Daytona USA honors troops during Armed Forces Month

Replica cars and trucks of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, led by the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet, driven by Tony Stewart, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, simulate racing on the 31-degree banking of Daytona International Speedway at Daytona USA. Servicemembers will be admitted free throughout November to NASCAR's premier attraction in Daytona Beach, Fla., to celebrate Armed Forces Month and Daytona USA's 10th anniversary. Photo by Courtesy photo

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, Nov. 14, 2006) - Servicemembers will receive free admission at Daytona USA throughout November to celebrate Armed Forces Month.

All personnel with a military identification card are eligible for the promotion. Family members accompanying ID cardholders will be admitted for $10 to NASCAR's premier attraction in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Daytona USA, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is a 60,000-square-foot interactive motorsports attraction located just outside the high-banked Turn 4 of Daytona International Speedway.

This month, Daytona USA features a "Salute to Soldiers Wall," where guests can post photographs and messages of loved ones who are serving in the war on terror. Daytona USA also has partnered with Volusia County elementary schools to encourage students to write letters to servicemembers serving abroad.

Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation's Information, Tickets and Reservation offices also have discounted military ticket packages available for SpeedWeeks 2007 at Daytona International Speedway.

Inside Daytona USA, there's plenty for racing fans to see and do. "Acceleration Alley" lets fans drive the simulated high banks of Daytona in an 80 percent scale replica of a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car. "Daytona Dream Laps" is another motion simulator ride, as is "Toyota Tundra's Thunder Road," a two-seat simulator that delivers a fantasy ride with a 360-degree flip.

EA Sports' "NASCAR Thunder" provides the on-track sensation of driving a stock car on the 31-degree banks of Daytona International Speedway. The Pepsi IMAX Theatre's four-story tall screen delivers larger-than-life looks at "NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience" and the "Daytona 500 Movie." Speed Channel's "You Call the Race" allows guests to play television announcer and call the finish of a race at Daytona.

The winning race car of the previous Daytona 500 is always on display at Daytona USA. The No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, driven by Jimmie Johnson, sits in the facility's mock "Gatorade Victory Lane" this month.

Johnson, coincidentally, is in position to win his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship Nov. 19 with a 12th-place-or-better finish in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Daytona USA is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For more information, call (386) 947-6530.