| The race track known as Daytona International | | | | house. I believe truly because NASCAR is a truly one |
| Speedway was opened in 1959 and has since | | | | hundred percent American tradition. And when the Air |
| become the home to the great race in the NASCAR | | | | Force does their fly over for the Daytona 500, I doubt |
| year. Known as The Great American Race, the | | | | there is one person present who doesn't feel the call |
| Daytona 500 is a huge call to all NASCAR fans to get | | | | of patriotism for their country. |
| ready for some fun and action. The Daytona | | | | So although there have been great successes and |
| Speedway has the capacity and fan base to fill all one | | | | great tragedies at Daytona International Speedway, |
| hundred and sixty eight thousand seats each time a | | | | they have not gone unnoticed and because of the |
| race is held there. Because of its location in sunny | | | | tragedies, many updates in safety measures have |
| Florida, race fans tend to come from all over not only | | | | been taken to protect the drivers. The HANS device, |
| for the race but for the gorgeous beaches and | | | | also known as head and neck support was |
| resorts they can frequent while waiting on their | | | | implemented and required shortly after Earnhardt died. |
| favorite race to begin. | | | | Oh the drivers surely complained. We all know they |
| This speedway host not only NASCAR events but | | | | aren't the most comfortable in the car as it is, but it has |
| everything from go-kart races, modified pick up trucks | | | | also already saved lives and that is what is the most |
| to motorcycles. Daytona International Speedway boast | | | | important in the long run. |
| an enormous tri-oval. The tracks infield includes a | | | | We love our driving warriors as they risk life and limb |
| twenty nine acre lake, something that racers and their | | | | to entertain us each season, and of course everyone |
| families and pick crews thoroughly enjoy. And in 2008, | | | | has a little hidden desire to see a good wreck, but |
| they actually ran their first marathon around the | | | | none of us want to see drivers die, families suffer and |
| Daytona Speedway. | | | | the actual loss some dedicated fans feel when a |
| So fully aware of the history of this major track in | | | | driver comes to a tragic end. So although they may |
| NASCAR life, I decided myself to take a trip down to | | | | fuss and complain, even the NASCAR drivers know |
| Daytona in February of 2005. Shocking it was too to | | | | the HANS device just may save their lives. And you |
| be able to compare the difference in the chest | | | | can't help but wonder if they remember as clearly as |
| pounding rumble of gentlemen starting their engines at | | | | some of us do the death of a great warrior of |
| Daytona, compared to the Martinsville Speed way I | | | | NASCAR that could have possibly been prevented by |
| had grown up with. Daytona was big time and there | | | | such a protective device as the HANS. I'm sure the |
| wasn't one fans face who didn't reflect the enormity | | | | NASCAR warriors that do consider this for long, may |
| of their appreciation for just being there to witness it. | | | | remain optimistic when reminding themselves that all |
| The roar of the fans and the smell of burnt rubber | | | | warriors need armor and that's what it is. |
| may not appeal to everyone, but to a NASCAR fan it | | | | Another thing that Daytona has done to prevent their |
| is just as welcome a smell as a home cooked | | | | drivers from coming to harm is implement restrictor |
| southern meal. | | | | plates. These plates are installed on the car which |
| The experience I had there was like none other as far | | | | restricts the fuel to slow the vehicle to a safer speed. |
| as NASCAR speedways are concerned. The laid | | | | Now at Talladega or Daytona, both considered Super |
| back experience of Daytona beach mixed with the | | | | Speedways, the restrictor plates are placed on the |
| rumble and adrenaline rush of the Speedway was a | | | | cars so that they cannot run at more than 190 miles |
| heady combination. The ladies in Bikini's paired up with | | | | per hour. |
| the dedicated bikers of Bike week that was happening | | | | There have been three reasons that NASCAR finally |
| the same week, was just an amazing experience. No | | | | decided to use restrictor plates. Once in the seventies |
| NASCAR fan should ever pass over the chance to | | | | in response to cars being built tougher and faster and |
| experience this clash of perfect worlds if given the | | | | the escalating speeds worried the NASCAR owners. |
| chance. | | | | The second came with the death of my personal all |
| I recall as the race started many years earlier how | | | | time favorite driver, Bobby Allison in 1987. And the last |
| Dale Earnhardt had met his fate on this very track. | | | | came in the year 2000 with the fatal crashes of |
| Indeed, at each race held in Daytona now there was | | | | Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin Jr. Immediately following |
| always the very respectful moment of silence. As that | | | | NASCAR implemented a rule that featured a one inch |
| moment of silence passed, I, who rarely prays, prayed | | | | restrictor plate in effort to slow the cards when they |
| for a safe race for all of these drivers today. And it | | | | were headed towards tight turns. This was part of a |
| never ever fails for me, and for a lot of NASCAR | | | | set of reforms to help prevent some problems with |
| fans, but the moment the National Anthem is finished | | | | throttles sticking, which they alleged caused both fatal |
| there seems to be a shortage of dry eyes in the | | | | crashes that year. |