Florida Governor Rick Scott Hosts NASCAR Celebration leading up to the Coke Zero 400

A full contingent of NASCAR officials, drivers and racing legends, as well as International Speedway Corporation representatives, joined Florida Governor Rick Scott at the Florida Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, Fla., last night to celebrate NASCAR’s historical significance in Florida and its economic benefit to the state.

The list of attendees included NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France, International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR President Mike Helton and fellow Florida residents and NASCAR drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Brian Vickers, Joe Nemechek and Ricky Carmichael.  In addition, Joey Logano, 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne, and NASCAR legends and broadcasters Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace participated in the event.

Governor Rick Scott, who saw first-hand the impact of NASCAR racing when he attended the 2011 Daytona 500, stated, “NASCAR is a family, a group of people who really believe in our state and add a lot of economic value to our state. They [also] do a lot of nice things for our state with NASCAR Unites. It’s a real honor that the state workers contributed 19,480 hours to this great cause.”

Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III, also in attendance, commented on the impact of NASCAR racing to the state, “NASCAR is a big part of this state. Every year it has a major impact on Florida with their races here.  These two properties (Daytona and Homestead-Miami Speedway) generate more economic impact probably than all of the sports properties in Florida combined, and it’s nice to know that the governor appreciates that and he knows that racing is a huge component of the economic engine of Florida.  Daytona International Speedway hosts the largest sporting event in the state of Florida every single year so we’ve got NASCAR’s biggest and best event.  Then, of course, [Homestead-Miami Speedway President] Matt Becherer and Homestead-Miami Speedway gets to end it with the championship.  Florida gets the best of both worlds.”

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