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Fans Narrow Star-Studded Field to 10 Finalists in DAYTONA 500 Celebrity Tickets for Charity Competition

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – When fans speak, Daytona International Speedway (DIS) listens. Some of the most passionate fans in professional sports have made their voices heard and narrowed a star-studded field of 46 celebrity designs to 10 finalists in the DAYTONA 500 “Celebrity Tickets for Charity” competition. Resembling a Who’s Who among sports and entertainment personalities, these 10 celebrities have edged out the competition in an online battle for ultimate bragging rights and now move one step closer to the honor of having their artistic sense immortalized on the most sought after ticket in all of motorsports – the 50th running of the DAYTONA 500.

The top 10 finalists, in no particular order, are as follows:

1. Kevin Harvick – 2007 DAYTONA 500 winner
2. Jeff Foxworthy – host of FOX’s “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?”
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 2004 DAYTONA 500 winner
4. Tony Hawk – extreme sports icon
5. Katie Cook – host of CMT Insider
6. Mike Joy – NASCAR on FOX commentator
7. Patrick McRae (age 17) – on behalf of Rick Hendrick
8. Derek Wynne (age 7) – on behalf of Jimmie Johnson
9. Marvin Panch – 1961 DAYTONA 500 winner
10. Mario Andretti – 1967 DAYTONA 500 winner

To commemorate the historic milestone of NASCAR’s most prestigious race on February 17, 2008, DIS launched “Celebrity Tickets for Charity,” a fun, philanthropic initiative that has

provided a platform for professional athletes, musicians, famous actors and TV personalities to showcase their artistic talents through their personal canvases inspired by the “Great American Race.” The response was overwhelming as DAYTONA500.com received an unprecedented number of visits from NASCAR fans voting for their celebrity designs. Voting began May 1 and ended June 14, 2007.

QUOTE FROM TOP 10 CELEBRITY HERE.

A blue ribbon panel made up of members of the NASCAR community will decide the winning entry. International Speedway Corporation (ISC) President Lesa France Kennedy, DIS President Robin Braig, three-time DAYTONA 500 winner Jeff Gordon, 1989 DAYTONA 500 winner Darrell Waltrip, and TNT on-air talent Marty Snider comprise the judging panel and have the responsibility of determining the look of the 2008 DAYTONA 500 ticket.

The winning design will be announced Saturday, July 7 at DIS prior to the Pepsi 400. Once the winning design is chosen, all original celebrity artwork will be auctioned online with the proceeds benefiting The Jeff Gordon Foundation, which supports children with life-threatening and chronic diseases.

Tickets to the 50th running of the DAYTONA 500 are currently on sale to the general public. To view the top 10 finalists, purchase tickets, or for ticket information, visit DAYTONA500.com.

For hi-res celebrity artwork, please contact Christopher Goodnight at cgoodnight@taylorpr.com or 704-201-5026.

About DIS
Daytona International Speedway is the home of the "Great American Race" – the DAYTONA 500 – NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race in America and NASCAR's Pepsi 400 – The Mid-Summer Spectacular under the lights. Daytona boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe -- from stock cars, sports cars, go karts and motorcycles -- earning it the title of "The World Center of Racing." For more information, visit www.DAYTONA500.com.