Speedway News (8219)
Keep up on racing and speedway news from around the US
Legendary Band Kool & the Gang To Open Miller Lite Carb Day Concert May 24
18 Dec 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonKool & the Gang, which has received countless awards for its chart-topping funk, R&B and pop hits, will open the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert on Friday, May 24, 2019 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Rock band Foreigner is headlining the show on one of the most exciting days in the Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, creating a legendary show featuring two of the biggest-selling groups in musical history. The concert starts at 3:30 p.m. on the Miller Lite Stage inside Turn 4 of the IMS oval.
Tickets are on sale now at IMS.com, by calling 800-822-INDY (4639) or 317-492-6700, or by visiting the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building. General Admission prices start at $30. Special Concert Pit access also is available for an additional $20, and a limited number of VIP Deck tickets are available for $250.
All General Admission and VIP Deck tickets include admission to the concert and to on-track activities that day at IMS, which include the final practice for the 103rd Indianapolis 500, the Freedom 100 Indy Lights race and the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge.
"Kool & the Gang is a great addition to our Miller Lite Carb Day lineup," IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. "Like Foreigner, Kool & the Gang puts on a great show filled with songs everyone knows and loves. With a fun combination of funk and rock legends on the same bill along with plenty of thrilling wheel-to-wheel action on track, this will be one of the most enjoyable days of the year for so many fans at IMS."
Kool & the Gang, officially launched in 1969, after performing for five years under various band titles, has influenced the music of three generations while becoming true recording industry legends.
Thanks to iconic songs like "Celebration," "Cherish," "Jungle Boogie," "Summer Madness" and "Open Sesame," they've earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.
From Nairobi to Newark, Kool & the Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history, and its bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made it the most sampled R&B band of all time. A reviewer recently called their performance "a 24-karat show" and every year, even after a half-century on the road, yields a non-stop schedule of shows across the globe.
The heavily-in-demand band has continued to tour the world, appearing most recently alongside Kid Rock, Dave Matthews Band, Elton John and The Roots and performing on a recent, 50-city tour with rock legends Van Halen.
In 1964, Ronald Bell and his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell, joined Jersey City, New Jersey, neighborhood friends Robert "Spike" Mickens, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith to create a unique musical blend of jazz, soul and funk. At first calling themselves the Jazziacs, the band went through various names - The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band, Kool & the Flames - before settling on their famous moniker.
Over the next several years they solidified their musical chemistry on the rough-and-tumble East Coast music scene supporting acts like Ritchie Havens and Richard Pryor. Their self-titled 1969 debut album introduced their signature instrumental sound and fierce horn arrangements and spawned their first Billboard R&B charted single, Kool & the Gang.
In 1969, Kool & the Gang released their self-titled debut album. It was the introduction to a theme, music is the message, that Kool & the Gang stands by today. The instrumental album was an expression of their deep love of music. It was also an introduction to their signature sound and the fierce horn arrangements created by Khalis, Dee Tee and Spike. Their debut album spawned their first Billboard R&B-charted single, "Kool & the Gang," and later "Let the Music Take Your Mind."
The band's stellar reputation grew with each album, but 1973's gold disc "Wild & Peaceful" took Kool & the Gang to another level (No. 6 R&B, No. 33 Pop), spurred by the immortal party anthems "Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swinging" and the platinum smash "Jungle Boogie." Hits like Higher Plane (No. 1 R&B), the classic "Summer Madness" (featured on the Grammy-winning movie soundtrack "Rocky") and LPs "Spirit of the Boogie," "Love & Understanding" and "Open Sesame" followed. The latter's title track was featured on the top-selling movie soundtrack of all time, "Saturday Night Fever," earning the group their second Grammy.
In 1979, Kool & the Gang unveiled a smooth new sound with "Ladies Night." Produced by the legendary pop/jazz musician Eumir Deodato, it became their first platinum album. The No. 1 R&B title track reached No. 8 on the Pop chart. It was followed by "Too Hot" (No. 3 R&B, No. 5 Pop). The 80s would see them dominate the mainstream, starting with the double platinum-selling album "Celebrate" (driven by the international monster hit "Celebration," which spent six weeks atop the R&B chart and became a No. 1 Pop single).
