Rides are invitation only even though phones at blimp headquarters — the three U.S.-based airships are housed in California, Florida and Ohio — ring off the hook with people inquiring about buying a ride.
Flying a few hundred feet above the streets and shores of Daytona Beach, the Goodyear Blimp draws a crowd.
“It’s great to show the pack racing,” Fox Sports director Artie Kempner said, adding that he expected to use aerial shots from the blimp about 50 times during Sunday’s race.
The blimp offers a smooth ride even at top speed, creeping along at 73 mph — well below the cars pushing 200 mph on the track.
And where drones can be flown by one person, the Goodyear Blimp crew at Daytona tops 20 staffers.
