Dale Earnhardt, Sr. lost life on last lap of 2001 Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH -- Having won the pole for Sunday's Daytona 500, rookie driver Austin Dillon is no joke when it comes to bringing out the No. 3, emblazoned on the side of a Ricard Childress car for the first time since Dale Earnhardt's tragic death on the super speedway a dozen years ago in the Great American Race.

Dillon, the rookie driver and Childress' grandson, is no fluke. He was the Nationwide Champion in the junior NASCAR circuit last season. He turned a lap of 45.914 seconds or 196.019 mph in the DOW Chevrolet on the 2.5 mile track on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. Joining him on the front row is Martin Truex.

The field for the Daytona 500 will be set after Thursday's running of the Budweiser Dual races at Daytona.

For Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who finished second in the 2001 Daytona 500, where his dad lost his life when he slammed into the retaining wall off turn 4 of the final lap when he was bumped from behind by Sterling Marlon, Dillion's showing in the upcoming Daytona 500 is bittersweet.

“It’s a symbol for my father and that stylized number and that flag is a symbol to him,’’ said the 39-year-old Earnhardt Jr., who came back in the July race that year to win and then winning the 2004 Daytona 500. “When somebody raises that flag up over their motor home, or wherever they may fly it, it’s a way for them to show their support and their fandom for my father.’’

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Winter weather in Atlanta hurt flights here, but increased fan travel interest in Rolex race had positive impact on travel

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DAYTONA BEACH -- Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport increased 1 percent in January compared with January of last year, Volusia County officials saids. During January, 44,605 passengers flew in and out of the county-operated airport.

This compares with 44,170 travelers recorded in January, 2013. For the 12 months ending in January, traffic increased 4 percent to 608,412.

Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart caught up in wrecks

Photo for Headline Surfer® / Denny Hamlin celebrates his win in Saturday night's Sprint Unlimited, kicking off Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, which will be capped by the Daytona 500 a week from Sunday.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Denny Hamlin managed to avoid the carnage that collected some of NASCAR's big name drivers -- Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Tony Stewart -- to take the checkered flag for the Sprint Unlimited tonight under the lights at Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR video / Headline Surfer® /

DAYTONA BEACH -- Without a doubt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. remains the most popular driver in NASCAR, and why not?

The son of racing legend Dale Earnhardt has finished second in the last two Daytona 500 races, along with a win in the big race in 2004, and he's among the drivers expected to be there when the while flag is drop to signify one lap to go a week from Sunday.

Could this be the breakout season for Earnhardt to finally get that first Spring Cup championship? Junior, of course, is always optimistic ands his chances are as good as any, especially as one of the drivers for Hendrick Motorsports.

Earnhardt is one of the drivers in tonights Sprint Unlimited race under the lights at Daytona.

Earnhardt will be among the drivers Headline Surfer® will feature during Speedweeks leading up to the Great American Race -- the Daytona 500.

DAYTONA BEACH -- In advance of the Sprint Unlimited race tonight from Daytona International Speedway, Headliner Surfer® has uploaded the 2013 race from YouTube for your viewing pleasure.

This was the first race featuring the Gen-6 cars.

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Larry King and his wife, Shawn King, are part of the pre-race festivities for the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH - Legendary television and radio journalist Larry King will serve as co-Grand Marshal of The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona International Speedway tonight while his wife, singer Shawn King, will perform the National Anthem.

Shawn King will sing the National Anthem just prior to her husband's starting command, "Drivers, start your engines," which will be delivered alongside two race fans that will be selected earlier in day to serve as co-grand marshals.

Photo for Hreadline Surfer® / Recording artist loe Blacc will sing the national anthem before the gree flag is dropped for the Daytona 500.

DAYTONA BEACH – Singer, songwriter Aloe Blacc will perform the National Anthem prior to the 56th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 23.

Incumbent silent on growing advertising authority controversy and her role in it

Photos for Headline Surfer® / David Machuga is shown  in front of the historic Volusia County Courthouse where he filed paperwork to run for the dis. 3 seat on the County Council against incumbent Deborah Denys in the 2014 elections. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Citing Abraham Lincoln's "government of the people, by the people and for the people," David Machuga of New Smyrna Beach announced his candidacy today for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council against first-term incumbent Deborah Denys who finds herself in the midst of a media firestorm over her handling of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority.

Headline Surfer® photo by Henry Frederick /

A Port Orange cop car is shown at 6:30 p.m. near the intersectioon of Nova Road and Spruce Creek Boulevard in Port Orange as a rainstorm pelted the area.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Heavy rain pelted Central Florida with wing gusts reported as high as 50 mph plus lightning strikes, from Kissimmee in Osceola County and heading to the coastal communities.

The storm started during the evvening commute over Central Florida moving eastward over Orange, Lake and Marion counties and into Brevard, Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns Counties just before 7 p.m.

Headline Surfer® photos / The internet newspaper launched April 7, 2008 in New Smyrna Beach, before relocating to Lake Mary in September, now carries 'Daytona Beach, Florida' as its new home, a key city in Central Florida that accounts for at least a third of its day-today coverage. Shown at right from a year ago is Headline Surfer® Publisher Henry Frederick, with his Audi TT. Daytona Beach's Seabreeze Bridge in the background.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The city that is home to major tourism events like Speedweeks, capped by the Feb. 23 running of the Daytona 500, and Bike Week next month, collectively account for upwards of 1.5 million tourists.