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ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY NEWS ARCHIVE

Chief Lighting Officer Ready to Turn On the Lights Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Chief Lighting Officer is eagerly anticipating his responsibility of turning on the lights for Atlanta’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup night race. Jack Welch was selected from more than 750 entrants to serve as the track’s Chief Lighting Officer in a promotional earlier this year. As Atlanta’s CLO, Welch will make history as he “flips the switch” to turn on the lights, receives VIP for the Pep Boys Auto 500 and participates in pre-race festivities. “We are very excited about the trip and being involved with turning the lights on at Atlanta Motor Speedway,” said Welch, a resident of Pearl, Miss. “What a great way to celebrate my birthday weekend!” Welch’s birthday is Sept. 7.(AMS)(9-4-2009)

Atlanta’s PRN Up-to-Speed to Feature Truex, Jr. and Sadler: Martin Truex, Jr. and Elliott Sadler will headline “PRN Up to Speed” at the Speed Stage in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Display Lot on Sunday, Sept. 6. Truex, Jr. and Sadler will join Performance Racing Network hosts Doug Rice and Brad Gillie for a question-and-answer session with fans prior to Atlanta’s first Sprint Cup night race, the Pep Boys Auto 500. “PRN Up to Speed” will take place from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the Speed Stage.(AMS)(9-4-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Sets Record One-Day Ticket Sales on Monday: In addition to establishing a new single-day mark for ticket sales, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s ticket sales for the Pep Boys Auto 500 are up significantly over 2008 sales as of the close of business on Monday. “Yesterday was the best day for ticket sales in my 17 years at Atlanta Motor Speedway and it really speaks to the anticipation surrounding our first night race,” said Ed Clark, Atlanta Motor Speedway president and general manager. “We’re building a new NASCAR tradition with the Pep Boys Auto 500 and night racing on Labor Day weekend and fans are responding with tremendous interest.”(AMS)(9-2-2009)

Pep Boys Auto 500 Weekend Traffic Plan:
Fans have a choice of which major route to take, either Hwy. 19/41 or Hwy. 20 from I-75 southbound. I-75 northbound race fans can exit at Exit 212 Hampton-Locust Grove Road or Exit 218, GA Hwy 20. Please choose which route to take based on where you would like to park on property; fans will be directed to a certain lot based on which way they enter the speedway. Trams, shuttle buses and sidewalks will allow fans to get to their seats easily regardless of where they park on property. Be advised that the direction from which fans enter speedway property is the same direction they will exit to.
ENTERING THE SPEEDWAY:
From Hwy. 19/41:
FROM THE NORTH: Those traveling from the North (traveling southbound on Hwy. 19/41) will be directed to parking lots on the north side of the property and should utilize Speedway Blvd. Those traveling south on Hwy. 19/41 will turn right at Speedway Boulevard and park in the yellow, red or green parking lots off of Speedway Blvd. Those with vehicle credentials need to stay in the left lane, use the counter-flow lane as they approach the speedway and enter just south of the main entrance at entrance E or at entrance G off of Richard Petty Blvd.
FROM THE SOUTH: Those traveling from the South (traveling northbound on Hwy. 19/41 from Griffin) will turn at the main speedway entrance and will be directed to the blue parking lot.
From Hwy. 20:
Those traveling on Hwy. 20 will be directed to the orange parking lot on the south side of the property.
EXITING THE SPEEDWAY:
Fans will leave the same way they came in. If they entered from the North, they will be directed northbound. Those who enter from the South will be directed southbound.
Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.(AMS)(9-2-2009)

Fan Tips for Those Attending the Pep Boys Auto 500 Race Weekend: Below are some tips that will help ensure fans have a memorable, exciting visit to Atlanta Motor Speedway during the September 2009 Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR race weekend.
Ų Gate Openings – Various gates will be open each day for fans to access the facility. The following is the schedule with opening times and gates available that day: Saturday (11 a.m., gates 13 & 15, 4 p.m. gates 12 & 14), Sunday (2 p.m., all gates).
Ų Important Note: For fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each grandstand.
Ų Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol Program – The Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol offers golf cart transportation and general assistance throughout the Atlanta Motor Speedway parking areas. This service is limited to the Atlanta Motor Speedway facility only, providing patrons with the ability to move to and from almost any area on the property. Patrons may inquire about any of these services at the Nationwide Insurance Information Booths located throughout the Atlanta Motor Speedway property.
Atlanta Motor Speedway provides tram service between the campgrounds and the entrance gates before and after events and will depart regularly from the designated Nationwide tram stops. Tram passengers under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Trams are provided as a courtesy service to speedway guests. Due to the demand for this service, continuous riding (joyriding) is prohibited
Campground tram route: Runs along inner perimeter road through all public parking and most camping areas.
Infield tram route: Runs from the guard house at the new tunnel into the infield along the road course.
Ų Nationwide Insurance Pit Stops – Nationwide is hosting two tented rest areas at the display lot. Stop by and relax for a few moments to help fight exhaustion during the race weekend.
Ų ATM Machines – Bank of America will have 10 ATM machines at various locations throughout the property. You will find ATM machines at gates 13 and 15 (will call). There are also locations in the Champions, Earnhardt, Petty and Elliott Grandstands, as well as near the infield concessions area.
Ų Camping Guidelines – Quiet time in all camping areas is from midnight to 7 a.m. (except Mid-State Family Campground) although we do allow the use of generators, we ask that you respect your neighbors and only use them when necessary. Also, no flatbed trucks (over 10 feet long), flatbed trailers, box trucks, or portable storage containers are allowed.
Ų Traffic Reports – Traffic information will be provided by WSB 750 AM and WKHX Kicks 101.5 FM. Tune in throughout the weekend for the latest traffic news. Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.
Ų Outside Food- While we pride ourselves on providing an excellent variety of food and drink options for our guests, visitors are welcome to bring their own items if they prefer. Coolers larger than 14”x14”x14” and glass bottles are not allowed inside the gates of the speedway. Planning ahead will make your entrance to the speedway much simpler for both our visitors and security officers alike.
Ų Handicapped Parking Enforcement – Handicapped parking areas will be strictly enforced for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend and misuse could result in being fined and/or towed. These areas are reserved for those fans with a handicap, not for those who plan to use a friend or relative’s handicap permit to gain access to these areas. The person who is the owner of the handicapped parking sticker is required to be in the vehicle.
Ų Ticket Resale – No tickets may be resold on Speedway property. This will be strictly enforced. Fans can also utilize TicketExchange, Ticketmaster's new online service that enables safe and secure fan-to-fan ticket transactions. Buyers simply select the tickets they want based on price and seat location, without having to bid against other buyers, without having to coordinate delivery from anonymous sellers, and without the gamble that the tickets are fraudulent. Sellers are guaranteed payment for tickets sold, without having to collect payment or deliver the tickets to the buyer. For more information on TicketExchange, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Ų Directions to Atlanta Motor Speedway: Directions to AMS, including traffic patterns and facility maps can be found by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
Ų First- Aid: During race weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway has Emergency Assistance locations in each grandstand as well as the Infield. Should you or anyone in your party require Emergency Assistance while you are on AMS property, please visit one of those locations or, if needed, dial 911.
Ų As with any large event, there is going to be significant traffic come race weekend, so Atlanta Motor Speedway would also like to encourage all fans coming to any event throughout the weekend to come early and stay late. All General Parking lots at AMS open at 6 a.m., so fans should feel free to get here early to beat the traffic and check out everything the Speedway has to offer come race weekend.
Ų For more information on race weekend or to answer any questions you may have please visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or call (770)-707-7904.(AMS)(9-2-2009)

AMS Extends Ticket Office Hours: In response to fan demand for tickets to next weekend’s Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway has extended its Ticket Office hours. The Speedway’s Ticket Office is now open from 8:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition, the Ticket Office will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Fans can call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or (877) 9-AMS-TIX.(AMS)(8-25-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Pep Boys Auto 500 Accommodation Options: Atlanta Motor Speedway’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup night race, the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Labor Day weekend, is fast approaching and the Speedway has made a number of value-oriented accommodations available to race fans. Atlanta Motor Speedway has partnered with more than 30 local-area hotels to give race fans affordable room rates without requiring multi-night stays. In addition to hotel and motel options, the Speedway has a number of camping options and luxury RV accommodations available. Atlanta Motor Speedway is now utilizing more than 30 area hotels to provide reasonable room rates for fans attending the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Sept. 6. With hotel partners as close as neighboring cities and as far as Macon, Atlanta Motor Speedway can help race fans find affordable rooms in most any direction from the Speedway. Participating partner hotels do not require a multiple-night stay and their room rates have been capped at $130 per night. Some partners have rooms available for as little as $60 per night. For more details on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s hotel partners for the Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend on Sept. 5 and 6 or for contact information, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/fans/hotels/.
To accommodate increased camping demand surrounding Atlanta Motor Speedway’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup night race on Labor Day weekend, the Speedway recently announced the addition of the Elliott Reserved Campground and Legends Tent Reserved Campground. With the additions of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s new campgrounds, a number of camping options are still available for fans attending the Pep Boys Auto 500, Atlanta’s historic first NASCAR Sprint Cup night race. Featuring reserved and unreserved options, infield and exterior camping, RV and tent camping, and options for luxury camping and for handicap patrons, Atlanta Motor Speedway has a variety of camping with options for most any fan. Campsites for the Pep Boys Auto 500 start at just $60. For more information, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at 770-946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/tickets/camping/.
In addition to traditional camping options, Atlanta Motor Speedway has a few Trackside Terrace luxury RV sites available. Perched above Atlanta Motor Speedway’s backstretch, Trackside Terrace offers fans proximity to the action found few other places. Each Trackside Terrace RV spot includes full RV hookups, 10 pit passes and tickets, two tow passes for additional vehicles and select sites include a veranda viewing platform situated along the backstretch embankment. Trackside Terrace locations can be purchased for $3,500. For more information on Trackside Terrace or any of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s luxury accommodations, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at 770-946-4211.(AMS)(8-13-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Seeks National Anthem Singers: Atlanta Motor Speedway is searching for local singers to perform the national anthem before the on-track action at Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags throughout the remaining summer months. In addition to the opportunity to perform at Atlanta Motor Speedway’s summer-racing series, the performances will also be used as anthem auditions for the Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race weekend on Labor Day weekend. In addition to singers, Atlanta Motor Speedway will welcome demos from instrumentalists and other musical acts. All entrants must complete the anthem in 90 seconds or less. For more information go to atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(8-7-2009)

