First Look: Summer Staycation Experience at The DAYTONA Hotel

The loud deafening roar of the NASCAR race car engines reverberates throughout the stadium as my heart beats faster and faster. Next to me is a NASCAR professional racing instructor, speeding his way around and around one of the nation’s premier speedways.

The NASCAR Ride Along is an experience you do not want to miss – and now, if you are staying at the brand new The Daytona Hotel, you can get this as part of a package for your stay.

Located just an hour away from Orlando, we were recently invited to experience a summer staycation at the newly built The DAYTONA Hotel, enjoy dinner at the property’s restaurant Sir Malcolm, and experience a VIP Speedway tour at the Daytona International Speedway.

The gorgeous DAYTONA hotel recently opened its doors directly across from the world-famous Daytona International Speedway, with a design and features that pay homage to the area’s iconic racing history. You can actually hear the engines from the NASCAR race cars from your hotel room – it is quite thrilling to experience it all.

The DAYTONA embodies the world of racing with a vibrant, sleek signature style.

The elegant and modern six-story Marriott Autograph Collection property features 144 custom luxury designed guest rooms, a full-service restaurant and bar, an outdoor bar & terrace, heated swimming pool, outdoor fire pit, meeting space, and more than 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.

Guests can experience historic Daytona Beach through The DAYTONA’s food and beverage programs.

At the property’s flagship restaurant, Sir Malcolm, guests will soak in the views from the outdoor terrace, overlooking the high-energy at ONE DAYTONA, a dining and entertainment district.

The DAYTONA’s bar, The Blue Flame, allows guest to step back in time to the Prohibition era with menu and design touches that pay homage to the famous raceway.

Named after the rocket-powered land speed racing vehicle driven by the legendary Gary Gabelich, The Blue Flame features more than 16 custom craft beers on tap and signature Moonshine cocktails in partnership with Sugarland’s Shine, the official Moonshine of NASCAR.

The property’s signature Moonshine lighting ritual is held at The Blue Flame. Moonshine cocktails are served in the original tins that were used to smuggle Moonshine during Prohibition.

Fun fact: During Prohibition, Moonshine was lit on fire to determine its drinkability. A yellow flame meant it was bad to drink; a blue flame meant it was good.

The hotel’s restaurant Sir Malcolm gets its name from the legendary British racing motorist Sir Malcolm Campbell who broke land and sea speed records – five on the track in Daytona. This restaurant holds legendary status as the hub of racing’s fans, legends and elite.

Sir Malcolm is a sophisticated, classic American restaurant with international influences, spearheaded by Executive Chef Jason Ward.

The contemporary menu features a whimsical twist on classic American comfort food while paying homage to a bygone era and the area’s iconic racing history.

Here Are Our 5 Favorite Menu Items from Sir Malcolm at The DAYTONA Hotel:

1. House-Made Corn Bread with Moonshine butter

2. Burrata Toast
Charred sourdough, tomato spread, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic glaze, key lime sea salt.

3. Sir Malcom Burger with FriesSugarland Moonshine tomato jam, pastrami crisp onion, block cheddar, sunny egg.

4. Butterscoth Moonshine Creme Brûlée

5. Dulce de Leche Waffles with Smoked Bourbon Ice Cream

Daytona International Speedway, located directly across the street from the hotel, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe, including The DAYTONA 500, the largest and most prestigious NASCAR® race on the schedule.

They also offer daily track tours and the NASCAR® Rookie Experience, where guests can learn to drive a real race car!

They also offer a ride along experience which we got to experience as part of a package offered by The Daytona Hotel.

For the ride along experience, we sat shotgun in a NASCAR race car while a professional racing instructor drove 3 laps around the world-famous track at top speeds, up to 175 mph.

I was super nervous at first at the thought of riding shotgun in a car going 175mph, but I ended up having such an awesome time thanks to my driver, Mark.