DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA — Daytona International Speedway has begun work to replace its 1998 Musco lighting system with a modern light emitting diode, or LED, system, with portions of the new installation set to debut at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in late August. The full system is scheduled for completion in time for the 2027 Rolex 24 in late January.

The project, handled by Iowa-based Musco, comes 28 years after the company installed the original lighting at the 2.5-mile trioval. The existing system relies on reflection panels that are struck by external light towers to illuminate the track. The original Musco installation was completed in time for the summer NASCAR race in 1998; during Speedweeks that February, Dale Earnhardt turned laps under the preliminary lighting before the system was finished.

"The new LED system will provide enhanced visibility for drivers and a more immersive atmosphere for fans in the stands and those watching at home," Speedway president Frank Kelleher said. "The project will create new, visually compelling moments that drive fan engagement, elevate partner visibility and generate excitement across the sport," NASCAR chief operating officer Ben Kennedy said.

LED lighting has become the industry standard in recent years for large sports-entertainment venues. The technology requires no lead-in time before reaching full illumination and allows for a range of light-based presentations during events.

The lighting replacement is the latest in a series of capital projects at the track. Daytona International Speedway was built in 1958 and opened in 1959. In the late 1980s, the Winston Tower added grandstand seating above the start-finish line. In 2004, the facility added the FanZone to the paddock, which included new garages and an expanded RV area in the infield created by filling in roughly a third of Lake Lloyd. From 2013 to 2016, the Daytona Rising project produced 100,000-seat frontstretch stadium seating with amenities including escalators.