Pepsi 400 sets varied event package
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
June 19, 2001
5:05 PM EDT (2105 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Race fans and citizens in town for the week of the 43rd annual NASCAR Winston Cup Pepsi 400, scheduled July 5-7 at Daytona International Speedway, will have a busy slate of events to take part in.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. will compete in his second Pepsi 400.
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Everything from the fifth anniversary celebration of the opening of DAYTONA USA -- the "Official Attraction of NASCAR" -- to the "largest fireworks display in the Southeast" will be part of a two-race package that includes two racing divisions that opened their seasons at Daytona during Speedweeks 2001.
Music lovers won't be left out, either. Pepsi spokesperson and pop heartthrob Britney Spears will serve as Grand Marshal of the Pepsi 400, giving the command, "Gentlemen start your engines" to the 43-man starting field.
"We're looking forward to having Britney Spears preside over America's largest nighttime sporting event," speedway president John Graham said.
"Britney has captured the hearts of fans around the world with her musical and performance talents and I'm sure she'll capture the attention of NASCAR fans and competitors as part of the Pepsi 400."
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Richard Petty's 200th and final win came in the Pepsi 400 in 1984.
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Singer/songwriter Edwin McCain will deliver the National Anthem prior to the 17th race of the season. The Caribbean Posse will perform as part of the pre-race entertainment before Friday evening's daytonausa.com 150 for the Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring.
Saturday evening's Pepsi 400 pre-race entertainment will be provided by the group "200 mph Country."
A visit to Daytona's Victory Lane is at the top of every stock car racer's wish list, but a Pepsi 400 victory has an added incentive lighting the fuse for post-race fireworks display, which will be part of a tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt.
Earnhardt, who won the 1990 and 1993 Pepsi 400s, the 1998 Daytona 500 and was Daytona's career victories leader, was fatally injured in an accident on the final corner of this season's Daytona 500.
The week's celebration opens July 4 with a fifth anniversary celebration of DAYTONA USA's opening. A 10,000-square-foot expansion of the attraction will open that day with a driver-to-be-named appearance the main attraction.
The expansion includes two new features, "Daytona Dream Laps" -- an IWERKS Motion Simulator ride that simulates competing in the Daytona 500 -- and "Acceleration Alley" -- 80 percent scale NASCAR simulators that combine motion, video projection and sound for a head-to-head racing experience.
NASCAR race cars take over the 2.5-mile speedway Thursday, July 5. Goody's Dash practice is from 3:30-4:25 p.m. ET, followed by Winston Cup practice from 4:30-6:30. Bud Pole Qualifying to set the 43-car field for the Pepsi 400 is at 8 p.m.
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Mark Martin (left) is looking for his first Pepsi 400 win -- Jimmy Spencer (right) won the event in 1994.
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On Friday, July 6 several "Fan Forums" will be held at DAYTONA USA's Pepsi Theater. These meetings give fans an opportunity to ask questions and visit with a number of athletes.
The schedule of Fan Forums, which is still being finalized and is subject to change, includes Elliott Sadler (3 p.m. ET), Kurt Busch (3:30), Richard Petty (4), Jeff Burton and Jack Roush (4:30), Rusty Wallace (5), Dale Jarrett (5:30) and Steve Park (5:50).
Two rounds of practice and Bud Pole Qualifying for the daytonausa.com 150 are set during the day Friday before the mid-season Dash event gets the green at 6:30 p.m. ET. Winston Cup "Happy Hour" practice for the Pepsi 400 is from 8-9 p.m.
The Pepsi 400 is set to get the green flag at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, July 7.
Fans can purchase tickets for the Pepsi 400 weekend online at
http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.
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