DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — An iconic tower that has stood at Daytona International Speedway for decades will come down in a few weeks as part of the Daytona Rising project.
The upcoming Daytona 500 will be the last major event for the Skybox, which overlooks the finish line. The tower has been the backdrop of live sportscasts and print publications for decades.
"It's iconic. I mean everybody, when they see it, they associate Daytona Beach, the Daytona track," race fan Darlene Hall said.
The original tower had an appearance in the classic 1990s movie "Days of Thunder," but it now faces demolition in March to make room for the $400 million Daytona Rising project.
"When that addition was made, that is what was raved about. People talked about the Sprint Tower, how great that location was. Now we're trumping it with the next evolution," speedway president Joie Chitwood said.
The Skybox used to tower over the old grandstands, but the new grandstands are just as high. Chitwood said they have special plans for its replacement.
"The first level will actually be open air. We have a patio with seats with it, then the next two levels are enclosed. Our press box will be up there, and race control," Chitwood said.
Most race fans said they are exited about changes at the speedway, and Chitwood believes that Daytona Rising will make everything more memorable.
"We tried to make it where you can't miss anything. We don't want it to be subtle. We want it to be bold and in your face, and that was the key," Chitwood said.
The Daytona Rising project is expected to be completed in 2016.