"Celebration," which played as the American hostages returned from Iran, remains de rigueur at joyous occasions worldwide. The smashes "Get Down On It," "Take My Heart," "Let's Go Dancing," "Joanna," "Tonight," "Misled," the No. 1 R&B, No. 2 Pop giant "Cherish" and the No. 1 R&B anthem "Fresh" (these last three from the multi- platinum LP "Emergency") solidified the group's international stardom.
With the explosion of hip-hop in the 90s, Kool & the Gang's incredible catalog of grooves made them DJ favorites. They were second only to R&B icon James Brown as sources of rap music samples.
Today, the group enjoys global fame and recognition and a following that spans generations due in part to the group's widely sampled catalogue. Kool & the Gang's drum beats, bass, guitar and signature horn lines lace the tracks of numerous artists, including the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Cypress Hill, and P. Diddy. Kool & the Gang is the most sampled band in hip-hop by far. The band's music is also featured on the soundtracks for "Rocky," "Saturday Night Fever," "Pulp Fiction," "Wreck-It Ralph" and countless others.
In 2014, the band was honored with a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award and in October 2015, in the town they sing about in one of their earliest hits, "Hollywood Swinging," Kool & the Gang was honored to take their place as American musical icons with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The 103rd Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, 2019. Tickets are on sale now at IMS.com or by calling or visiting the IMS Ticket Office.
IMS PR
Darlington Raceway To Celebrate 1990 - 1994 Era For Throwback Weekend in 2019
18 Dec 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonIn 2019, year five of its award-winning Throwback Weekend, Darlington Raceway will celebrate the 1990-1994 era of the sport for its 2019 campaign. The 2019 event will also mark the 70th running of the Bojangles’ Southern 500.
The “Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR” will be celebrated during the track’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500® and NASCAR XFINITY Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 weekend on Aug. 30-Sept. 1.
Darlington Raceway will honor specific moments and heroes of the 1990-94 era of the sport’s storied history, including the conclusion of 2010 NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty’s career and the beginning of 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Gordon’s career.
The track will also pay special tribute during its 2019 race weekend to Spartanburg, South Carolina, native David Pearson, who has the most all-time NASCAR Cup victories at the track Too Tough To Tame with 10 wins. Pearson had 105 total wins in NASCAR’s top series, which is second only to Petty (200 wins). Pearson passed away on November 12, 2018 at the age of 83.
“We’re excited to celebrate the 1990-94 era of the sport during our 2019 Throwback Weekend,” Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp said. “Many legendary drivers made names for themselves and the sport realized tremendous growth during that time period under the leadership of Bill France Jr. We will also celebrate the storied career of David Pearson during our race weekend, who was the most successful driver in Darlington’s history, as well as recognize the 70th running of the historic Bojangles’ Southern 500.”
For the fifth straight year, Darlington Raceway is also excited to announce it will once again highlight its rich history with a commemorative ticket design honoring Pearson and his history at Darlington for the 2019 Bojangles’ Southern 500.
“Even though we are highlighting the 1990-94 era, we felt it was important to pay tribute to David Pearson on our tickets because he truly was an icon in South Carolina who left a tremendous impact on Darlington and on NASCAR,” Tharp said.
Just in time for the holidays, Darlington Raceway has started the ticket renewal process with fans receiving an e-mail communication to renew their tickets and campsites early with the ability to print a gift letter when they renew.
Renewal brochures will be mailed in early January, but fans may log in to their accounts now to receive their exclusive renewal benefits. Renewing tickets early guarantees seats at the track’s best value prior to the opening of all remaining seats to the general public on Friday, February 22.
Renewing fans receive many outstanding benefits for being a loyal customer for Labor Day weekend.
