Technology Rising

REID SPENCER/NASCAR WIRE SERVICE — Those who see transformed Daytona International Speedway for the first time are likely to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the changes to the Birthplace of Speed, but Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of parent company International Speedway Corporation, thinks one of the most compelling differences may well be the scope and level of technology available to fans after the completion of the Daytona Rising project.

“I feel like one of the biggest ‘wow’ factors will be technology and how it’ll be so much more interactive with the fans,” Kennedy said on Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “I think that you’re going to see… we talked about our new mobile app, for instance, and it’ll give fans the opportunity to go to reward stations and get prizes, all types of interactive events like that. I think they’re going to enjoy it.

“We’re also going to have new larger high-def video screens, so they’re going to feel more up close and personal with the competition, the drivers, and what’s going on at the track. And the one thing I love at Daytona – but across all the facilities – is the Wi-Fi capabilities. We’ve all been to a stadium where you can’t get out and you can’t communicate out, and we have so many cool things that are going on, I want our fans to be able to be telling everybody what’s happening there during the event, and I think that’s going to be really good for all of us.”

Kennedy also emphasized ISC’s ongoing commitment to the safety of competitors and fans, noting that, collectively throughout the company’s portfolio, ISC has added 54,000 linear feet of new SAFER barrier to its facilities.

And now that the Daytona Rising project is reaching fruition, Kennedy said Richmond and Phoenix are two of the next company priorities for capital improvements.