Daytona, Fla. — Tens of thousands of fans packed the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway Saturday for the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

Masks were required in indoor spaces, but they were optional outside and in the grandstand.

It was the first time the speedway returned to full capacity since the start of the pandemic, and for many fans, the event was about more than just a return to the sport — it was the return to a community they’ve come to love.

Saturday, they swarmed in for a race that has become a time-honored tradition for many.

“Probably the last 10, 15 years we’ve been coming," said Veronica Clark, who came down from Jacksonville.

She is the self-proclaimed vice president of a little club she likes to call “fun in the sun with the crazies.”

Their little band came together BECAUSE of this race. Clark says, to be here with them, after a year of COVID concerns and restrictions — is priceless.

“We get to have ALL of our family, ALL of our friends over here, so we enjoy it," she said. "So with everything that’s been going on, just to be able to see everyone come together and still have a good time, knowing everything that’s going on with COVID and everything, we appreciate it.”

Kelly Fairchild says, after all the roadblocks COVID-19 brought, seeing the number of fans that raced in gave her a bit of a rush.

“It was a little scary at first to see so many people in one place, but everyone’s been kind," she said. "We have people wearing masks, some people not wearing masks. We’re all vaccinated, so we feel good, and we’re looking to enjoy a race!”

At the end of the day, after fellow race fans bond and fans from all over pack the grand stand, there’s the main event that keeps them coming back year after year.

“You can’t even explain it — to hear it. Even when you’re out here partying, and you hear the cars go around, it shakes your entire area. You can hear the cars. You can feel the cars," Clark said.

The NASCAR communications team told Spectrum News they didn’t have an estimate for how many fans were in the grandstand, but they said they're back to pre-pandemic numbers.