Renewal benefits include:
- The track’s best value of the season for the Bojangles’ Southern 500® and Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200
- Convenient four-part payment plan
- One free admission to the Darlington Raceway Museum ($7.50 value)
- One free Lionel RCCA (Racing Collectables Club of America) Membership ($19.95 value)
- Complete set of 2018 commemorative “7 Decades of NASCAR” tickets
- All renewal accounts are entered into a random drawing for a chance to attend the 5th annual Bojangles’ Legends Breakfast on Sunday, September 1, 2019
- Special renewal pricing for Darlington Stripe Zone Hospitality ($30 savings)
- Special renewal pricing for all-inclusive driver intros, pre-race concert and pre-race pit road access ($15 savings)
- Special renewal pricing for an exclusive VIP “Untamed Access” Bojangles’ Southern 500® race day experience
- Fans can create custom “Weekend Ticket Packages” (Practice, NXS & MENCS) that can save up to $60 per person
- Guests may renew their tickets and campsites by calling 866-459-RACE (7223) or visiting www.DarlingtonRaceway.com/renewals. The renewal deadline is Friday, February 8, 2019
The Tradition Continues on Labor Day weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500® is set for Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. The NASCAR XFINITY Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 will race on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and on Twitter at Twitter.com/TooToughToTame.
Darlington Raceway PR
Homestead-Miami Speedway Spreads Holiday Cheer at Child Care Facilities in South Florida
17 Dec 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonHomestead-Miami Speedway employees were spreading holiday cheer on Monday as the championship track’s staff delivered presents to PATCHES Prescribed Pediatrics Extended Care in Florida City and to the Speediatrics unit at Homestead Hospital. As part of the Speedway’s annual holiday toy delivery – a tradition that began in 2007 – the track brought Santa Claus to each of the facilities to gift the wrapped presents to patients.
The Speedway staff and Santa began their morning at PATCHES, a non-profit organization which serves children with medical needs such as pulmonary management, medication and growth and development issues. Homestead-Miami Speedway donated more than 70 gifts to the children who ranged in age from newborns to teenagers.
The next stop was at Homestead Hospital, where Santa interacted with children in the Speediatrics unit. The Speediatrics unit is the only Emergency Center in South Miami-Dade County dedicated to children. At the unit, the children received gift cards and teddy bears from Santa.
The gifts delivered to the two facilities were donated by Homestead-Miami Speedway’s charitable arm, “Driving for a Cause.”
“We are always looking to give back to those who need it the most, especially within our community here in Homestead,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “It’s truly special to be able to bring a smile to children’s faces during the holidays, and this is a unique opportunity that all of us at the track have cherished for the last 12 years.”
Homestead Miami Speedway PR
Officials from Track Enterprises, the promotion company for the Terre Haute Action Track, have announced the 2019-season schedule for the 1/2-mile racetrack. The speedway holds several special events during the summer that feature divisions from the United States Auto Club (USAC) and United Midwestern Promoters (UMP). This year's schedule brings back all of the fan favorites from last year’s slate, including the World Of Outlaw Craftsman Sprint Cars and the AMA All-Star National Flat Track touring motorcycles. The Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds will again be a staple, running at nine of the ten events.
The campaign will begin on Sunday, April 14 for an exciting season opener that will feature the Sumar Classic for the USAC Silver Crown cars. Justin Grant was the winner of the 2018 edition of the race, fending off a field of nearly 30 challengers. This year's opener will also feature the Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.
The historic Tony Hulman Classic, a mainstay at Terre Haute, is set for Wednesday, May 22, as the first event for USAC's "The Week Of Indy". The event, held the week of the Indy 500 and the night before the Hoosier 100, features the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars and the Modifieds. Last season, Tyler Courtney bested Kevin Thomas, Jr. to take his first Terre Haute rifle.
Making a return to the schedule for a second year will be the motorcycles of the AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 22 and will see several different classes of bikes, making for an action packed night. In 2018, the fans filled the stands for the motorcycles and got to see an exciting show of wheel-to-wheel racing.
Event number four this season will again be the World Of Outlaw Craftsman Late Models facing off against the Summer National Late Models. After a couple years of the event raining out, Mother Nature finally cooperated last season and the race featured the best of the best, when it comes to Dirt Late Model Racing. Last year, young Ohioan, Devin Moran, claimed his first World Of Outlaw Late Model win, holding off Shannon Babb, Mike Marlar, Brian Shirley, and Kent Robinson. The Summit National Modifieds will also be in town at the Friday, June 28 event.
That brings us to the Vigo County Fair week race. This year, the rumble at the fair will be coming from the Pro Late Models and the Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds. The date is Wednesday, July 10. An additional division or attraction will likely be added to the show in the coming weeks.
