Tile Contractors Experience Daytona 500 with Tile Outlets of America

Are you wondering how tile contractors experience the Daytona 500? Read on!

During the yearly Trade Pro Appreciation Events, Tile Outlets of America awards as grand prizes tickets to the Daytona 500.

We've heard such great feedback from past attendees that I volunteered (with my husband) to attend this year's event so I could document the experience for future tile contractors who win.

Tile Outlets Participates in the 2017 Tile Contractors Experience of Daytona 500

If you're not familiar with the Daytona 500, it's a 500-mile-long Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series motor race that takes 200 laps over three stages. The race is held every year at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2017 represented the 59th edition of the Daytona 500 race and we - along with the grand prize winners from the three Tile Outlets stores - were ready to experience this amazing event!

From the stands, we watched Kurt Busch take the race at Daytona International Speedway. We had the luxury of being in the Trioval Club with seats overlooking the start/finish line along Daytona’s famed frontstretch.

We were across from pit road and had a great view of the entire race track.

What you couldn’t see on the track you could find on the giant TV right in front of you.

The weather was perfect for racing.

Tile Contractors Experience Daytona 500 with Tile Outlets of America

Fort Myers Winners

Here are the winners from Fort Myers – Rafael and Susan Souza.

Rafael’s Dad Valdecio Souza from Valmarc Services won the tickets. Since he was going to be out of the country during the race, his son and daughter-in-law were excited to attend the race in his place.

They said it was more than they expected. What a great experience to sit in the stands and hear the cars zoom by so fast.

Sarasota Winners

Representing the Sarasota market were Dmitry Melnickenko from TLS Home Solutions and his friend Matt Henkel from West Coast Remodeling.

They had never been to a race before. You see them below enjoying the great race day sporting their race hats.

During one of the crashes I got a chance to sit with these guys and find out who their favorite racer was.

They wouldn’t share. However, I tried to convince them to cheer for my favorite Daytona 500 racer #88. I think I got a thumbs up on that one as you can see in the photo below!

Tampa Winners

Tampa winners Al and Shirley Gould from Gould & Sons LLC were just super excited to attend their first race at Daytona.

My husband Spence and I enjoyed the Saturday and Sunday races with the Goulds and they were just thrilled to be sitting in these great seats.

They had friends at the race, too, who would stop by to visit us during the wrecks.

Shirley was a trooper the whole weekend. She had such a great time watching all the race excitement and couldn’t thank Tile Outlets enough for such a great prize.

Highlights from the Daytona 500

Here are some highlights from the Daytona 500.

Before the Sunday race started, infield festivities included Lady Antebellum performing a few songs.

Jordin Sparks, actress and multi-platinum recording artist from American Idol performed the National Anthem.

Then, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flew over Daytona International Speedway and broke into an impressive formation at the perfect time. It happened so fast, I couldn’t get my camera out quick enough.

In this next image, you see the start of the race when you hear “Drivers, start your engines.”

Below you see me signing the Start/Finish line on the track.

Here I am with my biggest race fan, my husband Spence.

As Daytona 500 2017 Results: Winner, Standings, Highlights and Reaction detailed,

"Kurt Busch came out of nowhere in the final lap to win Sunday's wild 2017 Daytona 500.

The accident-filled day featured big names such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and others going into the garage early. There were eight caution flags over the course of the race, but NASCAR's new five-minute rule for repairs also forced several drivers to end their day without a chance to return.

Kurt Busch avoided each of the big wrecks and came through with his first-ever Daytona 500 victory despite leading for only a single lap. This unique effort put him in the record books..."

The photo below captures Kurt Busch spinning out on the infield after the race.

What an amazing experience!

Even though our favorite racer did not win Daytona 500, we will always remain huge fans. The day was filled with great racing, disappointing crashes, a big finish for Kurt Busch, first time winner of Daytona 500, and great company with the grand prize winners of the Tile Outlets Trade Pro Appreciation Events!

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Thanks for reading!

Kate