Being able to compete in the nighttime running Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Independence Day holiday classic (formerly the Firecracker 250 and the Firecracker 400)was something that most NASCAR legends never got a chance to do.

“To be honest, I would like that very much,” said 1961 Daytona 500 winner Marvin Panch. “I wish I was 20 years younger, not only for the lights, but for the money they pay now.”

Panch, who made seven starts in Daytona’s July race with a best finish of third in 1962 and 1963, admits the summer heat was tough on drivers, but not unlike any of the other daytime races he competed in.

 “It was hot,” Panch said. “We got use to it though because other tracks that we went to we’re just as hot in the summertime. What we use to figure on a deal like Daytona, we would probably lose about 10 pounds of weight during the race but then we would get it right back when we started drinking Cokes and water.”