Two Very Different Daytona Speedway Headlines Today (Edited w/Links)

When I woke up this morning, the headline read ...

"COKE MUSCLES OUT PEPSI AT DAYTONA AND OTHER TRACKS"

I was so excited!

I couldn't wait to blog about it!

It is too bad that the fans who had just attended the recent Pepsi 400 on 7/7/07 didn't know it was to be the final Pepsi 400, I bet all the memorabilia from that race will become hot items for the NASCAR COLLECTORS.  

Why am I so excited? 

1. I work at the Coca Cola Speed Experience during the Daytona 500, this will make our event bigger!
2. There are more Coca Cola sponsored cars in NASCAR then Pepsi
3. I love Coca Cola products!

But, then, just a couple hours later.. a phone call came in to the office..

A plane had crashed into a Sanford home..  At least 3 people injured.. Seeing the horrific photos I was amazed they were only injured.

It wasn't much longer before we learned 5 had died due to the crash, one person killed, was Dr. Bruce Kennedy. Dr. Kennedy is the husband of Lesa France Kennedy, daughter of Bill France JR who had just passed away last month.

Lesa France Kennedy is the Vice President of the International Speedway Corp. Her grandfather, Bill France SR, was basically the one who founded NASCAR.

The plane twin engine Cessna 310 was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc., a company registered under the late Mr. France's name.

For a day that began on such a high note for the folks at that Daytona International Speedway, things had taken a horrible turn so fast.

An adult and two children on the ground also lost their lives.

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who lost their lives or loved ones in this horrific accident today.