Only a few days left to save on Atlanta's Nationwide Tix: NASCAR fans have until August 7th to take advantage of a $5 advance discount on tickets to the Degree V12 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 5. General admission ticket prices for the Degree V12 300 will be $30 beginning on Saturday, Aug. 8 and race fans have until then to receive a $5 savings on each ticket purchased. For more information on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s inaugural weekend of night racing featuring the Degree V12 300 and the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Labor Day weekend, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or (888) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(8-5-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Announces Chief Lighting Officer: Jack Welch has been selected by Atlanta Motor Speedway to serve as the Chief Lighting Officer for the Speedway’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race, the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Sept. 6. Ending a six-week search that sought an electric personality to “flip the switch” turning on the lights before Atlanta’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race, Welch was picked from more than 750 entrants. “It was one of those situations where they said, ‘I won,’ and I didn’t believe the girl on the phone,” said Welch, a resident of Pearl, Miss. “My wife and I are extremely excited and I can’t wait to turn on the lights.” Welch’s entry outshined the rest, displaying his bright use of vocabulary with lighting-themed puns. But Welch was also chosen for being a shining star to a child in need when he donated tickets to the 2008 Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway to the Aflac Cancer Center, giving a young boy an once-in-a-lifetime experience. “We buy tickets to the Pep Boys Auto 500 each year and couldn’t make the race last year, so we wanted to get those tickets out there and let someone else use them. When we heard about Carl Edwards’ visit to the Aflac Cancer Center, my wife, Nancy, suggested we send the tickets there,” said Welch. “We already have tickets for this year’s Pep Boys Auto 500, so we are going to donate the tickets to the Aflac Cancer Center again.” In addition to turning on the lights for the track’s first night race as Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Chief Lighting Officer, Welch will have travel arrangements to Atlanta provided, be featured in the official souvenir program, and receive VIP access to Atlanta Motor Speedway. For more information on the Chief Lighting Officer or to purchase tickets to Atlanta Motor Speedway first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race, the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Sept. 6, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(7-15-2009)

Atlanta Announces Pre-Race Party for Pep Boys Auto 500: A Pre-Race Party celebration has been added to the schedule for the Sept. 6 Pep Boys Auto 500, Atlanta Motor Speedway's first NASCAR Sprint Cup night race, giving race fans stage-front access for driver introductions and a pre-race concert with Diamond Rio and Jason Michael Carroll. The Pre-Race Party will take place beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the Atlanta Motor Speedway frontstretch in front of the Champions Grandstand. The event features a combined two-hour concert with country legends Diamond Rio and rising-star Jason Michael Carroll and will be followed by pre-race festivities and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver introductions. A limited number of stage-front passes are available for purchase at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at 877-9-AMS-TIX or 770-946-4211, or online at atlantamotorspeedway.com. Pre-Race Party passes for stage-front access will sell for $49, with the first 200 specially-priced at $39. A Pep Boys Auto 500 ticket is required for admission to the party area.(AMS PR)(7-14-2009)

AMS sues Pep Boys over sponsorship: UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway is suing Pep Boys over a payment dispute on a contract that called for the auto parts chain to pay $3 million for a two-year NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race sponsorship, according to court documents. Pep Boys has allegedly stopped making payments for the 2009 race, according to the lawsuit filed April 30 in Georgia Superior Court in Henry County, Ga. The suit says the deal was worth $1.4 million for the track’s 2008 fall race and $1.6 million for the 2009 fall race. According to the complaint, Pep Boys did not make the $800,000 payment due March 1, 2009, and the track is owed $1.6 million for the 2009 race. Although the contract states that the sponsorship is for “a fall NSCS Event,” SMI says in its complaint that Pep Boys did not object to the 2009 race being moved to Labor Day weekend before it was announced. According to the complaint, Pep Boys sent a letter saying it could terminate the contract because the track breached the agreement since the 2009 fall race is now “during the summer.” Atlanta Motor Speedway alleges that the wording in the contract prevents it from being terminated on those grounds.(SceneDaily)(5-8-2009)
UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway and Pep Boys have reached an out-of-court settlement of the track’s lawsuit against the auto parts retail chain over the title sponsorship of the Sept. 6. Sprint Cup race at the track, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. The settlement was not filed with the court, but an AMS spokesman indicated that the race will remain being called the Pep Boys Auto 500 this year.(SceneDaily)(7-6-2009)

AMS is looking for a Chief Lighting Officer: Atlanta Motor Speedway is conducting a national search for a Chief Lighting Officer, the shining star who will have the honor to flip the “switch” to turn on the lights before Atlanta’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup night race on Labor Day weekend. The search for the Chief Lighting Officer will seek out one glowing personality to turn it on for the crowd as they hit the lights before the first night race in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s storied history. The Chief Lighting Officer will receive a prize package arguably unlike any other in racing history, with VIP race access to Atlanta Motor Speedway, inclusion in the official race souvenir program, and the winner will be introduced during pre-race driver introductions.
Selected by a panel of Atlanta Motor Speedway employees, the Chief Lighting Officer will receive:
* Passes for both the Labor Day weekend night races on Sept. 5 and 6, 2009 with one guest
* Hotel and airfare to the races
* VIP-access
* A tour of race control
* An introduction on stage at driver introductions
* The honor to flip the “switch” to turn the lights on Sunday night
* A Sunday pre-race pace car ride with guest
* An official CLO shirt
* Featured in the official race souvenir program
To enter to become Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Chief Lighting Officer, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/CLO and explain why AMS should shine the spotlight on you before Atlanta’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup night race on Labor Day weekend. To purchase tickets to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s historic first night race, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-877-9-AMS-TIX, 770-946-4211 or visit atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(6-24-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Sells Out of Tent Camping: Having sold out of reserved tent camping, Atlanta Motor Speedway has opened two new campgrounds to accommodate fans attending AMS’ first NASCAR Sprint Cup night race on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5 and 6. The Legends Reserved Tent Campground and Elliott Reserved Campground have been created by Atlanta Motor Speedway to meet surging camping demand for Atlanta’s first full weekend of night racing. Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Elliott Reserved Campground is located directly behind the Elliott Grandstand overlooking Turn 3 and will include two additional rows of camping for handicap patrons. The Elliott Reserved Campground also features a large number of sites adjacent to handicap camping for additional fans. Each RV spot is approximately 45 feet long by 25 feet and costs just $150. Shaded by a tree grove, the Legends Reserved Tent Campground is located between Atlanta Motor Speedway’s main entrance and the Legends Campground. With more than 230 campsites with dimensions of 20 feet by 30 feet for $125, the Legends Reserved Tent Campground will be one of the most desired camping locations on the Atlanta Motor Speedway property. For more information on camping or tickets to Atlanta Motor Speedway first Sprint Cup night race on Labor Day weekend, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(6-9-2009)

AMS announces ticket specials for Pep Boys Auto 500: If you haven't already purchased your tickets to the Pep Boys Auto 500 Sprint Cup night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the time is now. New and returning specials can be seen at atlantamotorspeedway.com. Because each ticket special features limited quantities, fans are encouraged to act now.(AMS PR)(4-29-2009)

AMS announces Fan-Friendly Hotel/Motel List for Labor Day Weekend: Continuing a program to provide fans with reasonably-priced hotel accommodations when attending their NASCAR events, Atlanta Motor Speedway is working with approximately 30 Atlanta-area hotels who have agreed to offer fair rates and no multi-night minimums for fans traveling to Atlanta for the Sept. 5-6 Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend. Each participating hotel and motel is offering Atlanta Motor Speedway race attendees rooms priced at no more than $129 and some rates are as low as $60. Each participating hotel will not require multiple-night stays and will provide locked-in rates for fans using the promotion code, “AMS Discount.” A complete list of participating properties can be found below or can be accessed online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com under the “Visitor’s Guide” tab.(AMS PR)(4-25-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Announces Ticket Specials for Labor Day Weekend: Atlanta Motor Speedway has announced a host of ticket specials for the Pep Boys Auto 500 Labor Day weekend of night racing, including $59 frontstretch tickets, in an effort to make Atlanta’s first Sprint Cup night race even more affordable for fans. Continuing past specials and introducing new offers, Atlanta Motor Speedway has introduced a complete list of ticket specials for Labor Day weekend, highlighted by a $59 frontstretch ticket in the Winners Grandstand. As a special offer for NASCAR-loving families, Atlanta Motor Speedway is admitting children ages 12 and under free of charge for Saturday’s Degree V12 300 Nationwide Race and NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying. Children must be accompanied by a parent with a regularly-priced Earnhardt Grandstand adult ticket and multiple children can accompany one adult ticket. Select sections in the Earnhardt Grandstand are designated as smoke/alcohol free to accommodate families. Because each ticket special features limited quantities, fans are encouraged to act now to receive these special rates by calling Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or 770-946-4211, or purchasing tickets online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(4-22-2009)

