KANSAS SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS
Address:
400 Speedway Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66111
Phone:
(913) 328-3300
For Tickets: (913) 328-RACE (7223)
Ticket Fax: (913) 328-3380
TDD: (913) 328-3333
Track Specs:
Superspeedway: 1.5-mile quad-oval
Banking: turns: 15 degrees; frontstretch: 10.4 degrees; backstretch: 5 degrees
Straights: Frontstretch - 2,721 feet; Backstretch - 2,207 feet
Attendence: 81,687
Opened: 2001
Website:
Kansas Speedway
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide - Kansas Speedway
- Kansas Speedway Signs Sponsors for IndyCar, Nationwide and IndyPro Series races: Time Warner Cable is the new title sponsor of the IndyCar Series race on April 27, which will be called the RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300. The Kansas Lottery has renewed their sponsorship agreement with Kansas Speedway and will sponsor the Nationwide Series race on Sept. 27, which will be called the Kansas Lottery 300. After a three year absence, the IndyPro Series will return for the Hard Rock 100. The Kansas Lottery has been a Kansas Speedway sponsor since 2001 and had sponsored the IndyCar Series race since 2005. With the move to September, the Kansas Lottery will now sponsor a race each race weekend.(Kansas Speedway PR)(1-19-2008)
- Kansas Speedway involved in Casino Proposal to State of Kansas: Kansas Speedway and The Cordish Company delivered their Hard Rock Hotel and Casino proposal to the State of Kansas. The proposal calls for the destination hotel and casino to be built overlooking Turn 2 of Kansas Speedway. "We submitted our Hard Rock Hotel and Casino proposal this morning to the state," said Kansas Speedway President Jeff Boerger. "We believe our proposal will increase tourism to the state of Kansas and also have a large economic impact on the city, county and state. We also anticipate the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will place an even greater national demand on our tickets at Kansas Speedway and encourage local fans to purchase their tickets now to enjoy some of the best racing in the country." The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino would cost more than $670 million, and include retail and entertainment outlets.(Kansas Speedway PR)(12-29-2007)
- Kansas Speedway Staff Brings Holiday Cheer to University of Kansas Hospital Children's Wing: Kansas Speedway staff was in the holiday spirit as they decorated the doors of the children's wing at the University of Kansas Hospital on Wednesday. About 20 staff members took part in the door decorating, letting their creative juices flow. Each door was decorated differently and not all had a holiday theme - the Kansas Speedway operations department made sure to add a racing theme to the wing. The staff also brought along goody bags with items from Kansas Speedway and the NASCAR Foundation for each patient and donated dozens of toys and books to the wing's playroom.(Kansas Speedway PR)(12-8-2007)
- The story of a hero: A year ago Monday, Susan Brown lay dying in a pool of her own blood. You see, just hours after Tony Stewart limped across the finish line to take the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway, two masked men with guns stormed into the speedway's vault and demanded what was inside. Only Brown, a detective with the Kansas City, Kan., police department, didn't want to hand over the roughly $1 million that was inside. Instead, she stood strong, directing employees into another room as a shootout ensued. Bullets flew back and forth. Several hit Brown. But even as she lay bleeding on the floor, Brown did not give up the fight. She returned fire and forced the robbers to flee – empty-handed. When they did, Brown was finally able to radio for help. "10-60," she said weakly. Officer has been shot. See the full story at Yahoo.com.(10-2-2007)
- NASCAR Statement on End of Kansas Race: Statement from Ramsey Poston, NASCAR Managing Director, Corporate Communications:“When the caution came out on Lap 207 the field was frozen. At the time of the caution, the #16 was in the lead and maintained a reasonable speed and was declared the race winner. There is no passing under caution. “By rule, cars under caution need to maintain a reasonable speed, which the #16 did. If it hadn’t maintained a reasonable speed or the car had come to a stop, then that car would not have won the race. In this instance the #16 maintained a reasonable speed, crossed the finish and won the race.”(NASCAR PR)(10-1-2007)
- Kansas races sold out: Fans have packed the stands to capacity every year for NASCAR racing since Kansas Speedway opened in 2001. It’s all a matter of semantics. Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger never likes to declare a sellout. But he’s happy to announce that no tickets remain for Saturday’s NASCAR Busch and Sunday’s Nextel Cup races. “We’ll be to capacity,” Boerger said Monday. Those without tickets for Saturday and Sunday can still attend Friday’s qualifying for the Nextel Cup LifeLock 400 and practice rounds for the Busch Yellow Transportation 300 races.(Kansas City Star)(9-26-2007)
- National Anthem at Kansas Speedway: Kansas Speedway announced that J Records recording artist Gavin DeGraw will sing the national anthem for the LifeLock 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Sept. 30. This will mark the first time DeGraw has performed the anthem for a Nextel Cup Series race.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-26-2007)
