98 Days
Ninety-eight days. That’s the time between the NASCAR Cup Series Championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway and the Daytona 500. In those 98 days, our team had to plan, budget, staff, design, celebrate, and when possible rest.
At first glance, 98 days might seem like plenty of time. But factor in major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s, and that window shrinks fast. Those 98 days also included an exhibition race at an 87-year-old stadium that needed to be reimagined. And in that same stretch, we had to prepare for the biggest race of the year.
Now, 91 of those days are in the rearview mirror. It’s Sunday, February 9th, and we’re out of time. My wife, Kelly, and I just made our annual pilgrimage from Charlotte to Daytona Beach. During the seven-hour drive, I reflected on everything the team has accomplished over the four months and the goals I’ve set for my 25th NASCAR season.
This offseason, we restructured the Event Experience department into four Deployment Teams. The Yellow, Blue, and Red teams were built to be as balanced as possible, each with the resources needed to execute any event at any time. We tested this structure at a few events last year, but the real challenge comes when our new teammates parachute into unfamiliar venues and perform at the elite level they’ve proven capable of.
For the third consecutive year, the NASCAR Kids Zone and the NASCAR Experience are refreshed and ready to go. These assets remain cornerstones of our fan engagement efforts, blending entertainment with education for attendees of all ages. I’m proud of the growth we’ve seen in this area and excited about the evolution of these experiences in the season ahead.
Music has taken on an even greater focus this year. We kicked things off with a custom song for Bowman Gray that thrilled the audience, and we’ve spent months crafting a special musical arrangement for the Daytona 500 Driver Introductions featuring some of the most talented Grammy Award-winning musicians in the world. Music Director Chris Stiles and I have been in constant discussion about the key race-day moments that need an extra spark, while my new friends Vic and Austin, better known as Goldyard have been working on a chant we hope will have fans stomping their feet as we come to the green flag each weekend.
Our Event Experience leadership team is taking shape as well. Hilary Adams is making the move to Charlotte, MaKenzie Peterson is doubling down on relationships with our activation partners, and Lauren Fox is continuing to integrate the NASCAR TV team as true production teammates critical to ensuring our guests have an unforgettable experience.
The past couple of months have flown by, but I trust that our team is prepared, our production partners are ready, and our guests are in for a season of memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime.
See you at the track,
MJV
