Daytona Supercross By Honda Moves To Friday Night;
Daytona 200 By Arai To Be Contested On Saturday Afternoon
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Oct. 17, 2003) -- The Daytona 200 Week schedule will have a new look in 2004, Speedway President Robin Braig announced today.
Highlighting the changes to the Daytona 200 Week schedule is the Daytona Supercross By Honda, which will move under the lights for the first time in event history on Friday night, March 5.
The 63rd Daytona 200 By Arai motorcycle classic, the season opener to the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike championship season, will be held for the first time at the Speedway on Saturday afternoon, March 6.
The Daytona Supercross By Honda has traditionally been held on a Saturday afternoon in the tri-oval grass while the Daytona 200 By Arai has been contested on a Sunday afternoon on Daytona International Speedway's historic 3.56-mile road course.
Other changes to the Daytona 200 Week schedule include:
* The AMA HotShoe Series and the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship races, traditionally held on Friday and Saturday nights at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, will be moved to Wednesday night, March 3 and Thursday night, March 4 respectively.
* The Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship race will precede the Daytona 200 By Arai on Saturday, March 6 along with the much anticipated return of the BMW BoxerCup.
* Thursday's schedule will include Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, BMW BoxerCup Qualifying, Daytona 200 By Arai second-round qualifying followed by the inaugural Daytona Lockhart-Phillips Formula Xtreme race and the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock event.
* Wednesday's schedule will include Daytona 200 By Arai practice and first-round qualifying, Lockhart-Phillips Formula Xtreme qualifying and Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock qualifying.
"We're thrilled about the changes to the Daytona 200 Week schedule," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "We feel these improvements to the schedule will enhance our fans' experiences at our facility. Moving the Supercross to Friday night is going to create an electric atmosphere for both fans and competitors and scheduling the Daytona 200 By Arai on Saturday afternoon will make it more convenient for our guests to attend one of the most prestigious motorcycle races in
America."
AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth shares Braig's enthusiasm. "Reworking the schedule so more fans can attend the races during Daytona 200 Week is consistent with our business plan to aggressively grow the sport of motorcycle racing in the United States," Hollingsworth said. "We're gratified to have been able to work with the folks at Daytona International Speedway to make this happen."
In 2004, history could be made in both the Daytona 200 By Arai and the Daytona Supercross. Miguel Duhamel, the 2003 Daytona 200 By Arai winner, will be racing for
his fifth triumph, which would tie him for most Daytona 200 By Arai wins with Scott Russell.
Ricky Carmichael, the 2003 Daytona Supercross By Honda winner, is currently tied with Jeff Stanton with four straight victories and will be gunning for a record fifth consecutive Daytona Supercross By Honda on the tough and demanding Gary Bailey-designed course.
Tickets to any of the Daytona 200 Week events are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/ or by calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.