AMS Offering Free Cancer Screenings This Weekend: The Georgia Chapter of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance will be conducting free cancer screenings this weekend from 9:00am to 1:00pm Saturday [March 7] in the vendor area of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Lori Hamilton, widow of the late driver Bobby Hamilton, has urged fans to take advantage of the free screenings. Hamilton passed away of head and neck cancer complications in January 2007. "It is my honor to continue this effort in his name because we've made so much progress with past years' screenings,” said Mrs. Hamilton. “Bobby would want us to press forward to reach more people with our message. The screening is quick, painless and free, so we are encouraging everyone to take advantage of this opportunity that could save your life.” People interested in more details about the free screening can contact Edie R. Hapner, PhD CCC-SLP, at (404) 686-7798.(3-6-2009)

Flyover Announced for Kobalt Tools 500: Atlanta Motor Speedway has announced four T-38 Talons will conduct the flyover prior to the March 8 Kobalt Tools 500. Four T-38 Talons, the primary jet trainer for the United States Air Force, will conduct Sunday’s flyover for the Kobalt Tools 500. Conducted by the 12th Flying Training Wing, the T-38 Talons will be routed from Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.(AMS PR)(3-6-2009)

AMS Adds Ticket Agents to Assist Walk-Up Crowd: Anticipating a strong walk-up crowd due to temperatures in the mid 70s for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway has hired additional ticket agents to meet walk-up demands for this weekend’s events. The Speedway is expecting a strong walk-up crowd due to exceptional weather conditions, coming just one week after snow blanketed much of the Northern Georgia area. To prevent lengthy ticket lines, the Speedway has employed a number of part-time ticketing agents to assist customers. “With sunny conditions forecasted for all three days of the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, we wanted to ensure our staff is prepared to adequately serve a large number of walk-up patrons,” said Atlanta Motor Speedway president and general manager Ed Clark. “With two outstanding racing events on the schedule, we’re encouraging race fans to come out and enjoy the first great weather weekend in the Atlanta area this year while watching NASCAR racing action this weekend.”
With weather forecasts calling for the first spring-like weather of the season during the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend – sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s – Atlanta Motor Speedway is encouraging fans to plan to bring sunscreen or purchase theirs at the track. Atlanta Motor Speedway souvenir stands have been stocked with additional sunscreen supplies to meet the anticipated demand during the weekend. For more information or tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or 770-946-4211, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-6-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Declares “Georgia Peanut Famer Appreciation Day”: Atlanta Motor Speedway is declaring “Georgia Peanut Farmer Appreciation Day“ at the March 8 Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race in recognition of Georgia’s official state crop. In a show of support to Georgia-based peanut farmers in lieu of the recent difficulties facing the industry, Atlanta Motor Speedway has partnered with the Georgia Peanut Commission to promote Georgia peanuts during the Kobalt Tools 500. The Georgia Peanut Commission will have a trackside billboard advertising Georgia peanuts, sampling opportunities on race day and a role in the Kobalt Tools 500 pre-race festivities. In addition, the Commission will have a sampling location and display in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Display Lot. A number of Georgia peanut farmers will be recognized as part of the pre-race activities. “Peanuts have been a staple in the Georgia agriculture economy for a long time and Atlanta Motor Speedway is proud to show our support of the industry,” said Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark. “Many of the farmers are fans who have attended our races for years and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to show them our support during this time of need.”
For more information or tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or 770-946-4211, or visit atlantamotorspeedway.com. For more information on Georgia peanuts and the Georgia Peanut Commission, visit www.gapeanuts.com.(AMS PR)(3-5-2009)

Atlanta Traffic Plan for NASCAR Weekend: Due to next week's Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the south side of Atlanta will experience especially heavy traffic flow throughout the weekend. Traffic is expected to be heaviest during the Friday evening rush hour, as fans head to the track for Georgia Power Qualifying Night. Saturday afternoon will play host to the American Commercial Lines 200 Camping World Truck Series race. The weekend will culminate with Sunday’s (March 8) Kobalt Tools 500. Fans are encouraged to leave early, on Sunday, to avoid the increased traffic flow expected after 9 a.m.
Basic Traffic Plan for the Kobalt Tools 500 weekend (March 6-8): Fans have a choice of which major route to take, either Hwy. 19/41 or Hwy. 20 from I-75 southbound. I-75 northbound race fans can exit at either Exit 212 Hampton-Locust Grove Road or Exit 218, GA Hwy 20. Please choose which route to take based on where you would like to park on property; fans will be directed to a certain lot based on which way they enter the speedway. Trams, shuttle buses and sidewalks will allow fans to get to their seats easily regardless of where they park on property. Be advised that the direction fans enter speedway property is the same direction they will exit.
ENTERING THE SPEEDWAY:
From Hwy. 19/41:
FROM THE NORTH: Those traveling from the North (traveling southbound on Hwy. 19/41) will be directed to parking lots on the north side of the property and should utilize Speedway Blvd.
Those traveling south on Hwy. 19/41 will turn right at Speedway Boulevard and park in the yellow, red or green parking lots off of Speedway Blvd. Those with vehicle credentials need to stay in the left lane, use the counter-flow lane as they approach the speedway and enter just south of the main entrance at entrance E or at entrance G off of Richard Petty Blvd.
FROM THE SOUTH: Those traveling from the South (traveling northbound on Hwy. 19/41 from Griffin) will turn at the main speedway entrance and will be directed to the blue parking lot.
From Hwy. 20: Those traveling on Hwy. 20 will be directed to the Weaver or orange parking lot on the south side of the property.
EXITING THE SPEEDWAY:
Fans will leave the same way they came in. If they entered from the North, they will be directed northbound. Those who enter from the South will be directed southbound. For more information about the race weekend traffic plan, please contact Marcy Scott of Atlanta Motor Speedway at (770) 946-3951. For up-to-the-minute traffic updates during race weekend, please contact the traffic command center directly at (770) 707-5015. Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.(AMS PR)(3-3-2009)

Fan Tips for Those Attending the Kobalt Tools 500 Race Weekend: Below are some tips that will help ensure fans have a memorable, exciting visit to Atlanta Motor Speedway during the March 2009 Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR race weekend.
* Gate Openings – Various gates will be open each day for fans to access the facility. The following is the schedule with opening times and gates available that day: Friday (12 p.m., gates 12, 13, 14 and 15), Saturday (9:00 a.m., gates 1, 12, 13, 14 and 15), Sunday (9 a.m., all gates).
* Important Note: For fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each grandstand.
* Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol Program – The Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol offers golf cart transportation and general assistance throughout the Atlanta Motor Speedway parking areas. This service is limited to the Atlanta Motor Speedway facility only, providing patrons with the ability to move to and from almost any area on the property. Patrons may inquire about any of these services at the Nationwide Insurance Information Booths located throughout the Atlanta Motor Speedway property.
* Atlanta Motor Speedway provides tram service between the campgrounds and the entrance gates before and after events and will depart regularly from the designated Nationwide tram stops. Tram passengers under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Trams are provided as a courtesy service to speedway guests. Due to the demand for this service, continuous riding (joyriding) is prohibited.
Campground tram route: Runs along inner perimeter road through all public parking and most camping areas.
Infield tram route: Runs from the guard house at the new tunnel into the infield along the road course.
* Nationwide Insurance Pit Stops – Nationwide is hosting two tented rest areas at the display lot. Stop by and relax for a few moments to help fight exhaustion during the race weekend.
* ATM Machines – Bank of America will have 12 ATM machines at various locations throughout the property. You will find ATM machines at gates 13 and 15 (will call). There are also locations in the Champions, Earnhardt, Petty and Elliott Grandstands, as well as near the infield concessions area.
* Camping Guidelines – Quiet time in all camping areas is from midnight to 7 a.m. (except Mid-State Family Campground) although we do allow the use of generators, we ask that you respect your neighbors and only use them when necessary. Also, no flatbed trucks (over 10 feet long), flatbed trailers, box trucks, or portable storage containers are allowed.
* Traffic Reports – Traffic information will be provided by WSB 750 AM. Tune in throughout the weekend for the latest traffic news. Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.
* Beer Cut-Off Times – Beer sales will conclude with 50 laps left in each race. For your convenience, please be sure to make your purchases before this time.
* Outside Food- While we pride ourselves on providing a variety of food and drink options for our guests, visitors are welcome to bring their own items if they prefer. Coolers larger than 14”x14”x14” and glass bottles are not allowed inside the gates of the speedway. Planning ahead will make your entrance to the speedway much simpler for both our visitors and security officers alike.
* Handicapped Parking Enforcement – Handicapped parking areas will be strictly enforced for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend and misuse could result in being fined and/or towed. These areas are reserved for those fans with a handicap, not for those who plan to use a friend or relative’s handicap permit to gain access to these areas. The person who is the owner of the handicapped parking sticker is required to be in the vehicle.
* Ticket Resale – No tickets may be resold on Speedway property. This will be strictly enforced. Fans can also utilize TicketExchange, Ticketmaster's new online service that enables safe and secure fan-to-fan ticket transactions. Buyers simply select the tickets they want based on price and seat location, without having to bid against other buyers, without having to coordinate delivery from anonymous sellers, and without the gamble that the tickets are fraudulent. Sellers are guaranteed payment for tickets sold, without having to collect payment or deliver the tickets to the buyer.
* Directions to Atlanta Motor Speedway: Directions to AMS, including traffic patterns and facility maps can be found by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
* First- Aid: During race weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway has Emergency Assistance locations in each grandstand as well as the Infield. Should you or anyone in your party require Emergency Assistance while you are on AMS property, please visit one of those locations or, if needed, dial 911.
For more information on race weekend or to answer any questions you may have please visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or call (770)-707-7904.(AMS PR)