- Kansas Speedway & the Cordish Company Submit Casino Proposal: Kansas Speedway announced that it has submitted a proposal for a casino on property owned by the speedway. Partnering with Kansas Speedway on the potential project is The Cordish Company, one of the largest and most respected developers in the world with extensive expertise in gaming, entertainment & mixed-use, sports-anchored developments, retail, office and residential. The casino proposal was delivered to Unified Government of Wyandotte County officials prior to the 3 PM Central deadline to submit proposals. The initial development would cost more than $600 million, and include a casino, hotel, and retail and entertainment outlets. There will not be any public incentives given to fund this project.(Kansas Speedway)(9-26-2007)
- Kansas announces post traffic pattern for Cup race: Fans attending the Yellow Transportation 300 and LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sept. 29 and 30 can expect a slightly different traffic pattern from last October. Michigan Drive will be open post race for exiting traffic; however, buses and RV's will not be allowed to exit from Michigan. Fans exiting the track onto 118th Street prior to State Avenue will be directed south on Speedway Blvd. towards I-70. Additional traffic lanes will be opened on State Ave. east of 110th St. to expedite exiting traffic. There will be one lane of traffic just prior to 118th Street and State Avenue (Hwy 24-40) and continues to K-7 and State Avenue due to construction. Delays are expected in this area both entering and exiting the track. Fans exiting onto State Avenue from Nazareth east will be directed east to I-435. Kansas Speedway season tickets are on sale now and include the LifeLock 400 Nextel Cup Series race (Sept. 30), the Yellow Transportation 300 Busch Series race (Sept. 29), the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 Craftsman Truck Series race (April 26, 2008) and the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 IndyCar Series race (April 27, 2008). Sprint Fan Walk tickets for Friday, Sept. 28 are still available. Pit Stop Pub tickets for the entire weekend are available. To purchase tickets, call 866.460.RACE or log onto www.kansasspeedway.com. Parking is always free at Kansas Speedway and fans are allowed to bring one 6x6x12-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverages.(Kansas Speedway)(9-24-2007)
- Captain James Lovell named Grand Marshal at Kansas Speedway: LifeLock CEO Todd Davis announced that Captain James Lovell, Apollo 13 Commander and American Hero, has accepted an invitation to serve as Grand Marshal for the LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 30. The LifeLock 400 is the third race of the Chase for the Nextel Cup. "I truly appreciate the offer to serve as Grand Marshal for the LifeLock 400," said Captain Lovell. "This will be a tremendous opportunity for me to get closer to the exciting sport of NASCAR, as well as LifeLock, the company protecting my identity." Captain Lovell, a current LifeLock client after discovering his signature and social security number being sold on eBay, was chosen for the space program in 1962. Lovell executed various commands in the Gemini mission program. At the close of the Gemini program, Lovell became command Module Pilot and Navigator for the epic 6 day journey on Apollo 8 -- man's maiden voyage to the moon where he and fellow crewman were the first humans to leave the earth's gravitational influence and backup commander to Neil Armstrong for the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Lovell's fourth and final flight was on the perilous Apollo 13 mission in 1970. As spacecraft commander, Lovell and his crew successfully modified their lunar module into an effective lifeboat when their cryogenic oxygen system failed. Their emergency activation and operation of the lunar module systems conserved both electrical power and water in sufficient supply to assure their survival in space and their safe return to earth. In 1973, Lovell left the space program and became a very successful businessman. In 1994, Lovell and Jeff Kluger wrote Lost Moon, the story of the courageous mission of Apollo 13. In 1995, the film version of the bestseller, "Apollo 13" was released to rave reviews. Today, Lovell is president of Lovell Communications; a business devoted to disseminating information about the United States Space Program. Season tickets are on sale now, call 866.460.RACE or log on to www.kansasspeedway.com to purchase tickets. Parking is always free and fans can bring in one 6x6x12-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverage.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-19-2007)
- Kansas Speedway seeks to develop a casino on speedway grounds: Kansas Speedway and the Cordish Co. will seek to jointly develop and manage a state-owned casino on the speedway grounds, track president Jeff Boerger said Monday. “You’ll see our names on a proposal next week,” Boerger said of an upcoming first deadline for casino proposals to be filed with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. Boerger declined to disclose details of the plan with Cordish, which developed two Hard Rock resort casinos in south Florida owned by the Seminole tribe. Cordish also is developing the Power & Light entertainment district in downtown Kansas City. Boerger indicated the casino would likely be placed on the east side of the track complex northwest of the intersection of Interstates 70 and 435. The project would include other entertainment components linked to the track. Boerger said a half-dozen casino companies have approached the track in recent months seeking a partnership in a gambling and entertainment facility at the 1,200-acre complex. Kansas Speedway, which is owned by Florida-based International Speedway Corp., and Baltimore-based Cordish in May also announced a partnership to develop Daytona Live at the speedway corporation’s Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. That $250 million project will include a theater, a hotel, dining and entertainment options and a residential component. The speedway and Cordish become the first confirmed players in the coming competition to win rights to operate the one state-owned casino in Wyandotte County that is allowed under state law. The nearby Woodlands pari-mutuel dog and horse racing track also will be permitted to operate at least 800 state-owned slot machines. Several national casino companies are expected to also seek a state casino license in Wyandotte County. None has come forward so far.(in part from the Kansas City Star)(9-19-2007)
