NASCAR Makes Good Call: Pepsi 400 Postponed
3 July 1998
(July 3, 1998)-Brevard County, Florida There's an old southern saying "That's right, but you can't get there from here!" That folksy expression took on new meaning yesterday as I attempted in vain to reach Daytona International Speedway. My home in Brevard County is only 60 miles south of Daytona Beach. On an average day the travel time, via Interstate 95, from my driveway to the track's tunnel is fifty-five minutes. Yesterday, with the numerous wildfires, road closures and subsequent detours the day was anything but normal. By the time I made it home, some six hours later, I returned with a reminder of what is important in life. Leaving the house at 6:30AM with a full-tank of fuel in my van and a cooler of water and food, I set out on my journey. Clear skies greeted the morning traffic. Tuning in the local AM all-talk radio station was the first order of business. The reports and traffic advisories coming from the field reporters were not encouraging. Knowing that Interstate 95 was closed, I was left with only one option. Go west on the Bee-Line to Orlando, take the Greenway North to Sanford and get on Interstate 4 heading East and I would be in Daytona Beach by say, 8:30 AM. Talk about optimism. That optimism would eventually turn to utter futility. The highway traffic to Orlando was busier than normal but tolerable. All traffic headed north on I-95 was being diverted west onto the Bee-Line Toll Road. The first hint that this was not going to be a normal day came when the temporary highway advisory sign on the Bee-Line flashed the electronic message that "all tolls were lifted-proceed with caution." 'You betcha', I thought to myself. I'll proceed with caution and still be in the press room by 9:00am.Continuing to motor along at a reasonable pace I noted that the traffic congestion was slowly building. Finally reaching Interstate 4 at 8:10AM, I concluded that my goal of being at the speedway by 9:00AM might be pushed back a little. The electronic message boards on I-4 indicated that I-95 was closed going north. The traffic reports on the radio were suggesting that people stay off the roads unless you had to be there. Since my destination did not require traveling on I-95 I knew it would be slow going but nothing that could not be dealt with. Five miles later the moderate pace (55 mph) became a little slower (45 mph). Ten miles later the pace slowed some more. The clear skies that had greeted the morning were turning from blue to overcast and finally to a dull, smoky gray. You could begin to taste the smoke. Finally at 9:50am, within two miles of the speedway the traffic came to a complete halt. The next two miles took thirty minutes. Finally, peering through the hazy smoke I was within sight of the speedway. But something was amiss the police were turning people around, not letting anyone inside the speedway property except to visit Daytona USA. Then the message came across the radio. The race had been postponed until October 17. Noting that some of the team tractor trailers were already pulling out I decided against trying to get to the credential office. No sense in adding to what had to be an already confusing situation. My focus now became one thought..."Get home!" Back-tracking on I-4 became an dual experience. The road was a mobile parking lot but it also provided a reality lesson reminding me of what is truly important in life. The speeds never reached above forty miles an hour. Moving and stopping in the traffic allowed me to observe carloads of people packed with household possessions instead of the normal vacation luggage. These folks had, I surmised, been given only a few minutes notice to evacuate their houses and had to grab whatever they could before being forced to evacuate. Suddenly the postponing of the race was not so much bad news as it was the right decision. While I felt bad for the many racefans who had traveled from out-of-state, I felt worse for those who were leaving their homes for what could possibly be the last time. Last night, after finally getting home, provided the right amount of time to digest the experience. NASCAR made the right decision to postpone the race. Bill France, Jr. and the rest of the staff put people and therefore the community in front of the almighty dollar. What a refreshing view! David Treffer -- The Auto Channel