AMS Announces Performers for Aflac Pre-Race Show: Atlanta Motor Speedway has announced three performers – Richie McDonald, Craig Campbell and Chris Hatfield – for the Aflac Pre-Race Show prior to the running of the Kobalt Tools 500 on Sunday, March 8. McDonald, the former lead singer for platinum-selling band Lonestar, will sing the National Anthem, while Campbell and Hatfield will perform mini-concerts as part of the Aflac Pre-Race Show. In addition to McDonald, Campbell and Hatfield, singer Megan Peeler will perform the National Anthem prior to Saturday’s American Commercial Lines 200 and the duo The Two Timers will sing the Anthem before Friday’s Georgia Power Qualifying Night. For more information or tickets visit atlantamotorspeedway.com or call (770)-707-7904.(AMS PR)(3-2-2009)

Drivers to Conduct Fan Forums at Speedway Motorsports Races: NASCAR drivers and Speedway Motorsports are teaming up to bring fans closer to their favorite drivers than ever before. The new "PRN Up To SPEED" program will bring NASCAR's top names out for fan forums at the SPEED Stage during each of the 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends at Speedway Motorsports' seven speedways across the country. The Performance Racing Network's on-air personalities will emcee question-and-answer sessions with some of the sport's biggest personalities at the SPEED Stage leading up to SPEED's regularly scheduled weekend programming.
"PRN Up To SPEED" will kick off Sunday at 9:30am/et, at the SPEED Stage located in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway midway. The stellar lineup will include Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch, legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon. Each Speedway Motorsports track [Atlanta, Bristol, Infineon, Las Vegas, Lowe's, New Hampshire, Texas] that hosts a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will hold "PRN Up To SPEED" sessions during their respective race weekend. The location of the SPEED Stage may vary from track to track, but at all Speedway Motorsports facilities, the stage is always located in an area where access is free of charge for fans.(SMI PR)(3-1-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Renovating Infield Hospitality Village: Atlanta Motor Speedway is conducting a two-phased renovation of the facility’s unique infield hospitality area with the first phase slated for completion prior to the Speedway’s March 8 Kobalt Tools 500 race date. The renovation, which will include an extension of the current hospitality area, the paving of gravel lots and infrastructure improvements, will allow the Speedway to better serve its corporate clients through the use of the improved hospitality facilities. The first phase is set for completion before the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race date at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 8. Phase one will include the paving of gravel lots used for the infield hospitality area and the development of a new entrance into the hospitality area. The renovation’s second phase, slated to begin after the March race date and be completed before Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Labor Day weekend race date, will extend the current hospitality space and provide finishing touches to the infield hospitality area. In addition to the current hospitality renovations, the motorsports and multi-use facility also renovated its luxury suites in 2005. In 2006, the Speedway added Club One, a premier 704-seat public luxury suite with theatre-style seating and rooftop-viewing access.(AMS PR)(2-22-2009)

First 1,000 Atlanta Motor Speedway Racing Roulette Tix Gone in 15 Mins.: After arriving Sunday at 1:15 p.m. and camping overnight, Amber Lee of McDonough was the first in line for Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Racing Roulette promotion that began at 9:00am on Monday. For the Racing Roulette promotion, the first 1,000 tickets sold Monday for the Kobalt Tools 500 were sold at $17 to commemorate Matt Kenseth’s win in the Daytona 500. All 1,000 tickets were sold in approximately 15 minutes. Lee was the first in a long line of enthusiastic fans, many of which stayed at the Speedway overnight, to ensure their $17 tickets to the March 8 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Racing Roulette promotion continues through 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday with a buy one regular-priced $95 ticket, get the second for $17 deal. Fans can continue to purchase Racing Roulette tickets by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(2-17-2009)

Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Racing Roulette Returns for 2009: After tremendous response a year ago, Racing Roulette returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway in what could result in the lowest-ever ticket prices for the March 8 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase Kobalt Tools 500 tickets for the price of the winning car number of Sunday’s Daytona 500. Regularly priced at $95, the first 1,000 tickets will be sold with a limit of two per customer at the discounted rate starting at 9am on Monday, Feb. 16. While the 2008 Roulette promotion featured just 1,000 tickets, the 2009 Racing Roulette contest will be available to all fans wishing to buy tickets through 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 or until all of the Speedway’s $95 tickets are sold. For those who miss out on the initial 1,000 tickets sold, fans can purchase additional tickets at a discount of buy one regularly-priced ticket, get the second ticket for the price of the winning Daytona 500 car number. Atlanta Motor Speedway introduced the Racing Roulette program a year ago and quickly sold 1,000 $12 tickets following Ryan Newman’s victory in the 2008 Daytona 500. Adding to the intrigue of the 2009 Racing Roulette promotion, the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet of Martin Truex Jr. and the #5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet of Mark Martin hold the front row starting spots for Sunday’s Daytona 500. In the race’s history, the winner has come from the front row more than 30 percent of the time. For more information or to purchase Racing Roulette tickets following the Daytona 500, fans can visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com, call 1-877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849).(AMS PR)(2-11-2009)

AMS partners with local hotels to cap rates: In an ongoing effort to make attending Atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR events more economically feasible for its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway has partnered with local hotels to offer fans discounted room rates for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend. Atlanta Motor Speedway is working with more than 20 area hotels to provide NASCAR fans with rooms priced at $125 or less. Each cooperating hotel will not require multiple-night stays and will provide locked-in rates for fans using promotion code, “AMS Discount.”
“As a part of our ongoing commitment to providing fans the best race experience at a reasonable price, we have partnered with local hotels to provide acceptable rates to our fans,” said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. “We are already offering a number of special ticket prices and providing these hotel rates can only help to make attending the Kobalt Tools 500 even more affordable for the fans who have supported us throughout the years.” A complete list of participating hotels is including with this release and fans can visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com to view the list as additional hotels are added.(AMS PR)(2-10-2009)

Kobalt Tools Buy 1 Ticket Get 1 Free at AMS: As a special discount for Lowe’s customers, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe’s have partnered to offer a buy one ticket, get one free deal to racing fans who spend $25 or more at Lowe’s. After making a purchase of $25 or more at Lowe’s, racing fans can call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office and use the sales number on their Lowe’s receipt to receive their buy one ticket, get one free special. To contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office, call 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or 770-946-4211.(AMS PR)(1-31-2009)

Labor Day Start Times at AMS announced: NASCAR announced the start times for Atlanta Motor Speedway’s first Sprint Cup night race to be held on Labor Day weekend and the accompany Nationwide Series race. The Labor Day Weekend Sprint Cup Series night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Sept. 6, while the Nationwide Series race will start at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5.(AMS PR)(1-29-2009)

Calling All Collectors - The Search for Missing Atlanta Programs: As Atlanta Motor Speedway is celebrating its 100th race at the Kobalt Tools 500, the track is turning to its fans for help in an effort to fill in three gaps in the track’s program archives. Atlanta Motor Speedway will offer two Kobalt Tools 500 frontstretch tickets to any fan willing to donate one of the three missing programs to the track. The missing programs are from: the 1960 Dixie 300, the 1960 Atlanta 500, and the 1970 Atlanta 500. Fans interested in redeeming one of the three missing programs for two frontstretch tickets should contact Monica Donaldson in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at 770-946-3946. Only the first fan to donate each missing program will receive tickets.(AMS PR)(1-28-2009)

Limited Infield Camping Spaces Remain for Kobalt Tools 500 at AMS: Adding to the excitement of attending the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR race weekend, camping at Atlanta Motor Speedway can supplement the thrilling race action and make a trip to one of NASCAR’s fastest tracks even more memorable. Atlanta Motor Speedway offers numerous camping options for NASCAR fans, including a limited number of infield High Speed Corral camping spaces for the March 6-8 Kobalt Tools 500. In addition to infield camping opportunities, racing fans can still secure outside reserved camping in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s larger campgrounds. Due to quantities available, those attending the Kobalt Tools 500 are encouraged to secure spots now in the Family Campground, as well as Legends, East Turn, First Turn and Speedway Boulevard. In addition to reserved camping opportunities at AMS, unreserved camping will also be available during the race weekend for just $60 payable upon arrival. Camping spaces, as well as tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, can be purchased by calling the AMS ticket office at 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849), or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(1-17-2009)

