On December 13th-15th, 2019, CHALLENGEDAYTONA presents the 2nd annual CHALLENGEDAYTONA Festival at iconic Daytona International Speedway®, voted “Best New Race” 2018 by Triathlete Magazine. The family-friendly international multi-sport festival has attracted a star-studded professional field, which now includes one of the world’s most popular athletes, Lionel Sanders (CAN).
“I am so excited to be heading to CHALLENGEDAYTONA”, Sanders said. “I’ve heard so many great things about this race so I had to see it for myself. It doesn’t get much better from a spectator standpoint and I can’t wait to see how fast we can go on the pristine track! CHALLENGEFAMILY always puts on world-class events and I don’t expect anything less in Daytona.”
“Lionel Sanders is beloved globally. He has a massive social media following because he is extremely engaging with his followers. The world loves him. On the racecourse, he is an extraordinary athlete who gets palpable enjoyment from competition,” says CHALLENGEFAMILY CEO Zibi Szlufcik. Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile adds, “Lionel Sanders is everyman’s’ athlete. His willingness to share his unscripted journey with athletes makes him a fan favorite. Sanders is fueled by a showdown and that is exactly what spectators can expect to see at Daytona Distance Under the Lights.”
Sanders (CAN) and professional athletes will compete in Daytona Distance Under the Lights professional race format, which will include a two-lap, 1-mile swim; a 15-lap, 37.5-mile bike; and an 8.2-mile run—all within the Daytona International Speedway property. The entire course is optimized for viewing, with opportunities for spectators to get up close and cheer for their favorite pros midway through the swim, all along the bike and run legs, and at each transition juncture. The unique Daytona Distance Under the Lights race, exclusive to the professional field, will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 14th. The start time provides prime viewing for age group athletes competing in either Saturday’s Sprint Distance events or Sunday’s Middle Distance events. The late start is also designed to create an unprecedented sensory experience, as the lights at Daytona International Speedway—normally reserved solely for NASCAR racing, sports cars and Supercross —will illuminate the track at 5:30 p.m., just as the Florida sun sets and the pros speed around the track.
Anyone interested in participating in the numerous events offered at CHALLENGEDAYTONA —including Sprint and Middle Distance Triathlons (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run), the Junior Challenge kids’ race, Relay categories, Duathlon and Aquabike events, and 5K/10K run/walk events—is invited to visit www.challenge-daytona.com for more information and to register. The top six male and female finishers in each Middle-Distance Triathlon age group will qualify for entry in THECHAMPIONSHIP, to be held on May 31, 2020 at the x-bionic sphere in Samorin, Slovakia.
About CHALLENGEDAYTONA
Are you ready to swim, bike, and run at the “World Center of Racing®”? From December 13th-15th, 2019, Daytona International Speedway will welcome triathletes and triathlon fans from around the world to CHALLENGEDAYTONA. Named “Best New Race” 2018 by Triathlete Magazine, the entire festival of events will take place at the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, home of “The Great American Race®”—the DAYTONA 500®. www.challenge-daytona.com
About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of “The Great American Race” – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the “World Center of Racing,” boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training. For more information, visit DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com.
