The race is off! Fireworks burst on the horizon as countless spectators roar and overhead six Thunderbirds tear through the dancing clouds. In the foreground, 43 mighty race cars thunder by as “The King” himself, Richard Petty, waves the green flag for the start of the 50th Running of the DAYTONA 500®. As I stand at my trackside easel, painting furiously, the electricity and spectacle of the moment is almost overwhelming.

I have always believed that a painting can capture the pageantry and energy of historic events
like no other medium, and my goal as I painted NASCAR® THUNDER The 50th Running of the DAYTONA 500® was to document this classic event for race fans everywhere.

~ Thomas Kinkade