Tix on Sale for Labor Day Race at Atlanta: Due to requests for Labor Day NASCAR race weekend tickets, the general on-sale date for Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Labor Day weekend NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race has been moved up to Jan. 7. Beginning at 9am on Jan. 7, fans can purchase their tickets to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s first-ever Sprint Cup night race by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office, visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com, or through an authorized Ticketmaster retailer. For the first-time ever, Atlanta Motor Speedway is offering fans a payment plan to purchase tickets. Race fans can reserve their Labor Day weekend Sprint Cup race ticket for just $20. They will then pay half of the purchase balance by April 5, with the remaining balance due on June 5. In addition to the payment plan, Atlanta Motor Speedway has introduced ticket specials for the Labor Day weekend NASCAR events. Among the offered deals, fans can purchase a $39 adult ticket or $19 student ticket in the Elliott Grandstand or an $88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fan section ticket in the Earnhardt Grandstand.(AMS PR)(1-7-2009)

Holiday fan festival at Atlanta in Sat.: The Atlanta Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities is set to play host to Race to the Holidays, a holiday-themed family festival benefitting Speedway Children's Charities and the Metro South Association of Realtors Education Foundation. The event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6th from 10am to 3pm at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Race to the Holidays will be held in the Nationwide Garage in the infield of Atlanta Motor Speedway. The family festival will feature crafts and games for children, photos with Santa, a secret Santa shop and more. An auction is also set to take place with a variety of holiday items up for bidding, including holiday baskets, wreaths, trees, travel packages and other elaborate holiday items. Entertainment and performances will be provided by local entertainers, bands and dance groups. Admission is just $10 for adults, $5 for teens (ages 13 to 19), and children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. For more information, visit the Speedway Children's Charities webpage at www.speedwaycharities.org.(AMS PR)(12-5-2008)

Tickets on Sale for March's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta: Gearing up for the 2009 Sprint Cup season, tickets are now on sale for the March 8 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Kobalt Tools 500, the fourth date in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series schedule. In addition, the race will hold a special significance for Atlanta Motor Speedway, as the 2009 Kobalt Tools 500 marks the track's 100th Sprint Cup race and 50th year of operation. With March's Kobalt Tools 500 race date sitting just more four months away, Atlanta Motor Speedway has already introduced a number of ticket specials for the event. Ticket prices for the event start at just $19 for a student ticket or $39 for an adult ticket located in the Elliott Grandstand. The Lowes Family Four Pack provides families with four tickets, four hot dogs and four Cokes for just $159. The Speedway is also offering an $88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. ticket in the Earnhardt Grandstand. To inquire about any of Atlanta Motor Speedway's ticket specials and to purchase great seats for the Kobalt Tools 500, please contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211, or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(11-7-2008)

Tickets for the Labor Day race at Atlanta up for sale: The 2009 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be the first Labor Day event and first NASCAR night race in track history and only the second NASCAR race held at AMS in September (the first was Sept. 17, 1961). Traditionally, the Labor Day race was held in Darlington before being moved to California three years ago. The Labor Day event will feature a Nationwide Series event on Saturday, Sept. 5 before the crown jewel, the Sprint Cup race on Sunday, Sept. 6, under the lights. Fans who purchased tickets to this weekend’s Pep Boys Auto 500 will have the first option to reserve tickets to the historic Labor Day race weekend by calling (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.(AMS PR)(10-26-2008)

Atlanta Concerts: Former US Army Ranger Keni Thomas will perform a special concert on Sunday of the Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend. The concert is presented by Vault and the USO and Thomas will be appearing on the VAULT Stage at 11am/et. on Sunday, Oct. 26. The VAULT Stage is located behind the Earnhardt Grandstand near Gate 15. Fans are encouraged to help the USO support our military members by making contributions into bottle-shaped bins beside the VAULT stage or by donating Coke Rewards points at mycokerewards.com. Thomas, a former Ranger, fought with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Rangers in Somalia and was engaged in part of the battle highlighted in “Blackhawk Down.” Since ending his military career, he has pursued music as his career and passion and was featured in the movie, “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Up-and-coming country act Brantley Gilbert will be performing “Georgia on my Mind” before the start of the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Sunday, Oct. 26. Gilbert, a native of Jefferson, is slated to perform at 1:53 p.m. preceding the Pep Boys Auto 500.(AMS PR)(10-24-2008)

Pep Boys Auto 500 Weekend October 24-26 Traffic Plan:
Basic Traffic Plan for the Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend (October 24-26):
Fans have a choice of which major route to take, either Hwy. 19/41 or Hwy. 20 from I-75 southbound. I-75 northbound race fans can exit at either Exit 212 Hampton-Locust Grove Road or Exit 218, GA Hwy 20. Please choose which route to take based on where you would like to park on property; fans will be directed to a certain lot based on which way they enter the speedway. Trams, shuttle buses and sidewalks will allow fans to get to their seats easily regardless of where they park on property. Be advised that the direction fans enter speedway property is the same direction they will exit.
ENTERING THE SPEEDWAY: From Hwy. 19/41: FROM THE NORTH: Those traveling from the North (traveling southbound on Hwy. 19/41) will be directed to parking lots on the north side of the property and should utilize Speedway Blvd. Those traveling south on Hwy. 19/41 will turn right at Speedway Boulevard and park in the yellow, red or green parking lots off of Speedway Blvd. Those with vehicle credentials need to stay in the left lane, use the counter-flow lane as they approach the speedway and enter just south of the main entrance at entrance E or at entrance G off of Richard Petty Blvd.
FROM THE SOUTH: Those traveling from the South (traveling northbound on Hwy. 19/41 from Griffin) will turn at the main speedway entrance and will be directed to the blue parking lot.
From Hwy. 20: Those traveling on Hwy. 20 will be directed to the Weaver or orange parking lot on the south side of the property.
EXITING THE SPEEDWAY: Fans will leave the same way they came in. If they entered from the North, they will be directed northbound. Those who enter from the South will be directed southbound.
Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org. For its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each gate.(AMS PR)(10-22-2008)

Flyover Set for Pep Boys Auto 500: The 919th Special Operations Group from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida will conduct a military flyover before the Pep Boys Auto 500, including a Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The massive C-130 is the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide, used by more than 50 nations in more than 40 models and variations. Great seats are available for as little as $39 for an adult ticket. Call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-877-AMS-TIX, 770-946-4211 or go to atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(10-21-2008)

American Idol’s Michael Johns to Sing National Anthem at AMS: Atlanta Motor Speedway has secured singer and heartthrob Michael Johns to sing the National Anthem and a mini concert as part of the Kroger Pre-Race Show before the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 26. Johns, who quickly gained national fame for his soulful voice and handsome looks on American Idol’s seventh season, recently wrapped up performing on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008. The Perth, Australia native with ties to Georgia is geared up to perform before the Pep Boys Auto 500. In addition to Johns’ National Anthem performance preceding the Pep Boys Auto 500, singer Katie Lawhorne will sing the National Anthem before Saturday’s festivities and Thea Agnew will do so on Friday. Lawhorne, a 13-year old Stockbridge, Ga. native, will provide a local flair for the National Anthem performances. For fans interested in attending the Pep Boys Auto 500 and seeing Johns, Lawhorne and Agnew sing the National Anthem, great seats are available for as little as $39 for an adult ticket. Call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-877-AMS-TIX or 770-946-4211 and reserve your seat today.(AMS PR)(10-20-2008)

Record Purse Set for Atlanta Races: With nearly $7 million dollars in posted prize money on the line, NASCAR’s top drivers will go head-to-head during the Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend for the largest purse offered in the history of Atlanta Motor Speedway. When all is said and done, $6,799,225 in prize money will be awarded to the Sprint Cup Series drivers in the Pep Boys Auto 500 and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers in the Atlanta 200, all battling for a cut of the record purse on the high banks of AMS. The fight for the record purse begins on Friday, Oct. 24 with Hot Shot Qualifying Night. Watch the brightest stars of the Sprint Cup series shine under the lights of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s 1.54-mile quad-oval, as they compete for the pole position to lead the field to the green flag come race day on Sunday. Round two comes on Saturday, Oct. 25, when the action heats up as the Craftsman Truck series hits the track for Atlanta 200. Undefeated in a truck at AMS, Kyle Busch will put perfection on the line as he attempts to become just the third driver ever to win four NCTS races on one track. Race weekend comes to a head on Sunday, Oct. 26 for the Pep Boys Auto 500, the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Watch the top stars in NASCAR exchange blows for 500 miles on the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway, each competing for first place and a large piece of the record purse. Great seats are available for all Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend events, October 24-26th. Call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-877-AMS-TIX or 770-946-4211 and reserve your seat today.(AMS PR)(10-20-2008)

Atlanta Motor Speedway To Honor Bill Elliott and 1988 Championship Team: Atlanta Motor Speedway will honor Bill Elliott's 1988 Melling Racing Team to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the team's 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship as part of the pre-race activities for the Oct. 26 Pep Boys Auto 500. Many of Elliott's crew members from the 1988 Championship team will join the Dawsonville native on stage for a recognition ceremony. Elliott's team, based in his hometown of Dawsonville, is the only team located outside of North Carolina to win both the driver and owner championships.(AMS PR)(10-14-2008)

Pit Pass Gives Fans a Behind-The-Scenes View at Atlanta Motor Speedway: Racing is special, because fans can get more access to restricted areas than in any other sport. By purchasing a pre-race pit pass for the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Oct. 26, fans have the opportunity to stroll the same pit area used by NASCAR teams during the Pep Boys Auto 500, the Atlanta 200 Craftsman Truck Series race and Hot Shot Qualifying Night. For exclusive pit-area access, Atlanta Motor Speedway pit passes start at only $75 for Friday's Hot Shot Qualifying Night and access for all three days is just $125. Three three-day pass allows fans to get as close as possible for Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Oct. 24, the Atlanta 200 truck race on Saturday, Oct. 25, and the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Sunday, Oct. 26. A Sunday-only pass is $100. To purchase tickets and pre-race pit passes to the Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend, fans can call 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(9-24-2008)