- Kansas Speedway and World Access Partner to Provide Event Ticket Insurance: Kansas Speedway and World Access have partnered to provide race fans event ticket protector insurance starting with the LifeLock 400 and Yellow Transportation 300 events at Kansas Speedway Sept. 29 and 30. The coverage protects ticket buyers who are unable to attend an event due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a medical issue, traffic accident, jury duty, employment termination or any other covered reasons that prevents the insured from attending. The coverage, which is an optional purchase, will be $6.25 per ticket and is available to both current and new season ticket holders.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-15-2007)
- Kansas Speedway announces LifeLock as sponsor for Cup race: Kansas Speedway President Jeff Boerger announced that LifeLock, the nation's leading Identity Theft Prevention Service, has agreed to sponsor the Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday, Sept. 30. The LifeLock 400 will be the third race of the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
LifeLock, based in Tempe, Ariz., helps consumers to render their personal information useless to thieves, backing up its service with a million-dollar guarantee. Famous for its CEO giving out his Social Security Number in advertising and national press, the company is experiencing astounding growth. Since beginning operations in April of 2005, LifeLock (www.lifelock.com) has held minor sponsorship deals in NASCAR with Rusty Wallace Incorporated, McClure Motorsports and Phoenix International Raceway. This past weekend LifeLock served as the primary sponsor for the #49 BAM Nextel Cup car. The company also currently serves as a sponsor in the IRL Pro Series with Sam Schmidt Motorsports and with Playboy Racing in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series and the Grand-Am Cup Series. Season tickets are on sale now and include the LifeLock 400 (Sept. 30), Yellow Transportation 300 (Sept. 29) the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 (April 26, 2008) and the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 (April 27, 2008) Call 866.460.RACE or log on to www.kansasspeedway.com to purchase tickets. Parking is always free and fans can bring in one 6x6x12-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverage.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-10-2007)
- Hornish Selling Tickets For Kansas Speedway: Kansas Speedway has “hired” three-time IndyCar Series champion and defending Kansas Lottery Indy 300 winner Sam Hornish, Jr. to work in the Kansas Speedway ticket office. Hornish replaces NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, who had to leave the position due to his racing schedule. Hornish is scheduled to work in the ticket office on April 11 from 4 – 5 p.m. Fans are encouraged to buy their 2007 RPM season tickets from Hornish either via phone or in person at the Kansas Speedway ticket office. Hornish, who is running a part-time Busch Series schedule, will also be selling Sprint Fan Walk and Pit Stop Pub tickets.(Kansas Speedway PR)(4-11-2007)
- Kansas Speedway Presents Tickets to Kansas National Guard: At a Capitol ceremony on Wednesday, Kansas National Guard members and their families were presented with 2,500 tickets to opening weekend races at the Kansas Speedway by Speedway
President Jeff Boerger and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. The donation was made possible by O'Reilly Auto Parts and the Kansas
Lottery. Accepting the donation was Major General Tod Bunting, the Kansas Adjutant General, and several members of the Kansas National Guard. The Kansas Speedway's seventh season of racing kicks off the weekend of April 27 with the IndyCar Series Kansas Lottery 300, Craftsman Truck Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 and the ARCA Re/Max Series Kansas Lottery $150 Grand. Parking is always free at Kansas Speedway and fans may bring 6x6x12-inch soft-sided coolers with their favorite food and beverage into the
grandstands.(Kansas Speedway PR)(4-6-2007)
- Speedway case hearing begins in shooting of detective at Kansas Speedway: Detective Susan Brown was guarding a vault building at Kansas Speedway when she saw a masked man approach with a gun in his hand. After telling a worker to get inside, Brown pulled her handgun and tried to shut the door, she said. But before she could get the door closed, an object — later determined to be a handgun — was jammed into the space between the door and its frame, near the hinges. That’s when the gunfire started and she was critically injured, Brown testified during a preliminary hearing Tuesday for two men, Fredrick Douglas and Nolden Garner, who are accused of attempting to rob the speedway the evening of Oct. 1. During the hearing, a worker overseeing the operations of the vault building testified that at the time of the robbery attempt, workers were getting ready to move about $1 million after a weekend of racing.
