Davis' Daytona Diaries: Seizing the moment

I knew this after the first 24 hours in Daytona: our access was limited.

Unless your name accompanied ESPN, MRN, PRN or F-O-X, you were confined to only certain places.

No press-conference rooms, no pit road, no hauler or garage access.

I knew something else too, however: sometimes you're going to feel an uncomfortable tug to take a chance and it's because you're in the right place at the right time and opportunity has cometh.

The day started as it did Thursday, with an early-morning jaunt by myself and Rebecca Cameron to the Daytona International Speedway.

(Want to see what it looks like in the pre-dawn hours? Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3JFZskYqXU)

After the sun rose, I went to the media center to get my fifth cup of coffee (but who's counting) and while in their, I glanced at an agenda for the day.

Joie Chitwood III, president and CEO of the Daytona International Speedway was giving his state of the track address: Daytona Rising.

There's a lot of construction going on around the Speedway, the intricacies of which I won't get into here, but suffice it to say it's a millions-upon-millions investment and will enhance an already phenomenal fan experience. Thus, a state of the track press conference (which as mentioned before we wouldn't be allowed to witness) was apropos.

I exited the media center and saw a man walking towards the ESPN truck to my left, so in my usual subtle manner I approached him and said, "who are you?"

"I'm Joie Chitwood," he replied.

"Score," I thought.

His hour, from 7-8, was filled with interviews