NASCAR® THUNDER, The 50th Running of the DAYTONA 500®


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NASCAR® THUNDER

The race is off! Fireworks burst on the horizon as countless spectators roar and overhead six Thunderbirds tear through the dancing clouds. In the foreground, 43 mighty race cars thunder by as “The King” himself, Richard Petty, waves the green flag for the start of the 50th Running of the DAYTONA 500®. As I stand at my trackside easel, painting furiously, the electricity and spectacle of the moment is almost overwhelming.

In my Studio Masterwork release of the “Great American Race” I have tried to capture the power of the starting moment, while paying tribute to the history of this one-of-a-kind NASCAR® event. On Pit Road you’ll find a parade of vintage race cars that once roared along the track, while grandstands overflow with fans of all generations, including a few familiar faces you might discover. I have always believed that a painting can capture the pageantry and energy of historic events like no other medium, and my goal as I painted NASCAR® THUNDER The 50th Running of the DAYTONA 500® was to document this classic event for race fans everywhere.

1. Thom has included 50 N’s in NASCAR® THUNDER, The 50th Running of the DAYTONA 500® as tribute to his love for his wife Nanette.

2. In the 50th running of the DAYTONA 500®, Ryan Newman passed Tony Stewart on the last lap, to win the most anticipated event in racing history and hoist the gold Harley J. Earl trophy in the air.

3. Thom has included some special friends in this release — is that Thomas and Nanette Kinkade? Whose cars are those on Pit Road? And can you find the famous drivers in the stands?

4. On February 17, 2008, Daytona International Speedway hosted the most anticipated event in racing history: The 50thRunning of the DAYTONA 500®. Forty-three cars participated, the 24 living DAYTONA 500® Champions served as Grand Marshals. The first DAYTONA 500® was hosted on February 22, 1959.

5. The DAYTONA 500® is known as “The Great American Race,” and traditionally hosts a sell out crowd. NASCAR® events typically add $100-$200 million to local and regional economies and have larger crowds than major baseball, basketball and football sporting events combined! It is televised weekly in more than 150 countries around the world in over 30 different languages.

         

Daytona 500 logo is a registered trademark owned by International Speedway, Inc. and licensed to International Speedway Corporation. NASCAR® is a registered trademark of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.