Top officials at Daytona Int'l Speedway said that they "are pleased" with the $400M Daytona Rising project, and are "happy about the feedback from race fans," according to Godwin Kelly of the Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL. ISC CEO Lesa France Kennedy said, “The team accomplished the goals they had which were to elevate the Daytona 500 brand. We want this to be the flagship track among all the NASCAR tracks. The team exceeded my expectations in every area. The real deciding factor (of success) was the fan reaction. We can have all these dreams and ideas, but at the end of the day, it is how the fans react and it was nothing but positive across the board.” Kennedy praised DIS President Joie Chitwood III and his staff "for their efforts in the nearly three-year construction project." Chitwood said that DIS "actually had three separate openings for the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports-car race, Speedweeks proper featuring the 500 and Bike Week, with its marquee Supercross and Daytona 200 events." Chitwood said that his team "would brainstorm on how to make the stadium work better for fans." Kelly noted those changes "were sometimes made day to day" during Speedweeks. The "crowning moment for Kennedy and Chitwood was announcing the Daytona 500 sellout well before race day." Kennedy: “The sellout shows that consumer confidence is coming back and it also was the reaction to the Daytona Rising project. I think people felt good it was a new facility and a new day. When you provide that guest experience, it all comes together.” Chitwood added, "We are starting to get numbers back from our fan surveys and so far the numbers are outstanding. People recognized the improvements and how it made for a better experience for them" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 4/16).
