Juanita “Lightnin” Epton, who has worked at every Daytona 500, died Thursday at the age of 103.
Epton — whose name adorns the Daytona International Speedway ticket office — was behind the ticket window for the first-ever iconic NASCAR race in 1959.
“Lightnin’ Epton and her husband Joe were part of my mom and dad Bill and Anne France’s team from the early days of NASCAR,” NASCAR CEO Jim France said in a statement. “They were scoring races, selling tickets, and did every other job that needed to be done.
“She worked alongside our family from the very first DAYTONA 500 through this year’s 66th running of the race, bringing an incredible passion for the track to the ticket office every day. Lightnin’ was beloved by our staff, fans, and drivers alike. Our family will miss Lightnin’ tremendously and our thoughts are with her family and friends as we celebrate her life.”
According to NASCAR, Epton was hired by France’s grandfather the year before the inaugural race while the circuit was still under construction.
She joined her husband Joe, who served as the sport’s chief of timing and scoring from 1947-1985 and gave Epton her nickname.
“He always said he never knew when or where I might strike,” Lightnin’ said in a 2008 interview with the Orlando Sentinel.
“I am full of mischief.”
Epton’s career spanned all seven generations of Cup Series stock cars and more than 150 points-paying races for NASCAR’s top division at the 2.5-mile track, NASCAR said.
Her record tenure also spanned a multitude of historical events, including the civil rights movement.
Epton reportedly used her power with the car racing company to fend off racist customers who demanded tickets to a non-existent all-whites section, simply asking whether she asked for their ethnicity when they ordered tickets: “Well now, how would I know who you’ll be sitting next to?”
Shockingly, Epton didn’t watch a Daytona 500 race until 2007 — nearly 50 years into her tenure.
The Daytona International Speedway honored its longest-serving employee in 2022 by dedicating the Lightnin’ Epton Ticket Office in her honor.
“This place and these people mean so very much to me, I can hardly express my emotions at this honor. I truly feel so grateful to be standing here today, seeing my name become a part of this speedway. It feels so surreal,” Epton said at the time.
