NASCAR Cup
Daytona Speedway Take in Evacuees
Daytona International Speedway takes in evacuees Brett Borden DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 3, 1998) A day after the news came that the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pepsi 400 would be postponed until October 17 due to wildfires in surrounding areas, ...
Edited: May 8, 2001, 12:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Daytona International Speedway takes in evacuees Brett Borden
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 3, 1998) A day after the news came that the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pepsi 400 would be postponed until October 17 due to wildfires in surrounding areas, the race's television situation with CBS was as yet to be determined, while Daytona International Speedway intensified its efforts to help the surrounding community.
With the Pepsi 400's new date going up against the start of baseball's World Series and some high profile college football games, it was not known if CBS would still make history this year by broadcasting the first prime time network television NASCAR Winston Cup series race.
Meanwhile, in an effort to provide relief for the families evacuated from their Central Florida homes because of the recent brushfires, International Speedway Corporation and its employees pitched in by setting up shelter and food for the displaced residents. Early Friday, all of Flagler County (north of Daytona and Volusia County) was ordered to evacuate.
"We realize these people are evacuated and in a position of extreme discomfort," said John Graham, President of Daytona International Speedway. "We are providing all of the comforts of home that we can."
The speedway converted one of its larger buildings into a shelter with 250 beds, air conditioning, television sets, and plenty of food. There is also a hospitality tent set up for firefighters and national guardsmen with 145 cots, food and television.
"We're inviting any family that needs a place to stay," said Graham. "We'll have the shelter open for as long as people need it and we'll also be providing meals."
One of those needing a place to stay was Palm Coast resident Norbert Panet. Panet was one of many Flagler County residents ordered to evacuate on Friday as the brush fires moved closer to populated areas. He was headed to south Florida when he heard about the speedway shelter on the radio.
"We didn't want to leave," said Panet. "But the cops said 'you gotta go'. I think (the shelter) is the greatest idea I have heard of in my life. I expected this place to be fully loaded when I got here."
Evacuees were still trickling in by late Friday afternoon, while many of the firefighters were out trying to contain the many fires that were still going in Flagler, Volusia and Brevard counties.
Larry Wright of the Talladega Superspeedway Fire Department was one of many firefighters brought down by International Speedway Corporation along with water trucks to provide support as it sent its Daytona firefighters and trucks out to help on the battle lines. He said the Watkins Glen, Darlington, and Talladega departments were all glad they could help.
"The hospitality that's been shown is remarkable," he said. "Total strangers coming up to say 'Thank you' makes you feel good, but you wish you could do more. I think its nice that on such a family-oriented holiday as the 4th of July weekend that we could get 65-70 people down here to help.
Source: NASCAR Online
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Hillenberg To Drive #91 at Daytona
Next article Daytona Int. Speedway Home to Firefighters and Evacuees
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
John Graham
Howard/Adam survive penalty scare to win second race
British GT
British GT
Howard/Adam survive penalty scare to win second race
Carroll hangs on to clinch British GT opener
British GT
British GT
Carroll hangs on to clinch British GT opener
Kayla Graham Racing SuperNationals final summary
Kart
Kart
Kayla Graham Racing SuperNationals final summary
Latest news
Lamborghini World Finals | AM-LC Race 1: An unstoppable Lewandowski dominates to win Race 1
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
12 min
Lamborghini World Finals | AM-LC Race 1: An unstoppable Lewandowski dominates to win Race 1
Why Cadillac F1 boss provoked fresh intrigue by dodging driver question
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Why Cadillac F1 boss provoked fresh intrigue by dodging driver question
Lamborghini World Finals | PRO-PRO/AM Qualifying: Pole position for Lind, Bamber, Van der Drift and Marcelli
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
1 h
Lamborghini World Finals | PRO-PRO/AM Qualifying: Pole position for Lind, Bamber, Van der Drift and Marcelli
Jorge Martin's endless ordeal since signing for Aprilia
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Jorge Martin's endless ordeal since signing for Aprilia
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe