The Daytona 500

Get ready for one of America’s biggest racing events!
極速賽車代托納五百 - 準備好迎接美國最盛大的賽車活 動之一！

On this day in 1948, William France and His friends officially formed NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Over 200,000 fans will gather this coming Sunday in Daytona Beach, Florida.
to watch the 55th Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest racing event. Visitors will hear roaring engines, smell smoking tires and witness high-speed crashes. Tops divers compete in this 500-mile-long race, reaching speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour.

A Close Finish
In 1959, in the first Daytona 500 three cars were neck and neck as they flew past the checkered flag. Since race officials didn't have their own camera, they asked reporters for photos to determine the winner. The photos showed that Lee Petty had won the race by a few feet! He was declared the winner three days after the race. Ever since, cameras have been installed at the finish line.

Gaining Popularity
The race was first broadcast on national TV in 1979, giving many Americans their first exposure to stock car racing. Thousands of new fans quickly became hooked on this fast, loud and dangerous sport.

The 55th Daytona 500 is about to start. Drivers and fans alike are eager to hear the race's famous starting line "Gentlemen, start your engines!".

Grammar Gym:
" ..... giving many Americans their first exposure to stock car racing."
"first exposure to" = "first time to experience".
Sarah's concert last night was her first exposure to performing in public.
Jason's first exposure to cross-cultural communication was when he went on a study-abroad program.

Vocabulary Tips:
stock car -改装车，把旧车加以改装成跑车。拼装车。
stock -陈旧的，老套的，旧的。
*Hundreds of people gathered at the finish line, waiting for the champion of the stock car race. 终点。
witness (v) - see and has real experienced.见证，目击，亲眼看到的。
*Several people witnessed the accident.
witness (n) -person who witnessing.见证人。
*The witness identified the suspect at the police station.
"neck and neck" -race,competitors are very tight during the competition, hard to say who will be the winner until end.. 并驾齐驱
neck -脖子, "neck and neck" -脖子和脖子靠得很近，意即比赛，选手们表现和成绩“很接近”，“很贴近”。
*The two horses were running neck and neck during the race.
*The two candidates were neck and neck during the election campaign.
"become hooded on something "-被某样东西迷住了。
hood - grasp, addict to, bond by it.缠住，勾住，使动弹不得。迷住。
*I got hooked on the music of this famous band.
"ever since" - since then, something happen, something is changed, made difference from before.
install - put something in place.
alike - making similarity between driver and fans.
"get ready for something" - get ready for your day (start a day), for work, for change, for test....
nation - not local, is whole country, nation-wide.

Language Tips:
NASCAR -the National Association for Stock Car Racing.
prohibition (n)- prohibit 禁止。
prohibition of alcohol,  禁止喝酒，year 1933取消禁酒令，人们开始从事私酒运送， 把汽车改装成跑车，以求快速运达。漫漫的，改装车运送私酒为赛车取代，year 1948 NASCAR  全国性的改装车赛车大赛正式诞生。


Taking notes of study "Studio Classroom".