It’s sad when a world class track, like DIスピースカー, which is one of the greatest sporting events in the world, has its final race this coming January. That’s because, as we’ve known for years, the Daytona International Speedway has been the home of some of the most exciting motor races in the world. It started in February, 1953, and has continued to be a landmark in American sports ever since. Unfortunately, the 2020 edition will be the final one.
It might be hard to believe, but the question of whether or not the Daytona International Speedway will ever close its doors has been asked more than once. While the record attendance figures and TV audience prove that the public still loves going there, a combination of factors points to the fact that this will soon be the case. First, the track has been losing money and, as a business, it’s no longer sustainable.
Second, the pandemic has grounded global travel, limiting the amount of people who can attend the races, and the novelty of social distancing has worn off. The interest in and appetite for motorsports has declined, especially since many professional sports suspended their seasons, and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics put the kibosh on the 2020 Tokyo Motor Race, which was to be the last ever running of the iconic event.
Third, the track’s owner, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), is a for-profit company, and the 2020 Democratic administration under President Barack Obama sought to rekindle the spirit of the Great Depression, with government control of business, especially in the sports arena. As a result, in early June 2020, the United States Government officially seized the track, citing the financial burdens it places on the federal government.
Despite its best efforts to stay open, the Daytona International Speedway, like many other businesses, will close its doors for good once the government has approved the track’s reopening.
Will the spirit of the great Daytona International Speedway persist?
The Spirit Of The Great Daytona International Speedway
Through the years, the Daytona International Speedway has been a symbol of American capitalism, speed, and efficiency. During the month of June, the economy of Volusia County, which hosts the track, is boosted by more than 23 million domestic and international tourists, many of whom attend the races, which, in turn, helps to create more jobs.
The event is the culmination of nearly a month of racing, attracting fans from all over the world. It’s a chance to celebrate American-made ingenuity, as well as social distancing and unity, which the United States is uniquely placed to offer given the pandemic.
This year will mark the 68th running of the prestigious Daytona International Speedway. It’s been a while since the last race was won by a foreign driver, with the most recent being American Kyle Busch in 2017.
The event’s popularity has led to a cottage industry of merchandise, with Hot Wheels, for example, producing limited edition special paint jobs for the racecars.
This year’s edition will be the final one, as previously stated. Nevertheless, the track still operates as a hub of commerce, supporting the local community through its annual charity drives, supporting local businesses through advertising, and even hosting a Food Truck Festival during the week of the race.
The future of the Daytona International Speedway is currently uncertain. While it will always be the home of the Daytona 500, which this year is set to be a 500th edition, the speedway has struggled to find its place in an ever-changing world. Nevertheless, it will always be remembered as one of the greatest sporting events in American history, as well as one of the most important sporting venues of the 20th century. Who knows? Maybe, in another 50 years, we’ll be seeing cars racing once more at the Daytona International Speedway.