Going to Daytona 500 for first time...

maybe post on msb?

Take a pic of the "Pardon our construction" signs for me!

Hydration is your friend. Enjoy the race.
Geaux #88.

I've been to the 500 several times. As anther poster said, the stands coming out of Turn 4 are great. Also, the higher up you are, the better the view. Daytona is doing a massive renovation project, adding really nice seating. The seats on the turn 1 side are going to be open from what I can tell. The turn 4 side is still being constructed. The expansion is going to affect everything from parking, to entrance. It will probably be a big mess this year so get there early.

Daytona has limited concessions so they allow you to bring in a small cooler. One that will fit under your seat. A six pack size. No bags other than clear backpacks. No umbrellas. If it rains, you are absolutely screwed.

Parking is a nightmare. I recommend parking at the Home Depot that is close by. It is money very well spent. Otherwise, you are having to park behind the Daytona airport or North of the facility on other business property.

My best advice is to get there really early and enjoy the experience. The number of fans is simply amazing. The race itself is awesome. TV doesn't do it justice. It is just amazing how fast and close together they drive at Daytona.

I was at Daytona all this past weekend attending the Rolex 24 hour race. It is a very different type of race but, I love it.

Enjoy, it is a trip of a lifetime.


ETA: Earplugs are highly recommended. Not only is it loud as hell from the cars, the loudspeakers are stupid loud. They kill my ears and I usually can't hear for a few days after I go to Daytona.

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I went to the Pepsi 400 at Daytona around like 2007 (bachelor party), and I can honestly say that even though I fricking hate NASCAR, it was one of the most awesome sporting events I've ever been to in person. It was incredible.

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This. I went with a friend one year and was never into NASCAR, but ever since Ive been a fan. There's really not much advice to give other than have a good time. You'd have to be a miserable person not to enjoy the sights and sounds of Daytona.

I've been to 2 500s (actually the first one I went to was rained out went home, and went back the next day), the Sprint Unlimited, the summer race, and the Rolex 24

It's a fricking blast.

Granted, it's pretty much "downtown" Daytona so the party scene is nothing like Talladega (unless of course you're in the infield) so you are tailgating in parking lots of businesses and restaurants. I've had tickets close to turn 4 and they were much better than my tickets i had for both 500's on the backstretch. Get there early the day of the race, like 6-7am and the parking isn't that bad. Like all major sporting events, the after traffic fricking blows and there isn't anything you can do about it. If this is your first race, go see all the tourist bull shite like the drivers 18 wheelers with all there merchandise and get as much free gives away stuff as you care to carry. The race itself is awesome because of the significance of the race and how big of a deal it is to win it so the last 50 laps are awesome. I didn't get a Daytona 500 shirt because I knew I would never wear it but got a nice pint size glass with the 500 stuff on it

Unlike the guy above that said only a 6 pack size cooler, i think it is actually larger than that because I know I got about 14-16 beers in my soft cooler.

The people watching is fun and just go with the flow regarding that.

Enjoy bro, it's a hell of a time

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You know way too much about the construction of Daytona speedway.

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I was there all weekend. They are really making some nice and much needed improvements. They are replacing the horrible old seats and everything. It is going to be nice (world class) when completed.

As somebody else said, even if you don't like NASCAR, it is an incredible sporting event.

Damn, now I want to go. This thread is going to cost me a lot of money.