Let the sunlight shine on Daytona 500 once again

Over the years, the Daytona 500 has provided viewers with no shortage of memorable celebrations. There was Darrell Waltrip, screaming into the microphone, almost like he had to convince himself that he had just won his sport's biggest race. There was Jeff Gordon, speaking on a bulky cell phone to leukemia-stricken team owner Rick Hendrick, then slipping out from behind the steering wheel and banging the top of his car. There was Dale Earnhardt, accepting that long line of congratulations from all those crewmen and climbing to the roof of his No. 3. There was Dale Earnhardt Jr., stopping on the finish line, his teammates rushing toward him in a red blur.

Daytona 380

The Daytona 500 came up 48 laps short thanks to Mother Nature. Did NASCAR make the right call in ending the race early? Read the debate in this week's Head2Head.

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Through it all, from decade to decade and race to race, there's been one constant -- bright Florida sunshine. Maybe it's because weather that looks warm on television is irresistible eye candy to viewers watching in more frozen climates. Maybe it's because blue skies seem fitting for a day that's all about celebration and rebirth. Regardless, starting and finishing the Daytona 500 during daylight hours gave the event an intangible quality that somehow made it seem grander than it already was. Sure, Mother Nature didn't always cooperate. But most years she did, and the results were spectacular -- sunlight glinting off car hoods and the ripples on Lake Lloyd, hotel towers and the ocean looming far in the background, palm trees swaying in the breeze. It all screamed Daytona.

Things are different now. When Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 last weekend, he celebrated at night, with fireworks flashing overhead. The start of the Great American Race has been gradually pushed back in recent years, in part to accommodate a burgeoning West Coast audience, and in part because NASCAR chairman Brian France believes major sports events -- taking a lead from the Super Bowl -- should end at night. No question, Daytona International Speedway looks spectacular under the lights, the cars appear faster and brighter, fans don't need quite as much sunscreen. But at the same time, the Daytona 500 loses a part of its allure. (Continued)