From The News-Journal, 2/18/04:
http://www.n-jcenter.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/03NewsHEAD02021704.htm
NASCAR apologizes to fans for inconveniences during presidential visit
By ANDREW LYONS and SUZANNE KRIDNER-WYMES
Staff Writers
16 February 2004
DAYTONA BEACH --
Race fans say the commander in chief took command of their seats.
Some Daytona 500 attendees seated near President Bush's suite Sunday
complained they couldn't return to the grandstands after using the
bathroom, grabbing a soda or buying a T-shirt.
Daytona International Speedway officials responded Monday by placing a
formal apology on the track's Web site for any inconveniences fans
faced while Bush met NASCAR drivers, posed with military personnel and
gave television and radio interviews.
"We want to get (fans) in their seats as soon as possible to enjoy the
experience," Speedway spokesman David Talley said.
"Unfortunately, we were doing exactly what the Secret Service asked,
and that was holding people up until the president was done."
A group of 75 employees from Bright House Networks were asked to move
to another suite Sunday to make room for the president, but a company
spokesman said no one minded.
"It was kind of honor that our suite was where he wanted to take in
the race," said spokesman Brian Craven.
But Dave Reynolds minded.
He just wanted to buy some souvenirs.
After leaving his DePalma Grandstand seat and getting a pass to
return, he wasn't allowed back for 45 minutes.
"No one told me they were going to close the gate when I went out,"
said Reynolds of Sterling, Ill., who returned to the track for
Monday's rain-delayed Busch 300.
A spokesman with the United States Secret Service said Monday he was
unaware of the complaints and declined comment.
Other fans were irked by gridlocked streets and closed parking lots.
Talley said about 7,500 vehicles were parked Sunday in Lot 10 at
Williamson Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue but wet ground forced the
remainder of the cars to be diverted to Lot 7, north of the Speedway
on Clyde Morris and Bill France boulevards.
Joe Demarchi of South Windham, Conn., said his group drove for 5 1/2
hours Sunday after the race to reach their Sanford hotel.
They had parked near a convenience store on Fentress Boulevard, just
north of International Speedway Boulevard, and after the race were
diverted around the area, finally reaching Interstate 4 about three
hours later.
It then took another two hours to reach Sanford.
Demarchi, who's been coming to the Speedway since 1999, said Sunday
night's traffic was the worst he'd seen.
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Bush got his photo-op. But he may have lost some votes in the process.
Harry
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