AMS's Club One Provides the Ultimate Racing Experience: For a one-of-a-kind luxury experience at the Pep Boys Auto 500 Sprint Cup race, look no further than Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Club One. Perched atop the Winners grandstand in turn one, Club One provides luxurious, reserved theatre-style seating, a lounge area, and premium food and beverage accommodations. As if those entertainment highlights aren’t enough to draw racing’s best fans, Club One also provides pre-race pit passes, reserved parking and exclusive rooftop access, which was previously available to just race spotters and photographers. On top of giving fans the ultimate in luxury race viewing, Club One provides their ticket holders the opportunity to stay right next to where you’re going enjoying the race. Club One Camping offers 30 RV camping spots at the base of the Winners grandstand, right next to where Club One is located making it a convenient jaunt with easy access to the Winners grandstand and Club One. Race fans can purchase Club One seats for the entire Pep Boys Auto 500 Sprint Cup weekend, which includes tickets to Friday’s Hot Shot Qualifying Night and Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series Atlanta 200, or purchase a Club One ticket for just the Pep Boys Auto 500. For more information or to schedule your individual preview, call Mary Cason at 1-877-AMS-TIX or 770-946-4211.(AMS PR)(9-22-2008)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Offers Facilities to Hurricane Evacuees: With weather forecasts calling for the potential Eastern seaboard landfall of tropical storm Hanna this week, Atlanta Motor Speedway has once again opened its facilities to aid those displaced by hurricanes striking the Atlantic or Gulf coasts. As tropical storms Hanna, Ike and Josephine lurk in the Atlantic Ocean and Hurricane Gustav evacuees are urged to allow time for recovery before returning, Atlanta Motor Speedway will extend a helping hand and allow those displaced to utilize the Speedway’s acres of camping. Atlanta Motor Speedway will provide facilities to both tent campers and RVs, including shower facilities. All unreserved camp areas will be available to pop-up tent campers, while East Turn will be used for dry RV camping. In addition, those with RVs in need of full hook-ups can reserve a premium RV spot for $35 per day. Traditionally, Atlanta Motor Speedway has annually offered its camping facilities to those fleeing tropical storms as a planned evacuation destination, including a number who recently fled Hurricane Gustav. For additional information, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-877-9-AMS-TIX or the Henry County Emergency Management Office at 770-957-9121.(AMS PR)(9-3-2008)

2009 Cup Schedule Announced, 4 "off" weeks: NASCAR announced today its national series schedules for the 2009 season, which features realigned dates for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Truck Series. In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series there will be a three-way date swap between Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) and Talladega Superspeedway.
• Atlanta’s second 2009 race will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, taking the Labor Day weekend slot now held by Auto Club Speedway.
• Auto Club Speedway’s second race will be Sunday, Oct. 11 – the fourth week of the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,” a slot formerly held by Talladega.
• Talladega’s second event will move to Sunday, Nov. 1, making it the seventh Chase event – the slot formerly held by Atlanta.
“The 2009 schedule reflects realigned dates that are good opportunities for everyone involved in our sport – fans, sponsors, tracks and teams," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. The season begins with a tripleheader weekend at Daytona International Speedway capped by the running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15. In addition to that season-opening event for the Sprint Cup Series, the Truck Series starts its season on Friday night, Feb. 13, followed the next afternoon by the Nationwide Series opener. For all three series, the season will conclude with another tripleheader weekend, at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20-22.
Other key NASCAR Sprint Cup dates in 2009:
• The 31st annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona – a non-points event – will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7.
• On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 12, Richmond International Raceway will again host the “Chase cut-off” race, affording the last opportunity for drivers to qualify for NASCAR’s championship playoffs.
• New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the first races in both the “Race to the Chase” (Sunday, June 28) and the Chase (Sunday, Sept. 20).
There also will be an additional off-week for NASCAR’s premier series in 2009, prior to the Labor Day weekend event, giving teams a final break before a 12-week stretch that will end the season. Because of the way the calendar falls, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams will have a total of four off-weeks during the 2009 season.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have a 35-race schedule. Changes from this year include a new event at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1, replacing Mexico City; a switch of the Atlanta Motor Speedway event from March to September; and moving the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event in Montreal to Sunday, Aug. 30.
The NASCAR Truck Series in 2009 again will have 25 races, with one realigned date: The series’ late-season race at Atlanta will be replaced by a night event at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday, Aug. 28.(NASCAR PR)(8-19-2008)

Family Four Pack for Atlanta Cup race: Responding to overwhelming demand, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Pep Boys are continuing a popular way for fans to save money while enjoying October's Pep Boys Auto 500 in person, the Pep Boys Family Four Pack. Atlanta Motor Speedway is now offering this family special for the popular October race date during the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The Pep Boys Family Four Pack includes four lower level Elliott Grandstand seats, four hot dogs and four 20-ounce Coca-Colas for just $159. In order to receive these ticket offers while supplies last, fans should call the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at 1-877-9-AMS-TIX or visit www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.(AMS PR)(8-16-2008)

Camping Spaces Going Quick at Atlanta: While Atlanta Motor Speedway offers numerous camping options for NASCAR fans, less than 20 infield camping spaces remain available for the Pep Boys Auto 500 Sprint Cup Series weekend. Located on the infield in High Speed Corral between Turns Three and Four, fans wanting to take advantage of the weekend's infield activities need to act quickly in order to claim this prime viewing location. While camping spaces are being purchased at a rapid rate, significant quantities of outside reserved camping spaces are also available in the Mid-State Family camping lots, as well as Legends, East Turn, First Turn and Speedway Boulevard. Because of the quantities available, fans interested in purchasing a camping space are encouraged to reserve their space now. In addition to reserved camping opportunities at AMS, unreserved camping will also be available during the race weekend for just $60 payable upon arrival. Camping spaces, as well as tickets to the Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend, can be purchased by calling the AMS ticket office at 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849), or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(8-8-2008)

Atlanta retains agency to boost attendance: Atlanta Motor Speedway has retained Blue Sky Agency, an Atlanta-based advertising firm, to launch a brand campaign to increase attendance. Many tracks that host Sprint Cup races have reported flat or declining attendance the past few years, and AMS has seen a double-figure drop across all of its events in the past three to four years, according to Ed Clark, the speedway's president. Those tracks don't release specific attendance numbers. The decline is usually blamed on the expense of gas because NASCAR depends on fans to travel long distances, many in gas-guzzling RVs and campers. Part of the new marketing plan likely will involve shrinking the radius around Atlanta to which AMS markets, Clark said.(Sporting News)(7-19-2008)

California race to move rumor returns: Speculation is mounting that NASCAR's Labor Day race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana could be moved to October, starting next year. The track has struggled to sell all of its 92,000 seats on Labor Day weekend partly because of the weekend's typically hot temperatures, and has petitioned NASCAR for another date. One proposal being weighed is a three-track swap, in which Fontana would receive Talladega Superspeedway's date in October, Atlanta Motor Speedway would get the Labor Day race and Talladega would receive Atlanta's fall date in October. That would put the California race in the middle of the 10-race Chase for the Cup that decides NASCAR's premier championship. But NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said the sanctioning body is still meeting with officials for all tracks and that next year's schedule "is still being determined." NASCAR hopes to announce the schedule by September, he added. Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker said "nothing has been decided yet" and that the three-track swap idea "is one of several scenarios that I have heard are being discussed." She also said "it's possible that [Labor Day] date will remain the same" next year but is hopeful of moving the race. "Everyone is in agreement that a later date for the second [Fontana] race is in the best interests of the sport," Zucker said. Her track also stages a Cup race in late February.(Los Angeles Times)(5-25-2008)

Two SMI presidents deny tracks may lose race dates: The presidents of two Speedway Motorsports Inc. tracks firmly dismissed the notions that their facilities could lose Sprint Cup dates in order to provide Kentucky Speedway with one. New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway have been mentioned as tracks that could lose a race, but NHIS President Jerry Gappens and AMS President Ed Clark shot down the idea that SMI Chairman Bruton Smith would ever do that. In fact, both presidents said they are planning to finalize sanctioning agreements with NASCAR on Friday morning for two races each in 2009. "Bruton has not given me any, any indication at all that he's looking to change anything," Gappens said. "...I don't think this will have any impact. I think there's more to the puzzle that he's got to finish completing to do some of the things he's thinking." Clark vehemently denied that his track, which has struggled with attendance recently, would have a date moved elsewhere. "I'm tired of people bringing that up, because I get so sick of answering it, I'm about to scream," he said. "You can go ask Bruton, you can ask me – there is no chance. It is not going to happen."(SceneDaily)(5-23-2008)

Pep Boys Auto 500 Weekend Tickets Now On Sale: NASCAR returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend on October 24-26, and tickets for all three days of racing action are on sale now. The Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend kicks off with the fastest qualifying session in NASCAR during Hot Shot Qualifying Night on Friday, Oct. 24. On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Craftsman Truck Series drivers will showcase their door-banging action in the Atlanta 200. The weekend will culminate on Sunday, Oct. 26, with the running of the Pep Boys Auto 500, a pivotal race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. See atlantamotorspeedway.com for more ticket packages.(AMS)(5-14-2008)