The robbers struck just after workers had moved eight $500 boxes of quarters into a minivan outside the vault building. At the end of testimony, Wyandotte County Judge Robert L. Serra ordered both Douglas, 66, of Kansas City, Kan., and Garner, 51, of Grandview to stand trial. They are charged with attempted capital murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated robbery. Attorneys for the men entered not-guilty pleas on their behalf. The men are not thought to have gotten away with any money. The day’s testimony outlined the evidence that linked the men to the crime, including testimony by a detective who said Garner admitted to the crime and that a third person was involved. That person provided aprons and caps that would allow Douglas and Garner into the area where the vault was located, Howard testified. A spokesman for the Wyandotte County district attorney’s office said this week that no one else has been charged in connection with the case. In her emotional testimony, Brown testified that she was shot between four and six times. She suffered injuries to her right shoulder, right wrist and a leg. She testified that at least one of the suspects continued to shoot at her when she was lying on the ground wounded.(Kansas City Star)(1-12-2007)
- Kansas Speedway announces new food and beverage policy: For the first time ever, Kansas Speedway will permit race fans to carry outside food and beverages with them to the track, beginning next season with the opening race event, the ARCA RE/MAX Series Kansas Lottery $150 Grand on April 27. The weekend also features the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 on April 28 and the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 on April 29. "We've always believed that fans come first at Kansas Speedway," track President Jeff Boerger said. "Racing at Kansas Speedway offers many fan-friendly amenities that you can't get with other entertainment options in our market, such as free parking; we're always looking at ways to make a fan's experience more enjoyable each year. Following extensive research with most of our ticket holders, we have decided to allow guests to bring coolers and outside food and drinks with them when they come to the track." All coolers and bags must be soft-sided and no larger than 6x6x12 inches. Glass containers of any kind may not be brought in through grandstand gates. All bags and coolers are subject to search by security officials at the gates. Bags that do not meet size standards will not be permitted through the gates. There is a maximum of one cooler per ticketed-guest. Bring your favorite food and beverage for the fun and excitement at Kansas Speedway next season when you purchase your 2007 RPM Season Ticket which includes the aforementioned April events and the following races Sept 27 - 30. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Kansas 400, the NASCAR Busch Series Yellow Transportation 300 and the USAC Silver Crown Series KansasSpeedway.com 100. Call 866.460.RACE or visit www.kansasspeedway.com today for tickets and a complete schedule.(Kansas Speedway PR)(11-3-2006)
- Officer Shot at Kansas Speedway UPDATE 2: Police said they took two people into custody after an attempted armed robbery and a female off-duty officer was shot at Kansas Speedway on Sunday night. Police said the victim was shot multiple times and is a 25 year veteran. A helicopter flew the officer to an area hospital around 8:30 p.m. Police said the off-duty officer was shot when she tried to intervene in the attempted armed robbery. Police said the Speedway often employees off-duty officers to do security.(myfoxkc.com/FOX 4)(10-2-2006)
UPDATE - good news: Doctors upgraded an off-duty police officer to fair condition after someone shot her several times after she tried to break up a robbery at the Kansas Speedway. Paramedics airlifted the 25-year veteran officer to the hospital in critical condition on Sunday night. Police said three people walked into the area where she was working and tried to rob the place. The robbery happened long after the race had ended, and Speedway workers were preparing to close down the facility. Witnesses reported hearing up to seven gunshots. One man said he heard the whole thing over the police radio. "I heard this lady screaming. We heard that she was shot several times," Dennis Lyons, witness, said. Police chased and arrested two of the robbery suspects, and will question them again on Monday. According to witnesses, there were three people involved, but police haven't found a third suspect. If you know who the third suspect could be, or if you have any information, call the TIPS hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.(myfoxkc.com/FOX 4)(10-2-2006)