Historically, the biggest event of the year, at Terre Haute, is the Don Smith Classic, held during USAC Indiana Sprint week. This year’s event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24. Tyler Courtney was again strong, claiming the sprint win, his second of the season at The Action Track. The Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds will again be part of the Sprint week show.
The seventh event on this year's schedule is set for Sunday, August 11. On the card will be the MSCS Sprint cars and Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds. After a streak of bad weather for the MSCS group at Terre Haute, beautiful conditions finally greeted the series for an outstanding event in 2018. 30 talented drivers were on hand with Robert Ballou claiming checkers over Chris Windom and Chase Stockon.
The Jim Hurtubise Classic for the USAC Sprint Cars is set for Friday, September 13. Brady Bacon broke Chris Windom’s Hurtubise win streak at two. Ballou and Windom followed Bacon across the line. The Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds will also race.
The season will again end with the biggest show of the year, the Wabash Clash, a two-day affair. On Friday, October 11, the USAC National Sprint Cars and Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds will be on track for the first of two days of racing. Then on Saturday, the World Of Outlaw Craftsman Sprint Cars make their return to the Action Track to race along with the Modifieds. The WoO Sprints came one lap short of going flag-to-flag in their 2018 return with Brad Sweet claiming the victory. Donny Schatz came up just short, racing from his 12th starting position to finish 2nd.
Fans, drivers, and officials are hoping for another season of great weather, much like the 2018 season. Nine of the ten scheduled events were completed with only the Friday portion of the Wabash Clash resulting in a cancelation.
About Terre Haute Action Track:
For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack). Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN. The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.
2019 Terre Haute Action Track Schedule
Sunday, April 14-Sumar Classic w/ USAC Silver Crown & Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds
Wednesday, May 22-"Week Of Indy" Tony Hulman Classic w/ USAC Sprints & Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds
Saturday, June 22-AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series Motorcycles
Friday, June 28-World Of Outlaw Craftsman Late Models vs. Summer National Late Models + Modifieds
Wednesday, July 10-Rumble @ The Fair w/ Pro Late Models & Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds
Wednesday, July 24-Don Smith Classic w/ USAC Sprints & Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds
Sunday, August 11-MSCS Sprint Cars & Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds
Friday, September 13-Jim Hurtubise Classic w/ USAC Sprints & Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds
Friday, October 11-Wabash Clash w/ USAC Sprints & Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds
Saturday, October 12-Wabash Clash w/ World Of Outlaw Craftsman Sprint Cars & Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds
Extreme Energy Solutions Announced As Official Partner of Daytona International Speedway and DAYTONA 500
17 Dec 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonDaytona International Speedway (DIS) announced today a multi-year partnership with Extreme Energy Solutions that will make the green-tech company’s leading technology and consumer brands the official all-purpose cleaner-degreaser and the official vehicle/engine emission reducing technology of both the “World Center of Racing” and the DAYTONA 500.
Extreme Energy Solutions will be able to associate with the Daytona International Speedway and DAYTONA 500 brands and receive additional exposure opportunities through promotional display space and corporate hospitality for all events at the “World Center of Racing.”
“We’re proud to align with a partner whose brand is committed to both grassroots racing efforts and an environmental mission in the automotive industry,” Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile said. “Both the DAYTONA 500 and the Daytona International Speedway are both powerful brands and we look forward to the opportunity to work with an innovative company such as Extreme Energy Solutions.”
Extreme Energy Solutions Inc., based in Sparta, N.J., develops, manufactures, markets and distributes technology that reduce impact on the environment while also providing a return on investment.
Extreme Energy Solutions is the proud provider of the SMART Emissions Reducer, a technology designed to lessen vehicle emissions output while increasing engine efficiency.
Extreme Energy Solutions leading consumer brand, Extreme Kleaner, the non-toxic biodegradable cleaner-degreaser, initially launched throughout grassroots racing community, and extended its market reach where Extreme Kleaner is available in over 500+ retailer locations nationwide.