Scouts to Race at AMS UPDATE: Saturday is Atlanta Motor Speedway's biannual Scout Day at the Races, when all Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in uniform are admitted free for the day's festivities, including the Nicorette 300 Nationwide Series race. New for this year will be a Pinewood Derby demonstration in front of the Petty Grandstand after the conclusion of the Nicorette 300. Sprint Cup owner Ray Everham and broadcaster Mike Joy will host the event, and all scouts participating will receive a commemorative certificate and a T-shirt that says "I raced at Atlanta Motor Speedway." To get prepared for the big day, there was a special media flight of the Pinewood Derby held Friday morning in the media center, which was won by five-year-old Will Lanford, son of Atlanta Fox 5 sportscaster Buck Lanford. He clutched the winning Fox-5 "sponsored" car long after the end of the contest, and later had his carved wooden trophy autographed by Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards. The beautifully carved trophy was actually created by Atlanta Motor Speedway's own Grandstand Supervisor, Shaun Kelley, an accomplished woodworker.(AMS PR)(3-8-2008)
UPDATE jayski.com #7 finishes 3rd: Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children's Charities conducted the first autotrader.com Pinewood Derby event Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nearly 100 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts braved the chilly weather to watch the Nicorette 300 and race their cars down the 30 foot extruded aluminum track. Sprint Cup Series team owner Ray Evernham built two sleek entries, which were awarded to the winning scouts. Every scout received a "I raced at Atlanta Motor Speedway" T-shirt and certificate.
In the MRO class for NASCAR participants' family members, Christian Yates raced his #28 to a one car length victory over John Hunter Nemechek's #78 Furniture Row entry, with Scott Joy's jayski.com #7 an inch behind in third, and Skylar Riggs' #66 fourth. Macy Waltrip, Layne Riggs, Todd Gilliland, and Emilia Reutimann also competed, racing cars that they and their dads had built.
A variety of strategies were employed. Waltrip's car was "loose" and benefitted from a tire change, while graphite lube was a hot commodity among drivers trying to keep up with Yates' "horsepower". Joe Nemechek served as honorary starter, From FOX Sports, Mike Joy was race director and Matt Yocum was finish line judge. Proud crew chiefs included Doug Yates, Michael Waltrip, David Reutimann, Scott Riggs, David Gilliand, Ray Evernham, Nemechek and Joy. MRO President Billy Mauldin presented the awards. The next event is planned for Charlotte in May.(3-9-2008)

GA Governor to host Atlanta Motor Speedway Day: Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue will host the 6th annual Atlanta Motor Speedway Day at the Georgia State Capitol [Atlanta, GA], along with Georgia State Senator John Douglas, AMS President and General Manager Ed Clark, Past champion Rusty Wallace, David Ragan (Unadilla, Ga. native), Steve Wallace, David Stremme, Truck Series Owner Billy Ballew (Blairsville, Ga. native and resident), Andy Lally (Dacula, Ga. resident and driver for TRG Motorsports) outside the State Capitol on Mitchell Street [If it rains, the location will be inside the Capitol in the North Wing] on Thursday, March 6 @ 10:45am/et.(AMS PR)(3-5-2008)

Kobalt Tools 500 Weekend March 7-9 Traffic Plan: Due to the March 7-9 Kobalt Tools 500 race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the south side of Atlanta will experience especially heavy traffic flow throughout the event weekend. Please help us advise the more than 120,000 fans expected for the Kobalt Tools 500 the best routes for entering and exiting the speedway. Traffic is expected to be heaviest during the Friday evening rush hour, as fans head to the track for Georgia Power Qualifying Night and the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck race. Saturday afternoon will consist of the Nicorette 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The weekend will culminate with Sunday’s (March 9) Kobalt Tools 500. Fans are encouraged to leave early to avoid the rush of traffic expected to reach the race track around 8 a.m.
Where: All racetrack-bound roads, especially Hwys. 19/41 and GA Hwy. 20 (Bruton Smith Parkway)
**Important Note: For its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each gate.**
Basic Traffic Plan for the Kobalt Tools 500 weekend (March 7-9):
Fans have a choice of which major route to take, either Hwy. 19/41 or Hwy. 20 from I-75 southbound. I-75 northbound race fans can exit at either Exit 212 Hampton-Locust Grove Road or Exit 218, GA Hwy 20. Please choose which route to take based on where you would like to park on property, because fans will be directed to a certain lot based on which way they enter the speedway. Trams, shuttle buses and sidewalks will allow fans to get to their seats easily regardless of where they park on property. Be advised that the direction fans enter speedway property is the same direction they will exit.
ENTERING THE SPEEDWAY:
From Hwy. 19/41:
FROM THE NORTH: Those traveling from the North (traveling southbound on Hwy. 19/41) will be directed to parking lots on the north side of the property and should utilize Speedway Blvd.
Those traveling south on Hwy. 19/41 need to be in the right lane and will turn right at Speedway Boulevard and park in the yellow, red or green parking lots off of Speedway Blvd. Those with vehicle credentials need to stay in the left lane, use the counter-flow lane as they approach the speedway and enter just south of the main entrance at entrance E or at entrance G off of Richard Petty Blvd.
FROM THE SOUTH: Those traveling in from the South (traveling northbound on Hwy. 19/41 from Griffin) will turn at main speedway entrance and will be directed to the blue parking lot.
From Hwy. 20: Those traveling in on Hwy. 20 will be directed to the orange (Weaver) parking lots on the south side of the property.
EXITING THE SPEEDWAY:
Fans will leave the same way they came in. If they entered from the North, they will be directed northbound. Those who enter from the South will be directed southbound.
Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.(AMS PR)(3-3-2008)

Fan Tips for Those Attending the Race Weekend at Atlanta: Below are some tips that will help ensure fans have a memorable, exciting visit to NASCAR's fastest track, Atlanta Motor Speedway during the March 7-9 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend.
* Gate openings - Various gates will be open each day for fans to access the facility. The following is the schedule with opening times and gates available that day: Friday (12 p.m., gates 12-15), Saturday (9 a.m., Gates 1, 2, 3 and 12-15), Sunday (9 a.m., all gates).
* Important Note: For its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each gate. Fans will be shuttled to their gate regardless of where they park.
* Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol Program - The Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol offers golf cart transportation and general assistance throughout the Atlanta Motor Speedway parking areas. This service is limited to the Atlanta Motor Speedway facility only, providing patrons with the ability to move to and from almost any area on the property. Patrons may inquire about any of these services at the Nationwide Insurance Information Booths located throughout the Atlanta Motor Speedway property.
Atlanta Motor Speedway provides tram service between the campgrounds and the entrance gates before and after events that will depart regularly from the designated Nationwide tram stops. Tram passengers under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Trams are provided as a courtesy service to speedway guests. Due to the demand for this service, continuous riding (joyriding) is prohibited
Campground tram route:
Runs along inner perimeter road. Through the and Legends camping area, with a stop at the northern entrance to the East Turn Campgrounds; adjacent to Entrance E. Trams will also run to Speedway Blvd. reserved and unreserved camping as well as the Mid-State Family Campground.
Infield tram route:
Runs from main entrance to the new tunnel along the road course.
* ATM Machines - Bank of America will have 12 ATM machines at various locations throughout the property. You will find ATM machines at gates 13, 14, and 15 (will call). There are also locations in the Champions, Earnhardt, Petty and Elliott Grandstands, as well as near the infield concessions area.
* Camping Guidelines - Quiet time in all camping areas is from midnight to 7 a.m. (except Mid-State Family Campground, which is 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) Although we do allow the use of generators, we ask that you turn them off by midnight. Also, no flatbed trucks (over 10 feet long), flatbed trailers, box trucks, or portable storage containers are allowed.
* Traffic Reports - Traffic information will be provided by WSB 750 AM. Tune in throughout the weekend for the latest traffic news. Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.
* Beer Cut-Off Times - Beer sales will conclude with 50 laps left in each race. For your convenience please be sure to make your purchases before this time.
* Outside food- While we pride ourselves on providing a variety of food and drink options for our guests, visitors are welcome to bring their own items if they prefer. Coolers larger than 14"x14"x14" and glass bottles are not allowed inside the gates of the speedway. Planning ahead will make your entrance to the speedway much simpler for both our visitors and security officers alike.
* Handicapped Parking Enforcement - Handicapped parking areas will be strictly enforced for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend and misuse could result in being fined and / or towed. These areas are reserved for those fans with a handicap, not for those who plan to use a friend or relative's handicap permit to gain access to these areas. The person who is the owner of that handicapped parking sticker is required to be a passenger in the vehicle.
* Ticket Resale - No tickets may be resold on Speedway property. This will be strictly enforced. Fans can also utilize TicketExchange, Ticketmaster's new online service that enables safe and secure fan-to-fan ticket transactions. Buyers simply select the tickets they want based on price and seat location, without having to bid against other buyers, without having to coordinate delivery from anonymous sellers, and without the gamble that the tickets are fraudulent. Sellers are guaranteed payment for tickets sold, without having to collect payment or deliver the tickets to the buyer.
* Directions to Atlanta Motor Speedway- Directions to AMS, including traffic patterns and facility maps can be found by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
* To Purchase Tickets - Fans can purchase tickets several ways. Tickets are available through the AMS ticket office by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211, online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or through an authorized Ticketmaster retail outlet.(AMS PR)(3-3-2008)

