Mariah Carey to sing National Anthem for Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2003) - Daytona International Speedway announced today that Grammy Award winning artist Mariah Carey, the biggest selling female pop artist of all time, will kick off the festivities for the Feb. 16 Daytona 500 by singing the National Anthem.

"We're thrilled to have this superstar join us for the 'Great American Race'," said Speedway President Robin Braig. "We're honored to have Mariah. I know her incredible voice will stir the hearts of our guests and our competitors."

Since she began her career, Carey has recorded an astounding 15 No. 1 singles, two Grammy Awards and has surpassed the Beatles as the artist with the most cumulative weeks spent atop Billboard's "Hot 100 Singles" chart. In addition, Carey has become the only artist to top the charts each year of the 1990s with such hits as "Vision of Love," "My All," "Dreamlover," "Honey," and "Heartbreaker." Her new album "Charmbracelet," released in December, is topping charts around the world and reached #1 on the R&B charts.

In May 2002, the Long Island, NY, native signed an exclusive recording contract with the Universal Music Group's Island Records. She formed her own label, MonarC Music, which released its first studio album this year with "Charmbracelet".

Carey will perform for an audience of millions on Feb. 16. The 2002 Daytona 500 was the most watched motorsports event in the world when on-site attendance and television viewing households are combined. The Daytona 500's estimated attendance in 2002 was 200,000 with a television rating of 10.9, 26 share, equal to 11,551,000 households.

The 2003 Daytona 500 will be broadcast live on FOX.

Tickets for the Feb. 16 Daytona 500 as well as other Speedweeks events are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway Ticket Office at (386) 253-7223.

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