Stafford Motor Speedway’s Joe Coss Wins UNOH Battle At The Beach Announcer Search
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The race fans have spoken and Joe Coss, announcer at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, has been voted the winner of Daytona International Speedway’s UNOHBattle At The Beach announcer search.
Coss will be part of the announcing team for the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach on Feb. 18-19, which will feature two days of racing headlined by three non-points special events in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified tours and the Late Model division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
For the past eight years, Coss has served as an announcer at Stafford Motor Speedway where his announcing duties have included coverage of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
“To be able to announce at Daytona and represent the Northeast and short track racing at NASCAR’s biggest stage, is an absolute honor,” Coss said. “It’s something that I would have never expected. It’s a real privilege to be in the position to announce at Daytona. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and I can’t wait for next February.”
In June, Daytona International Speedway invited short track fans around the country to nominate their favorite local NASCAR Home Track public address announcer to be one of the announcers for the UNOH Battle At The Beach during Budweiser Speedweeks 2013.
Nominations were narrowed down to 10 semifinalists who were then asked to submit an audition video and a pitch video. A committee of judges selected the five finalists based on the video submissions and nominations.
Between Aug. 10 and Sept. 30, race fans could view each finalist’s video auditions on the Speedway’s web site and vote for their favorite announcer.
Coss is thrilled to be part of the action during the UNOH Battle At The Beach, an event that he says is creating plenty of buzz among the competitors.
“Everybody is talking about the UNOH Battle At The Beach as the premier short track event of 2013,” Coss said. “I think that it’s going to bring the best competition, the best teams and the best drivers.
“Just as I am extremely excited to be able to announce at Daytona, they’re many drivers out there that are going to be extremely excited to be able to compete at Daytona. Here in New England, everybody looks forward to having the chance to race modifieds or the K&N Series at New Hampshire. Now they got the opportunity to race at Daytona and that’s going to bring a new level of prestige. The drivers are going to be on their ‘A’ game. It’s going to make for exciting racing.”
A complete UNOH Battle At The Beach schedule, including gate opening times, practice and qualifying race times for both days, is available at the UNOH Battle At The Beach event page.
Tickets for the UNOH Battle At The Beach can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
Fans can follow NASCAR on Twitter (@NASCAR) and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtags #NASCAR and #DAYTONA500 and #NASCARBattle. In addition, fans can also stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest for all the latest news all season long.
Sources: DIS PR
Event Schedule
Monday, February 18
8am NASCAR Garage & Registration opens
9am Grandstand gates open
9 – 11am NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Practice
11:10am – 12pm NASCAR Whelen All-American Series final Practice
12:10 – 1:30pm NASCAR K&N Pro Series Practice
1:40 – 3pm NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Practice
4pm NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Qualifying Race #1 (25 Laps/Minutes)
4:30pm NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Qualifying Race #2 (25 Laps/Minutes)
5pm NASCAR K&N Pro Series & Whelen Modified Tour Garage Close
5pm NASCAR Membership & Registration Closes
5pm NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Qualifying Race #3 (25 Laps/Minutes)
5:30pm NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Qualifying Race #4 (25 Laps/Minutes)
6:15pm NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Last Chance Race (25 Laps/Minutes)
6:50pm NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Driver Introductions
7:15pm NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Race (150 Laps)
Tuesday, February 19
9:30am NASCAR Garage & Registration opens
11am Grandstand gates open
11am – 12pm NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Final Practice
12:10 – 1:10pm NASCAR K&N Pro Sries Final Practice
3pm NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Qualifying Race #1 (25 Laps/Minutes)
3:35pm NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Qualifying Race #2 (25 Laps/Minutes)
4pm NASCAR K&N Pro Series Qualifying Series Race #1 (25 Laps/Minutes)
4:35pm NASCAR K&N Pro Series Qualifying Race #2 (25 Laps/Minutes)
4:50pm NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Last Chance Race (25 Laps/Minutes)
5pm NASCAR Membership and Registration closes
5:15pm NASCAR K&N Pro Series Last Chance Race (25 Laps/Minutes)
6:35pm NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour & NASCAR K&N Pro Series Driver Introductions
7:15pm NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race (150 Laps)
8:30pm NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race (150 Laps)
*Schedule subject to change