“After Extreme Energy Solutions debuted its SMART Emissions Reducer and Extreme Kleaner brands at Daytona International Speedway during on track ARCA competition this past year, we immediately began to understand the benefits of partnering with International Speedway Corp, and Daytona International Speedway,” added Samuel K. Burlum, of Extreme Energy Solutions, Inc., “Our Company realizes Daytona International Speedway is great venue to share our company’s story; that of humble beginnings of a company and its relationship with a local Dirt Car driver-team; growing our brands together to arrive at the worldwide stage of Daytona. Clearly every grass roots racer’s dream and a true testament to the power of motorsports marketing.”
Extreme Energy Solutions is active in the motorsports world with a strong marketing presence in local and regional dirt track racing competition throughout the Northeast, the ARCA Racing Series and most recently the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series.
Tickets for the 61st DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17 and other DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events are available at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest news throughout the year.
DIS PR
With ice melting down the banking in turns one and two, the Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Winter Heat Series roared back to life for the second post-season showdown at Meridian Speedway. The mostly stock commuter cars of the Big Daddy’s Barbecue Hornet division anchored the action Saturday, December 15, with a 100 lap endurance race, while the full-sized, built in a day Bombers and anything goes Open division held their own slick track grudge matches.
Six Open division speedsters took the green flag for their thirty lap feature. On the break Monica Heath piloted her well-worn machine to the lead with Jody Moen, AJ Packard and Sean Young in tow.
Back row starters James Pahl and Jeff Matuska wasted no time working their way forward. Young was the first to fall on lap three, then Packard and Moen followed suit as Pahl and Matuska pulled into second and third on lap eight.
With ten laps gone Matuska made his move and dove low on Pahl for second. Pahl fought back on the outside as the runner up battle caught Heath for the lead. Matuska made use of his inside position and stormed to the lead. Pahl followed Mastuska past Heath and set to work on a way around the new leader. But Matuska was too strong and he sped across the Caleb’s Chop Shop Victory Stripe first.
Jody Moen and newcomer Austin Pattan started the fifteen lap Bomber dash on the front row. Moen was quick to the gas and rocketed to the lead while Pattan struggled to get a handle on his minivan.
By the halfway point Pattan found a fast groove, but found himself too far from Moen to mount a challenge. But a caution with six circuits left bunched the pack and gave Pattan one last chance to do something with Moen. But when the green flag waved Moen was off and she cruised to the Bomber division victory.
Eleven hearty Big Daddy’s Barbecue Hornets competitors packed their former grocery getters onto the quarter-mile oval for a 100 lap feature. Jason Harmon led the field to green, but it was Monica Heath who fought her way to the lap one lead. Heath’s time at the front was short-lived however, as contact on lap two sent her and Chuck Youngblood head-on into the front stretch wall. Both driver would retire from the race, which left Jeff Matuska and Sean Young up front for the restart.
Matuska got the better of the early restart and charged to the top spot, but Cody Garrett found the handle on his racer and blasted around the pack to take second on the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard. Sliding sideways Garrett screamed toward Matuska, and on lap 25 took the lead in lapped traffic.
At the race’s halfway point Garret held a comfortable lead over Matuska and a hard-charging James Pahl. Pahl made quick work of Matuska and by lap sixty filled the leader’s rearview mirror. Pahl ducked around Garret to hold the lead for half a lap, but got trapped behind a lapped car, and lost the lead to Garrett.
A caution flag with 36 laps left caught the field up to Garret’s rear bumper, and on the restart Pahl forced his way low to battle once again for the lead. Garret slung his machine hard around the high side of the track, but after two hard fought laps the young racer smacked the front stretch wall.
With parts of his car littering the front stretch Garrett assessed the damage as Tommy Harrod passed him for second. Confident that his car was sound Garrett charged back into the high line and flashed by Harrod to take back the second spot.
Garret continued his comeback run as he flew around the high side and caught Pahl with thirty laps left. But the strain proved to be too much, and with 24 circuits left Garret’s car expired in a huge cloud of smoke on the back stretch. This left the lead and the win to Pahl, with Harrod and Matuska second and third.
