly begun, but NASCAR fans can get a jump start on the new season for only $20 at Daytona International Speedway with Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, January 20-21.

That cheap fare coincides with NASCAR teams participating in three-day testing that concludes Jan. 22. 

Daytona 500 champions Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Jamie McMurray, and many other NASCAR drivers, will appear for fan questions and autograph sessions.  

Twenty dollars admission is an affordable price, but all fans agree it’s hard to get better than free.      

Fans can watch cars on the track each day for no cost at the Old Field Grandstands near Turn 4.   

Not everyone pays. Daytona 500 ticket holders plus children 12 and under will get free admission. Ticket holders can take advantage of free infield camping during Fan Fest on a first come, first served basis.
 
Courtesy of Daytona International Speedway:

Gates to the infield will open Thursday, Jan. 20 at 8:00 a.m.

Drivers currently scheduled to make appearances on Thursday, Jan. 20 beginning at 6 p.m. are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, David Ragan, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr. and Regan Smith.
 
Scheduled to appear on Friday, Jan. 21, during the 5-7 p.m. session are Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, David Reutimann, Casey Mears, Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Kevin Conway, Kyle Busch, Paul Menard and Ryan Newman. 

In the 7-9 p.m. session, drivers scheduled to appear are AJ Allmendinger, Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle, Jaime McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and Matt Kenseth.

Among the activities planned for both days include: interactive driver question and answer sessions on the main stage, show cars, displays, music and a photo opportunity with the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy.

Advanced reservations are available (limited to 250 people) for special autograph sessions to be held with participating 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and Daytona 500 champions. 

Other autograph opportunities occur on a daily basis.

For special autograph sessions, race fans can call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit the Daytona International Speedway ticket office beginning on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. 

FYI WIRZ is the swift presentation of pertinent motorsports topics by Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com. 

Many fans consider a NASCAR track a local destination, justifying a journey. Twenty-two racetracks in the continental U.S. host at least one Sprint Cup race, enabling accessibility to most urban and rural areas.

Florida for example:    

Six major NASCAR tracks are within a day's drive of about 10 hours from Tampa Bay: Daytona International Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com