DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 28, 2022) – Having an event he can take his three sons to enjoy is important to Volusia County restauranteur Billy Hilger. Hanging out with Keegan, Devon and Bryson on Sunday after church, the boys were in attendance for their first race.
It was a sports crossover that had them psyched about the race, and Hilger was allowing them to indulge their curiosity as they explored the Daytona International Speedway during the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
“I think it’s just really interesting, and he works for MJ,” declared Devon, a Bubba Wallace fan. All three were quick to chime in on the real deal, basketball super star Michael Jordan’s involvement in the sport as part of team 23XI, adding NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin as a bonus favorite.
Hilger smiled, watching them as they described it all.
“We were very blessed to have a friend who blessed us with these tickets so we came, and we got the bug already,” said Hilger. “They’ve had a blast learning who the drivers are.”
In the customer service industry, Hilger sees NASCAR’s willingness to listen to their fans as part of the reason behind the continued success of the sport.
“They listen to their customers, their fan base, who breathe life into it,” he said. “It’s the American Dream to come out and watch an American-born sport that people still stand up for the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance, and honor our country for what it is.”
His stance was echoed by Todd Christensen, a NASCAR fan since the 80s.
“When I was younger I didn’t necessarily have a driver, I just enjoyed watching it on TV on Sundays,” he said.
Continuing to follow the sport into adulthood, he and wife Shelly relaxed in the 500 Club during the delay.
“It’s probably one of the most wholesome sports that there is,” said Christensen. “What other sport do you pray before you go?”
A Chase Elliot fan, Shelly’s father was a race car driver on the local circuit and she’s loved the sport since.
“It was very exciting and fun,” she said. “We always enjoyed going, watching him, cheering him on, getting our picture with him. It was great.”
“It’s always been a family atmosphere, even in the short track racing, dirt tracks, it’s all family-oriented, so it’s an awesome thing to bring your family and enjoy it. That’s what we did.”
Not the only ones to appreciate the family dynamic of the sport, the Kings have made the 400 race a tradition for over the past 20 years. Sticking it out in the rain on Saturday, it’s the tailgating, the time together, and long weekends that had help created unforgettable memories over the July 4th weekend, when the race was previously held.
“John Andretti won the first race we went to,” recalled Jen King fondly. “Then we kind of just brought the family along. As the family grew and spouses came in, children came in, it became bigger and bigger. It’s the experience of hanging out with family. This is the first time we came to this race since they switched it to August.”
As a team member of the Flagler Sheriff’s Police Athletic League, family values are important to Kerri Henderson.
Out to support Justin Haley’s team, Henderson said she became a ‘huge race fan’ after moving to Florida from Maryland in the early 2000s. She noticed an influx of new faces for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and says that’s one of the things she loves about NASCAR.
“You can bring your family here. We’ve been in the infield all weekend and seen nothing but young fans and we need that in the sport,” she said. “We need those young fans to carry this tradition on here in Daytona.”
Even Ralph Chastain, father of race car driver Ross Chastain, appreciates the family friendly atmosphere.
“It’s just a good sport. We’ve always been involved as fans. Now we’ve started out small time racing and somehow here we are at Daytona racing,” he said. “You don’t always get the results you want but it’s an honor to be here, a big deal. We have been coming here forever, since Ross was born. It is a family deal and we’ve enjoyed it and want to keep doing it.”
The Daytona International Speedway has become iconic for more than just racing, and whether it’s a NASCAR driver or fan taking note, the experiences it offers leaves a lasting impression.
“There’s something about Daytona. When you pull through the tunnel, things just happen here. It’s an exciting place,” said Coke Zero Sugar 400 winner, NASCAR driver Austin Dillon.
