Earnhardt to Experience Daytona At the Speed of Light

29 January 1998

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- After months of anticipation, race fans will be invited to experience "Daytona at the Speed of Light" on Saturday, Feb. 7 -- free of charge.

Dale Earnhardt to practice "Under the lights" at Daytona

Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion Dale Earnhardt will take to Daytona's famous high banks at 6:30 p.m. following Bud Pole Award Qualifying for the Daytona 500. He is the winningest driver in Daytona's history, with 29 victories at the famed Speedway. Now he will become the first driver to tackle the 2.5-mile high-banked trioval under the newly-installed lighting system.

The system, the largest sports lighting project in the world, is being readied for the inaugural nighttime running of a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Daytona -- the July 4 Pepsi 400.

After the conclusion of Bud Pole Award Qualifying for the Daytona 500, fans not already in attendance may enter the frontstretch grandstands free of charge. Earnhardt will complete 20 laps, in recognition of his 20th Daytona 500 in 1998.

"Over the last 20 years, Daytona has provided a lot of great memories for me," Earnhardt said. "To have the opportunity to be the first driver to take a lap at full speed under the lights is very special."

Tickets for the Speedway's Jan. 31-Feb. 15 Speedweeks' events and the July 4 Pepsi 400 are available at the Speedway Ticket Office or by calling (904) 253-7223.

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