Busch Light Pairing Up Singles For A Lap Around Daytona For High-Speed “Speed Dating” Event Ahead Of Daytona 500

Ever been on a first date that seemed like it just wouldn't end? It's rough out there these days. It's been a long time since I've been on a first date, but the thought of scrolling on dating apps, making conversation, meeting up for a date and then possibly sitting at a bar or restaurant for hours with someone you have no connection with just sounds miserable. But if you could get the whole date over with in 100 seconds? That sounds perfect to me. Busch Light is offering up that opportunity to help eight lucky singles try to find love this Valentine's Day in what may be the world's fastest speed dating event. Ahead of the Daytona 500, which is scheduled for February 16, Busch Light is hosting their "DATE-TONA" event, which will pair up the singles for a lap around the high banks of the most famous superspeedway in NASCAR. The couples will have the opportunity to get to know each other at 180 mph, and then get to attend the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season opener together to see if the sparks truly are flying. Speaking about the event, head of marketing for Busch at Anheuser-Busch Krystyn Stowe said the brand is excited to help singles bond over their shared passions: “We love a burnout in victory lane, but dating app burnout is a real bummer. So, when we learned that the majority of young adults are seeking IRL opportunities to find romance, we tapped our partners at NASCAR and created the high-octane speed dating experience that is DATE-TONA. Busch Light believes in the power of connecting over shared passions and cold beer, plus we’ve got a strong track record at helping our fans find love. In 2023, we married two superfans during a 10-second NASCAR pit stop in Las Vegas, and this year, we’re taking it back to the starting line to create an unforgettable opportunity for our fans to spark a love connection.” Of course Busch Light and NASCAR have a long history together, with the iconic beer brand serving as the primary sponsor for the #1 car of Ross Chastain for Trackhouse Racing. And in 2023, during Kevin Harvick's final season in the Cup Series while driving the Busch Light car, the brand performed the world's fastest wedding during one of Harvick's pit stops at a race in Las Vegas. As a NASCAR fan, it's pretty cool to see sponsors do unique activations like this to get fans excited and involved in the sport. Back when I first started watching the sport, I loved seeing Dale Jarrett in those "drive the truck" commercials when he was sponsored by UPS, and you couldn't walk into a gas station without seeing a cardboard cutout of one of the Coke family of drivers greeting you. It seems like a lot of sponsors have backed away from doing things like that, but Busch Light has been one of the best at promoting NASCAR to their audience through their sponsorship with Harvick until his retirement, and now with Ross Chastain. Of course with something like DATE-TONA, everybody wins - especially the couples who don't have to sit through an awkward first date and make small talk to figure out if there's truly a connection.