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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — With the loud sounds of sports cars running practice laps on the track below and sprinkles of rain outside, International Speedway Corporation CEO and NASCAR Vice Chairperson Lesa France Kennedy and ISC’s Chairman Jim France formally cut the ribbon Wednesday afternoon to mark the debut of Daytona International Speedway‘s $400 million “re-imagining” efforts — a high-tech, first-class motor racing facility unlike anything else in the sport.
Ladies and gentlemen, we introduce to you the world’s first motorsports stadium, Daytona International Speedway! pic.twitter.com/L96shOaaka
— Daytona IntlSpeedway (@DISupdates) January 27, 2016
The Daytona track has long been considered an iconic brand in racing and now, after a two-and-a-half year modernization effort, the famous facility offers all the amenities the sport’s fans could want. From huge, open-layout concourses sporting gift shops and restaurants to grandstands complete with new larger, comfortable seating to escalators transporting fans up into the facility, the new-look Daytona will be a true crown among venues.
And that was exactly the idea as the track prepares to host its first event with the new digs — the Rolex 24 at Daytona this weekend.
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“It’s the biggest project, I think, strictly for the fans, of any motorsports project,” France said, sharing that he made great effort to stay up to date with the project both watching the time lapse video online and through visits from his office at company headquarters just across the street.
“It’s Daytona, it’s our Super Bowl event and now we truly have our Super Bowl facility,’ ” France said.
He joined his niece Kennedy and DIS President Joie Chitwood III on Wednesday hosting dignitaries ranging from construction engineers to the Volusia County Sheriff to local congressmen — all of them eager to celebrate the upgraded facility.
The project came in on time and on budget according to officials, who also acknowledged Mother Nature’s blessing and duly noted the lack of any hurricanes in the area setting things back during construction.
WATCH: Daytona remodel comes alive with time lapse video
For Chitwood, this has been the largest undertaking in his role overseeing the property. And he took the position and the job very seriously.
“Probably where I get most proud is the France family entrusted me with their flagship property, the legacy they created and our staff has to live up to it,” Chitwood said. “I’m proud to say I think we nailed it. When I see Jim France walking around smiling and Lesa France Kennedy smiling, I feel like we lived up to it.”
But, Chitwood cautioned with a smile, now comes the important stuff: welcoming fans and helping them fully utilize this new motorsports stadium. Chitwood said every track president in the ISC group, every person in the company’s corporate offices will actually work during the upcoming Daytona Speedweeks and NASCAR’s Feb. 21 Sprint Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
“As exciting as it is today, it’s very challenging to let down and relax because now all the fans are going to show up whether it’s the Rolex 24 or the Daytona 500,” Chitwood said, acknowledging his job is far from over. “For me, it’s probably going to be Feb. 22 before I catch my breath. As exciting as it was to cut the ribbon today, now we really have to make sure the fans enjoy their experience.”