- November 26, 2024
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Former Seabreeze kicker Noah Motto puts a field goal through the uprights at Daytona International Speedway. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
OneOnOne Kicking Camp Photo by Jeff Dawsey
How many people can say they’ve punted or kicked field goals at Daytona International Speedway? Before the ’80s, a lot of college athletes did, but now only the handful who were there Tuesday, July 11, can add their names to the list.
As a part of its summer camp, several NFL, college and high school kickers and punters —representing OneOnOne Kicking — spent the morning training in the Tri-Oval grass or “football field” inside Daytona International Speedway’s track.
Among those who participated in the clinic were NFL kickers Cairo Santos (Kansas City Chiefs), Caleb Sturgis (Philadelphia Eagles, University of Florida), Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers), long snapper James Winchester (Kansas City Chiefs), Ricardo Allen (Atlanta Falcons, Mainland High School) and Eric Metcalf (former NFL returner), Austin Rehkow (Buffalo Bills punter), Aaron Mize (NFL free agent) and Nick Belcher (special teams player of the year and NFL free agent)
Back in the 1970s, the Speedway actually hosted college games. According to a Sports Illustrated article in 2014 (Tim Newcomb, Jan. 21), Daytona Speedway hopes to bring the games back to its stadium, now that it has been renovated to host such events.
After experiencing the Speedway for the first time, I’m convinced I would watch a cricket match there. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t attended anything at the track, but I’m going to change that next season.
Daytona International Speedway sits over 101,000 fans in an almost mile-long seating structure that looks impressive, to say the least. I’ve always wanted to watch a sports event with a large crowd, and there are very few stadiums larger than this one.
I was also shocked to see the 18-degree banking at the start/finish line, and I heard there was 31-degree banking at turns. I already had a high level respect for NASCAR drivers, but now they demand much more respect from me, as I imagined them driving almost 200 miles around that track at angles.
Whether it’s a kick at a football clinic or field goal in a game, I think any experience in the “World Center of Racing” would be excited and memorable.
So, if anyone needs my vote of confidence, I say play as many sports as possible there!
