by Sol Rayos

Created on: December 22, 2007   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

Speaking as someone who has been to both towns I must respond emphatically YES!

It's clear that the best thing Daytona has going for it is the beach and it's being ruined by the rest of the "Top 5 Good Things About Daytona." I know some will try and say something about the grandstand or the infield or the track in general being the best but those are fourth or fifth best. The list goes something like this:

1) Daytona Beach
2) Spring Break
3) Biketoberfest
4) Ponce de Leon Lighthouse
5) Daytona International Speedway

College kids, bikers, and NASCAR fans all flock to the beach in droves littering all the while. And all the while the lighthouse shines stupidly to guide their way. It's clear why the majority of people have the opinion of Florida that they do. The myth that only elderly people live in Florida makes sense because only the elderly have the patience to put up with all this (or perhaps it's their senility). The benefits to the local economy are far outweighed by the negative impact on the city. Look at another famous race city with a sordid past, Indianapolis. Their greatest triumphs besides shaking their image as a crowning jewel of the rust belt (ha) is the War Memorial Plaza which stands as a tribute to World War I veterans.

As far as Talledega is concerned there isn't anything that I can say that Will Ferrel hasn't already said via "Talledega Nights." Alabama has enough work to keep the state busy for the next hundred years battling it's history of racial injustice and it's close association with the negative stereotypes of southerners, unfair stereotypes which other southern states have worked hard to correct. To have to fight negative NASCAR stereotypes as well diverts the efforts of those from the "Yellowhammer State." Again not to say that being a fan of NASCAR is a negative because that simply is not the case.

In the end I think that should provide clear enough support as to why both the races and perhaps even the towns they take place in should be banned.

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