"HOT RODS & REELS" CHARITY FISHING TOURNAMENT EXPANDS TO DAYTONA 500

 

NASCAR Fans Now Have a Second Opportunity to Fish With Their Favorite Drivers While Raising Money for Charity

 

Daytona Beach, February 17, 2006, The Darrell Gwynn Foundation announced today that it will add a second "Hot Rods & Reels" charity fishing tournament.  The new event will take place at the Daytona International Speedway during the Daytona 500 Weekend, beginning in 2007.  The charity event raises money for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation to Cure Paralysis and the Betty Jane France Pediatric Center, Speediatrics, at Halifax and Homestead Hospitals, and has taken place during the Homestead-Miami Speedway Ford 500 Championship Weekend for the past four years.

 

Tournament organizers will provide two spots on each fishing boat available for corporate or private purchase, with participants having the opportunity to fish with the likes of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Kyle Petty, Bobby Labonte, plus other leading NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers.  Previous tournament have also featured fishing opportunities with other racing celebrities including legendary team owner Richard Childress, and former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champs turned broadcasters Darrell Waltrip and Benny Parsons, among others.

 

The tournament will take place on the morning of Friday, February 16, 2007 on Lake Lloyd, the Speedway's 29-acre infield lake. Each driver/celebrity will be teamed with two guest anglers in their own bass boat featuring an International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recognized guide.

 

The charity fishing event will also include the Miccosukee Million, a chance drawing for a million dollars. The angler successfully landing the heaviest largemouth bass or peacock bass will then select from one of 250 envelopes, one of which containing the $1 million grand prize.  An official weigh-in determining the winning fish will immediately precede the prize drawing. For your chance to sign up please visit www.hotrodsandreels.com.

 

"We are thrilled to expand this incredible charity event to the legendary Daytona 500 and add another element of fun to this exciting weekend, "said event founder Darrell Gwynn." "Hot Rods & Reels" at Homestead-Miami Speedway has become a staple event for Ford Championship Weekend, where we have had great relationships with our sponsors including Bass Pro Shops, Sprint and the Miccosukee Tribe, and we hope to continue and grow them here.  The event has been a success in terms of participation, fun and monies raised for charity and we look forward to the same, if not better, results at Daytona."

 

"We're excited and proud to be able to host the Hot Rods & Reels" charity fishing tournament at the "World Center of Racing" next year, "said Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig.  "Helping to raise money for such worthwhile causes as the Darrell Gwynn Foundation to Cure Paralysis and Speediatrics is something we're sure race fans will support".