Kick your New Year off right Saturday, January 5, with the next round of the Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Winter Heat Series at Meridian Speedway. The low-buck, high speed Bombers, entry level racers the Big Daddy’s Barbecue Hornets, and the Open division rumble back onto the quarter-mile asphalt oval for their third post-season tussle. All-access pit passes for the full afternoon of racing excitement are available at the pit entry gate for just $15. Gates open at noon with qualifying at 2:30 p.m. and racing at 3 p.m. Stay tuned to meridianspeedway.com for all the latest news from around the quarter-mile oval, and be sure to like our Facebook page and text ‘meridianspeed’ to 84483 to make sure you’re up to speed with your NASCAR Home Track. We’ll see you Saturday, January 5, for round three of the Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Winter Heat Series under the big yellow water tower at Meridian Speedway.
Meridian Speedway PR
Speedway Children’s Charities to Distribute More Than $3 Million, Benefiting 820,000 Children
14 Dec 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonSpeedway Children’s Charities will distribute more than $3 million in grants to 450 charitable organizations across the country this year, bringing the total allocation amount to more than $55 million since the O. Bruton Smith family founded the nonprofit in 1982.
Funds distributed by Speedway Children's Charities chapters at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway totaled a staggering $3,020,000.00 in 2018. Speedway Children's Charities raises grant money through fundraisers including clay shoots, track events, holiday light displays, golf tournaments and auctions.
“I’ve always felt like what we do, the fundraising, may be the easier part,” said Speedway Children’s Charities Vice Chairman and Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith. “The really tough part is the help being given. We raise money and give it to great organizations that help children in need around our eight speedways throughout the country. We're blessed to be supporting these deserving organizations to improve our communities.”
Speedway Children’s Charities’ chapters use grants to significantly improve the lives of children who live near the chapters’ respective race tracks. Among the nonprofit’s far-reaching endeavors are aiding in cancer research, providing winter coats and backpack meals to low-income families as well as facilitating clubs that provide healthy after-school activities.
"On behalf of everyone at Speedway Children's Charities, we offer sincere thanks to our many sponsors, donors and volunteers,” said Maj. Gen. Chuck Swannack, executive director of Speedway Children's Charities. “Through everyone’s gracious assistance, Speedway Children’s Charities will help make the holiday season and beyond brighter for hundreds of thousands of children in need.”
For more information on Speedway Children’s Charities or to learn how to volunteer or make a donation, visit www.speedwaycharities.org.
ABOUT SPEEDWAY CHILDREN’S CHARITIES:
The mission of Speedway Children's Charities remains true to the ideals it was founded upon in 1982: To care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives. SCC provides funding for hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of children. Our vision is that every child has the same opportunities no matter what obstacle they are facing.
KEEP TRACK:
Fans can connect with Speedway Children’s Charities by following on Twitter or Facebook.
CMS PR
Darlington Raceway Makes Donation To Boys and Girls Clubs of The Pee Dee In Honor of Sgt. Terrence Carraway
14 Dec 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonIn honoring its continued commitment to the local community, Darlington Raceway was pleased to make a $4,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee on Friday, Dec. 14, on behalf of Sgt. Terrence Carraway.
Track president Kerry Tharp participated in a check donation ceremony on Friday at the club, along with Boys and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee executive director Neal Zimmerman and Mrs. Allison Carraway, wife of Sgt. Carraway. Members of the Carraway family, Florence Police Department and Boys and Girls Club were also in attendance.
“We are pleased to make this donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee in honor of Sgt. Carraway,” Tharp said. “It’s a privilege to stand next to Mrs. Carraway and the staff of the Boys and Girls Club to make this donation on behalf of a man that truly cared and devoted countless hours of his spare time for the community, the Boys and Girls Club in particular, which was an organization he cherished. We thank all the participants that attended our 5K event Presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors for supporting this cause and paying tribute to a great man who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Sgt. Carraway, a lifelong resident of Darlington and 30-year veteran of the neighboring Florence Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on October 3, 2018. He was a dedicated servant to the Darlington and Florence communities having been involved in a variety of community activities that benefited many residents, including children and teenagers.
The proceeds for the donation were made possible by strong support for the Darlington Raceway 5K Presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, which took place on Nov. 9 at the track under the lights.
Hundreds of runners turned out for the event with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee, an organization Sgt. Carraway was heavily involved in for many years. Darlington Raceway will look to continue the 5K event on an annual basis in support of law enforcement.
