DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona International Speedway sign was torn down Thursday morning after more than two decades at the racetrack.
The 57-foot sign along International Speedway Boulevard was demolished as part of the $400 million Daytona Rising renovation project.
Officials said seeing the sign come down was a bittersweet moment.
Photos: Daytona International Speedway sign demolition
"What gets me is every day, people stop at this sign to take pictures with it," vice president of operations Andrew Gurtis said. "Sometimes you have to say goodbye to an old icon, so today's removal of the Daytona sign is another step toward that progress."
The sign was first unveiled in January 1994 and stood for 21 years. No date has been set for a new sign to be put up.
The Daytona Rising plan aims to re-imagine an American icon, and Gurtis said the plan is in the home stretch. He said the project is pegged to generate more than 6,000 jobs and more than $80 million in tax revenues.
"In January there will be a bigger, bolder sign and a way for people to capture (that) they were at the world center of racing," Gurtis said.
The renovated speedway is expected to be completed in time for the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Daytona 500.