Skip to main content

Daytona International Speedway to install LED lighting throughout the famed NASCAR track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Daytona International Speedway is installing LED lighting in and around the famed 2 1/2-mile track that is expected to create “dynamic, visually engaging moments throughout race events.”

In collaboration with Musco, the speedway will install LED lighting on mast poles around the oval and on the road course as well as inside the infield and on pit road. Emergency lights also will be LEDs, and the project will feature LED accent lighting that will synchronize with caution lights.

“The new LED lighting system at Daytona International Speedway underscores NASCAR’s continued commitment to reinvest in its facilities, enhancing the overall experience for fans attending events at Daytona as well as those watching around the world,” NASCAR chief operating officer Ben Kennedy said. “The project will create new, visually compelling moments that drive fan engagement, elevate partner visibility and generate excitement across the sport.”

The upgrade will deliver brighter, more consistent illumination across the facility, significantly improving visibility for competitors and race teams, enhancing the in-person fan experience, and elevating television broadcast quality. Additionally, the new lights are expected to reduce energy consumption by approximately 50%, supporting NASCAR’s goal of achieving net zero operating emissions by 2035.

The project, the first renovation at Daytona since NASCAR’s $400 million “Daytona Rising” overhaul, is expected to be completed in January 2027.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Between prices and a diarrhea-causing parasite, lettuce is causing hard times at some restaurants

It’s been a choppy year for restaurants that lean into lettuce. Lettuce prices rose sharply in the first half of 2026 due to hot weather in Arizona, where about one-third of America’s lettuce is grown. Now, restaurants are dealing with the fallout from a cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce that has sickened thousands of Americans. Taco Bell will likely see the biggest sales impact from the outbreak, which began in late June. Federal health officials first tied the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said customers in Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania were also affected. Taco Bell said on July 17 that it had voluntarily removed shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms from its U.S. restaurants. But its customer volume has suffered. As of July 23, Taco Bell visits were 21% lower than average across the U.S., according to Placer.ai, a market research company.
Read Next Story