2024 DAYTONA 500 Champion William Byron Attends Champions Walk of Fame Unveil and Daytona International Speedway Unveils Lightnin’ Epton Tribute - Speedway Digest

2024 DAYTONA 500 Champion William Byron paid a visit today to the DAYTONA 500 Champions Walk of Fame at The World Center of Racing to see the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports for the first time since driving it to Victory Lane in February.

Additionally, Daytona International Speedway unveiled a special tribute wall in the Ticketing and Tours Building dedicated to long-time DIS ticket office employee Lightnin’ Epton, who passed away in May at the age of 103.

Epton was the last surviving original employee hired by the France family upon the founding of NASCAR in 1948. She joined the team at DIS in 1958, the year before the first running of the DAYTONA 500. The Lightnin’ Epton Ticket Office was named in her honor in 2022.

Byron also sees the No. 24 in the museum for the first time and what it means to have the car displayed at historic Daytona International Speedway.

Byron’s official Walk of Fame plaque was unveiled. The plaque features the driver’s hands, right footprint and autograph within a 3×3 cement block, all captured in February as part of the Champion’s celebration.

Two-time DAYTONA 500 champion, and longtime friend of Lightnin’, Michael Waltrip hosted the celebration in front of many of Lightnin’s colleagues, fans, and family.

DIS track president Frank Kelleher and DIS ticket coordinator of ticket operations and guest services Stephanie Koven also spoke on the influence of Lightnin’ on the DIS family.

Byron returns to the World Center of Racing on Saturday, Aug. 24, looking for a Daytona sweep in the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the penultimate race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season.

The weekend kicks off with the NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca Cola on Friday, Aug. 23.

Then, on Saturday, Aug. 24, just after a pre-race show from Lit that’s guaranteed to rock, the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 will see the field of drivers will battle it out for one of the final Playoffs spots in the penultimate race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season.

For more details or to purchase tickets to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Fans can also purchase an exclusive concert ticket package for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, which a reserved seat, admission to the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone, and premium concert stage front access. Fans can click here to purchase this exclusive ticket package.

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