Sgt. Carraway was one of seven total law enforcement officers from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and Florence Police Department that were shot in an incident in Florence on Oct. 3. Florence County Sheriff’s Deputy Farrah Turner also passed away from her injuries on Oct. 22, nearly three weeks after the incident. The other five officers are continuing to recover.
You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and on Twitter at Twitter.com/TooToughToTame.
Darlington Raceway PR
After seeing South Lot Camping sell out for both race weekends in 2018, Martinsville Speedway is expanding the reserved camping area, by adding 23 more spaces for 2019.
The spaces, which will accommodate motorhomes up to 45 feet in length, are on sale now and cost $200 for the week.
“We knew there was a demand for more reserved camping, but after seeing it sellout so quickly for both events last year, we realized we needed to expand it even further,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “We are always looking for ways to improve the facility and to be able to meet the growing demand for large motorhomes is one of them.”
The South Lot Camping is located near Gate 17 off of Old Sand Road. In addition to being within sight of the Speedway, it is also convenient to shopping and food along Highway 220.
The STP 500 race weekend is March 22-24.
In addition to camping, tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Martinsville Speedway PR
Tickets and campsites go on sale Dec. 17 for two great weekends of racing at Michigan International Speedway. Don’t miss your chance to purchase tickets and reserve a campsite for all the non-stop racing action and the week-long entertainment at NASCAR’s Most Entertaining Track in 2019.
It has never been easier to purchase tickets and reserve a campsite at Michigan International Speedway in 2019. Fans can visit www.mispeedway.com or call 888-905-7223 to get the best deals. Grandstand tickets start at $39 and week-long camping starts at $135.
“The 2019 NASCAR season is quickly approaching and we cannot wait to welcome all the fans to Michigan International Speedway,” track President Rick Brenner said. “We continue to create special experiences for our fans and campers for the week as NASCAR’s Most Entertaining Track.”
The 2019 Schedule:
- June 7 – ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying
- June 8 – NASCAR XFINITY Series LTi Printing 250
- June 9 – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400
- August 9 – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice and Qualifying
- August 10 – NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200
- August 11 – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400
Michigan International Speedways continues to enhance the experience in 2019 after listening to feedback. Some of the new enhancements include:
- Season/Weekend Membership
- New Pit Road Acceleration Club
- All-You-Can-Eat Seats in Turn 1 and now Turn 4
- MISCAMPING.com Brooklyn Trails and MISCAMPING.com M-50 Creekside Campgrounds have the option of coming in on Thursday of race week
- MISCAMPING.com M-50 Creekside Campground will feature DOUBLE-SIZED campsites
- Free overnight parking available in pond corner
- Lower price on all campground overnight parking
- Variety of flexible payment plans with as little as 25% down
Fans will want to stay tuned as more enhancements to the race weekend will be announced soon.
International Speedway Corporation implemented a comprehensive ticket and travel protection program for guests with an unused grandstand ticket when the event is postponed. The ISC Weather Protection Program applies to all paid grandstand tickets to NASCAR races at any ISC facility that are postponed and rescheduled to a different date due to inclement weather. Guests will now be able to exchange paid grandstand tickets that were not used on a rescheduled race date for a future NASCAR event at an ISC facility. The unused grandstand tickets may be exchanged for a same-series ticket of equal or lesser value based on event and seating location availability.
Kids 12 and under will continue to be admitted free on Fridays and Saturdays and half-priced on Sundays in the grandstands.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will feature a new aerodynamic racing package in 2019 to bolster the competition. It will be similar to what was used in the 2018 All-Star race. The baseline aero elements of the 2019 rules package are a taller eight-inch by 61-inch rear spoiler, a larger front splitter with a two-inch overhang and a wider radiator pan that measures 37 inches wide in the front tapering to 31 inches at the rear. In addition, a smaller tapered spacer and aerodynamic ducts will be used. The smaller spacer will further limit airflow through the engine and thereby horsepower to a figure around 550.
The Gander Outdoors Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200 will serve as the cutoff race for the regular season. Drivers will have one final opportunity to make the playoffs in the truck series, adding even more intensity and intrigue to the already thrilling race at MIS.
MIS PR
