Track hosts wedding made for TV

BY MARK DeCOTIS
FLORIDA TODAY

DAYTONA BEACH - Chris Daugherty, the most recent winner in the CBS TV reality series "Survivor," married his fiancee Lorie Groves in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday morning.

Daugherty, 34, a highway construction worker from South Vienna, Ohio, and Grove said they could have gotten married anywhere they wanted to, based on Daughtery winning "Survivor's" $1 million top prize, but holding the ceremony at Daytona was special.

"It's a dream come true, having the opportunity to play "Survivor" and actually win . . . Daytona, there's not a better track on the circuit," Daugherty said.

"It's the Super Bowl of NASCAR. You don't pass up an opportunity to get married at Daytona, especially in Victory Lane. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

As for his time on "Survivor," Daugherty said: "It was a terrible experience. But the terrible experience turned out."

NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Mark Martin, the favorite of the couple, acted as honorary best man.

In fact, the bride bought a new special edition Ford truck from Martin's dealership in his hometown of Batesville, Ark., before the wedding.

Martin, a resident of Daytona Beach, said he considered it an honor to be involved.

"It just reminded me of our commitment," Martin said of his marriage to wife Arlene. "It was perfect because the IROC cars were running and every time they came by, instead of that being an irritation, that was exactly what they wanted. I'm so happy to be a part of it. It's really an honor. It shows you the commitment that the fans have to the sport and the love they have for racing. I think it's neat."