NASCAR members in Daytona Beach held a news conference
announcing the sport is "backing a drive to increase
awareness" of leukemia and "encourage people to become part
of the national bone marrow donor program," according to
Sandra McKee of the Baltimore SUN. The move is in support
of Winston Cup Owner Rick Hendrick, who was diagnosed with
chronic myelogenous leukemia in November (Baltimore SUN,
2/14). The announcement was made by NASCAR President Bill
France Jr., Winston Cup team owners Joe Gibbs, Felix
Sabates, Roger Penske and drivers, including Jeff Gordon,
Terry Labonte and Dale Earnhardt (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/14).
DAYTONA NOTEBOOK: Bill France, Jr. is profiled by Blake
Fontenay of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. France, finishing his
25th year as NASCAR's President, is credited "with helping
to transform stock-car racing from a mostly Southern pastime
to a sport with national appeal" (ORLANDO SENTINEL,
2/14)....Among Daytona souvenirs, a basic Daytona
windbreaker runs $59.99, a "lightly lined" Dale Earnhardt
jacket for $139.99 and a wool-and-leather Jeff Gordon jacket
for $299.99 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/14)....The Daytona NEWS-
JOURNAL examines corporate hospitality at the 500. DIS has
38 corporate suites and companies are paying $40,000-120,000
to rent suites for Speedweeks (Daytona NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/14).
