NASCAR Bucket List: Tour the Daytona Speedway

Dawn Zinsmaster, manager of public relations for the Daytona International Speedway, said that an extensive $400 million renovation in 2016 provides fans with even more to look forward to.

"I think what fans are both most excited about and surprised to see is the re-creation of [NASCAR founder] Bill France Sr.'s office from the 1960s," Zinsmaster says. "It includes actual items from France's original office at the Speedway, laid out exactly how he had them."

VIP Tour

The office display is part of the ISC Archives and Research Center, which can be visited as part of the Speedway's three-hour VIP Tour. Although the center is primarily a research facility, it features several fan-friendly displays, including:

• A garage that houses the Pontiac that Marvin Panch drove to victory in the 1961 Daytona 500.
• "Earnhardt Corner," which boasts a large collection of memorabilia and photos of the Earnhardt family.
• A full-size replica of the Bluebird 3 car that Sir Malcolm Campbell drove on the sands of Ormond and Daytona Beach in the mid-1930s as he pursued the world land speed record.
• The 1967 Pontiac Firebird that paced the Daytona 500, which is signed by racing legends such as Davey Allison, Richard Petty, and Junior Johnson.

In addition to the France exhibit, other exciting aspects of the VIP Tour include a visit to the Houston Lawing Press Box that overlooks the stadium and a close-up look at the current champion Daytona 500 car. Zinsmaster says the VIP tour is just one of three different tour experiences offered to suit exactly what you're looking for.

Speedway & All-Access Tours

The shortest tour offered is the 30-minute Speedway Tour, which takes you on a tram through turns three and four before you reach your final destination. The end is the podium in Gatorade Victory Lane, where you can take your photo next to the current year's winner of the Daytona 500.

The 90-minute All-Access Tour is the most popular, and it operates on a first-come, first-served basis that does not offer advanced ticket sales. Tickets for the day's tours go on sale at 9 a.m., and the tour route is determined based on track and weather activity. Enjoy a visit to the start and finish line, ride down pit road to see the pit stalls up-close and personal, visit a media deadline room, and take a photo at Gatorade Victory Lane. You also get to ride one of the more than 40 escalators that take you to the new front stretch stadium and provide you with an extraordinary view of the infield.

Richard Petty Driving Experience

To get more hands on, sign up for the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which puts you inside an actual NASCAR vehicle. Different packages are offered for various levels of skill or ability. These include the Ride Along that lets you ride shotgun with a professional racing instructor doing hot laps around the track. Or choose the three-hour Rookie experience that gives you a true NASCAR experience behind the wheel and culminates in an eight-minute timed race.

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

After taking a tour, spend time visiting the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA), a showcase that moved to the Speedway from its previous location in Novi, Michigan. The MSHFA offers displays that celebrate all forms of motorsports, from stock and sports cars to open-wheel racing to motorcycles, powerboats, and aviation.

Filled with classic machines as well as bronze sculptures of the more than 200 inductees into the MSHFA, it’s also home to the Robert E. Petersen Theatre and the Robert E. Petersen Tribute Room. Both were named for the founder of Petersen Publishing Company, which changed the automotive sporting world with such publications as Hot Rod, Motor Trend, and more.

Plan Ahead

Regardless of whether you are visiting Daytona International Speedway during a race event or touring the track in between races, there is plenty to keep a race fan entertained.

If you're planning a visit during non-event times, make sure that the tour you're interested in is being offered on the day you plan to visit. During event times, Zinsmaster suggests downloading the Speedway's mobile app to make the experience more seamless and enjoyable.

"It lets you do everything from dropping a pin to remember where you parked your car, to navigating the stadium to finding out what opportunities like concerts and autograph sessions are going on and when."

Finally, wrap up your visit with a stop at the Fanatics Pit Stop to stock up on great NASCAR merchandise to go with your newly minted memories.

What NASCAR tour is at the top of your bucket list? Let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook page.