RC Outruns Austin In Daytona Escalator Duel

Childress takes it easy...

To officially activate the new vertical transportation phase of its $400 million DAYTONA Rising project, Daytona International Speedway held the first-ever DAYTONA Rising Escalator Duel yesterday. Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon and his team owner/grandfather, Richard Childress, raced to the top of Daytona’s new 150-foot grandstand using the stairs and escalators, respectively.

Using the new escalators, Childress easily captured the win.

As part of their race to the top, Dillon and Childress completed a series of “pit stops” related to the Speedway’s new amenities. After beginning the race near the Florida Hospital-sponsored injector/entrance, they navigated the three concourse levels by filling soft-sided insulated coolers with Coke Zero beverages and a hot dog from an Americrown concession stand, picking up a DAYTONA 500 shirt from a merchandise stand and collecting a restroom pass.

Fans will have an opportunity to preview some of these amenities during Budweiser Speedweeks 2015, including 40,000 new seats, two of the five injectors/entrances, new concessions, several of the neighborhoods or social areas and the new vertical transportation. The DAYTONA Rising project is expected to be fully completed by January 2016.

..and wins the race.

“Vertical transportation is a critical part of the DAYTONA Rising project,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “Our fans will now have a more convenient way to navigate the facility and preview some of the new amenities available to them during Budweiser Speedweeks 2015.”

Childress and Dillon attended the DAYTONA Rising Escalator Duel as part of the Road to the DAYTONA 500 Tour, a cross-country media blitz featuring multiple NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers visiting 11 different cities to promote the 57^th annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 22.

“That was a fun win today and I’m honored to be part of this great milestone,” Childress said. “Daytona International Speedway is a special place for me and everyone at RCR. The DAYTONA Rising project will ensure that both longtime and new fans enjoy the ‘World Center of Racing’ for many years to come.”

“The new escalators are awesome,” Dillon said. “It was great to get a firsthand look at this massive project today. I’ve seen plans for DAYTONA Rising and have heard a lot about it, but it’s really impressive to see everything first hand. Several Dow Business Solutions products are being used in the construction, so I feel a personal tie to the project. I can’t wait to return in February to defend my pole and compete in the DAYTONA 500 in the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet.”

The Speedway recently finalized race-ready preparation for Budweiser Speedweeks 2015.