Daytona 500 Revs Up As Sponsors and Fans React to Uncertain Economy
Friday, February 13, 2009
By: David Pitman

February 13, 2009 -- The Daytona 250 is being held this morning at the Daytona International Speedway. It's part of a week of events leading up to Sunday's Daytona 500, the traditional start of the NASCAR season. The auto racing industry has not been immune to the recession. The Home Depot and Kodak pulled their sponsorships this year, and NASCAR slashed certain ticket prices, as an extra incentive to keep fans coming. Mel Poole is the president of SponsorLogic, and a columnist for the Sports Business Journal. 90.7's David Pitman asked him if turnout for the Daytona 500 will be a sign of things to come for the rest of the season.

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Tourism officials in Volusia County declined to respond to Mel Poole's opinion that it's "piracy" for hotels to require five or six night minimum stays during races.  We checked with a number of hotels in the area, and several have reduced their rates, and their minimum stay requirements for this year's Daytona 500.