UPDATE 2: The Wyandotte County district attorney filed attempted capital murder charges this afternoon against Fredrick Douglas and Nolden Garner, alleging they shot a detective during an attempted robbery of Kansas Speedway. According to the charges, the two men fired multiple gunshots at Kansas City, Kan., Police Detective Susan Brown, even while she was on the ground. The charges allege the two men intended to kill her and to rob her. Douglas and Garner also were charged with aggravated battery in the shooting of a track employee. District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman said the employee suffered minor injuries. He was hit either directly or by shrapnel. Douglas and Garner also face charges of aggravated robbery for allegedly taking Brown’s handgun, aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated robbery. Garner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.(Kansas City Star), no more details on the detective's condition.(10-4-2006)
- Wedding bells at Kansas: Kansas Speedway played host to its first race-weekend wedding Sunday morning. Terry Erwin and Crystal Collins married at the Fan Walk stage on the infield. “It’s a lifetime experience,” Erwin said. “More than we could have ever imagined would happen.” Erwin, an Indiana resident, ran sprint cars for more than a decade. “We’re both into NASCAR and drag racing,” Erwin said. “If it has an engine and runs, we like it.”(Kansas City Star)(10-1-2006)
- Joyner-Kersee, Lopez to serve as co-grand marshals at Kansas: Three-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee and popular comic-actor George Lopez will serve as co-grand marshals for Sunday's Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway. Joyner-Kersee, considered to be one the greatest female athletes of all time, won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the heptathlon and long jump events over four consecutive Olympic Games - 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996. She was the first woman to score 7,000 points in a heptathlon, a demanding seven-event competition that measures speed, strength and stamina, and has held the world record in heptathlon since 1986. She was also a world-class athlete in 100 meter hurdles and 200 meters. Joyner-Kersee took home the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 1998 Goodwill Games in what was to be her last competition; she retired soon after. Sports Illustrated voted her the "Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century."
Lopez, star of ABC's sitcom "George Lopez," is one of the premier comedic talents in the entertainment industry. He is the co-creator,
writer, producer and star of the ABC sitcom, "George Lopez." Last year, Time magazine recognized Lopez as one of the "25 Most
Influential Hispanics in America." Lopez's CD "Team Leader" was released to great public acclaim and nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. In May 2004, George's autobiography "Why You Crying?" entered in the New York Times Bestsellers list. He has starred in several movies, including "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl," which opened last year. Lopez continues to tour the country with his stand-up comedy routine.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-27-2006)
- Heartland set to sing national anthem at Kansas: Heartland, a country music band from Huntsville, Ala., will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway. The band got its start touring clubs around Alabama. Their debut single, "I Loved Her First," hit the country music charts this year. Heartland band members include Craig Anderson (rhythm guitar), Keith West (bass guitar/background vocals), Jason Albert (lead vocalist), Chuck Crawford (fiddle/background vocals), Todd Anderson (drums) and Mike Myerson (lead guitar). Heartland will also perform a pre-race concert from the Banquet stage prior to the Banquet 400. The concert is scheduled to begin at 11:50am.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-27-2006)
- Hale named manager of Public Relations for Kansas Speedway: Kansas Speedway has named Kelly Hale its manager of Public Relations. Hale, a native of Edwardsville, Kan., has worked for NASCAR as a coordinator of Communications for the past four years. During that time, she oversaw the advance media programs for the Nextel Cup Series, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series. She was also responsible for media outreach for Busch Series Champion's week. Prior to joining NASCAR, Hale was the Community Relations manager for the Kansas City Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League and was the public relations contact before her departure. Hale holds a bachelor's degree in sports science with an emphasis in sports information from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. She replaces Sammie Lukaskiewicz, who heads to Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., to be the Director of Communications for the International Speedway Corporation-owned racetrack.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-26-2006)
- Kansas Truck race to move to April in 2007: on Speed Channel's NASCAR Report, Ray Dunlap reported that the Kansas Speedway Truck Series race will move to the end of April in 2007 from it current July spot.(Speed Channel's NASCAR Report)(8-31-2006)