AMS Announces record purse: NASCAR drivers competing in the March 9 Kobalt Tools 500, the March 8 Nicorette 300 and the March 7 American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be battling for nearly $7 million in posted prize money. The awards for the events are part of a $6,763,848 purse announced for the three days of racing that comprise the March 7-9 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend schedule of events. This exciting weekend of racing will kick off Friday night, March 7 with Georgia Power Sprint Cup Qualifying night, immediately followed by the American Commercial Line 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, where the tough trucks of NASCAR will hit the 1.54-mile quad-oval and battle for more than half a million dollars. Racing action will heat up on Saturday, March 8 when the Nationwide Series regulars try and beat select Sprint Cup drivers in the Nicorette 300, with $1,151,315 up for grabs. On Sunday, the stars of the Sprint Cup series will take on the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Kobalt Tools 500, racing for a record purse of $5,060,012. This is the first time in Atlanta Motor Speedway's history the purse has exceeded five million dollars. Great seats are available for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, March 7-9. Contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or visit atlantamotorspeedway.com for more information.(AMS PR)(3-2-2008)

Deal to swap [California/Atlanta] race dates near, Smith suggests: Bruton Smith worked the room in the media center Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, confirming he has proposed swapping his Atlanta track’s October date for the Labor Day weekend slot at Auto Club Speedway in California. “It is the thing to do,” said Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc. “I hope that we will have an answer on that in the very near future.”(Charlotte Observer)(3-1-2008)

AMS Offers Fans Simple Ordering Options at Concession Stands with "Combo" Meals: Cuisine is a large part of any race weekend experience and Levy Restaurants has ensured that fans attending the March 7-9 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway will have a multitude of food options to choose from, including several new items. To speed service, fans will be able to order one of four different food options as a combination meal, in addition to an already full line-up of items. The combo meals will be available at select stands which will still feature a full line-up of food items. To help fulfill a southern race experience, stands will offer new additions such as Brunswick stew and for the first time ever at AMS, race fans will be able to take advantage of in-seat service. Race fans can enjoy a wonderful dining experience as well as incredible racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway during the March 7-9 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend. Tickets are available by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-1-2008)

Calif and Atlanta to switch dates? UPDATE: Rowdy.com reports: "According to our good buddy David Poole, we might find ourselves watching the Labor Day race in Atlanta. There is talk of California and Atlanta switching dates with Cali getting the October Chase race and Atlanta getting Labor Day."(Rowdy.com)(2-22-2008)
UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway president and general manager Ed Clark said Friday that the track has had no discussions with Auto Club Speedway of Southern California about swapping each track's respective fall race date. "I don't know where that's coming from," Clark said. "We'd certainly have to take a look at it and have to talk with our fans and employees and get their views on it. We'd have to at least look at it. If it would be a win-win deal for both sides, it would make sense."(Macon Telegraph)(2-23-2008)

Fans Can Go Behind the Scenes at Atlanta Motor Speedway: With Atlanta Motor Speedway's pre-race pit passes, fans don't have to be a crew member for a SPRINT Cup race team to go behind the scenes during the March 7-9 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend. With a pre-race pit pass, fans can stroll the pit area and watch NASCAR's top drivers and crews as they prepare for and participate in the fastest qualifying session in NASCAR on Friday night, March 7. A Georgia Power Qualifying night and the American Commercial Lines 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pre-race pit pass is just $75. If being behind the scenes on Friday only isn't enough action, fans can be part of the pre-race action all weekend. The Friday-Sunday pre-race pit pass is just $125 and allows fans to see the spectacle of Georgia Power Qualifying and the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series event, the Saturday March 8 Nicorette 300 Nationwide Series race and the Kobalt Tools 500 SPRINT Cup race. A Sunday-only pre-race pit pass is available for only $100. Like the Friday only pre-race pit pass, the three-day pass grants access to the pit area and garage entrance until one hour prior to the event. For more info and to purchase tickets and pre-race pit passes to the Kobalt Tools 500, fans can call 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(2-18-2008)

AMS's offers Lap Sponsorship Packages for 325 Fans: In one of the most exclusive ticket specials offered by Atlanta Motor Speedway, 325 lucky fans have the opportunity to put their name on a lap during the March 9 Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race. With Atlanta Motor Speedway's lap sponsorship packages, fans select a lap to sponsor in the Kobalt Tools 500 and in return receive two coveted pre-race pit passes as well as two tickets to March 7 Georgia Power qualifying night followed by the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series race and the Nicorette 300 Nationwide Series event on Saturday, March 8. In addition, lap sponsors will receive a commemorative certificate of their lap. Pre-race pit passes allow race fans ages 14 years of age and older access to the sights and sounds of race morning. The pit area is open at select times Friday through Sunday and close 45 minutes before race time. Fans also will have their name and lap number published in the race program if purchased before the printing deadline of February 7. For just $300, the lap sponsorship promises race fans memories of a lifetime, two great races and an up-close view of the weekend's pit action. Lap sponsorships and other great ticket packages for the Kobalt Tools 500 weekend can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), or visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(2-7-2008)

Atlanta's Club One Offers Fans Unforgettable Race Day: Fans looking for a truly unique seating alternative during Atlanta Motor Speedway's March 7-9 Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race weekend need to look no further than Club One, AMS' luxury seating option. A large public suite situated high atop the Winners Grandstand, Club One features a premium bar and menu, a 'Sight and Sound' observation deck located on the roof and 65 video screens with quality sound to bring the sights and sounds of the race even closer. Club One patrons also receive pre-race pit passes, direct elevator access from the concourse level and an excellent view of the entire track, including pit road. Exclusive Club One parking is also available as well as a Club One RV parking area reserved for Club One patrons.
Fans interested in any of the above packages call the AMS ticket office at 770-946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. The AMS Ticket Office has extended their hours in preparation for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend effective Saturday, Jan. 26. In addition to standard office hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday), the ticket office will be open Saturdays (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sundays (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.). Starting Monday, Feb. 25, fans will be able to purchase tickets from 8am to 6pm, as well.(AMS PRs)(1-31-2008)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Offering Students $19 Ticket Special to Kobalt Tools 500: With students across the nation enjoying the start of their official "spring break", Atlanta Motor Speedway is offering the cure for a dreaded case of spring fever. The track is making a limited number of $19 tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race available while supplies last. Students of any age, who possess valid school issued identification, can purchase a ticket in the Elliott Grandstand on rows one through six for just $19 while a ticket on rows seven through 39 can be purchased for only $30. Students will be asked to present their identification card at the gate with their ticket, prior to entering the grandstand. Tickets are available by calling the AMS ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(1-19-2008)

AMS Expands "Scout Day at the Races" Program: Following in a long established Speedway Motorsports Incorporated tradition, Atlanta Motor Speedway has broadened its Scout Day at the Races program beginning with the Sat. March 8 Nicorette 300 Nationwide Series race. All members of the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA, in their scouting uniforms, will be admitted free of charge in the turn four Family Grandstand. In addition, one adult leader or parent will receive complimentary admission with each four scouts in uniform. Additional adults with the scout groups will be admitted for $15 and non-scout children 12 years of age and younger will be admitted for $10. The family grandstand offers a fantastic view of the on-track action from the family-friendly, smoke and alcohol free frontstretch Petty Grandstand. A semi-annual program, Scout Day at the Races will be held Saturdays of each NASCAR Sprint Cup race weekend. 2008 Scout Day at the Races events will be held March 8 and Oct. 25. More information about Scout Day at the Races is available by calling 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849) or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(1-12-2008)

Camping Options Available at Atlanta Motor Speedway: Numerous camping options are available for Atlanta Motor Speedway's March 7-9 Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race weekend, including a limited number of infield camping spaces. Tent camping spaces remain, in small quantity, on the infield in the High Speed Corral between Turns Three and Four. Located between Turns One and Two of the infield, the Flock Brothers Corral has a limited number of RV parking spots available for purchase. A number of outside reserved camping spaces are also available in the Legends, East Turn, First Turn, Speedway Boulevard and Mid-State Family camping lots. Because of the quantities available, fans interested in purchasing a camping space are encouraged to act quickly. In addition to reserved camping opportunities at AMS, unreserved camping will also be available during the Kobalt Tools 500 event weekend for just $60. Camping spaces, as well as tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, can be purchased by calling the AMS ticket office at 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849), or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(1-11-2008)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Offers Two Hot Ticket Deals: While NASCAR's elite drivers and teams tune their race cars during pre-season testing, all eyes have turned to the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Atlanta Motor Speedway will once again host two Sprint Cup events in 2008, the first of which will be held the weekend of March 7-9, one week earlier in the season than previous years. Helping usher in a new era in motorsports, the March 9 Kobalt Tools 500 will mark Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first competition laps in the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at AMS. To commemorate the occasion, AMS is offering an $88 ticket in the frontstretch Earnhardt Grandstand for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Located in the Turn Three Elliott Grandstand named after 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, the $39 "Awesome Bill" ticket is another economically priced seating option for fans wanting to attend a Sprint Cup Series event at NASCAR's fastest track. Students with valid school identification may purchase seating in the same section for only $19. Tickets to the entire March event weekend are on sale now and can be obtained by calling (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(1-10-2008)

Atlanta Offers $88 Ticket in Earnhardt Grandstand: Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans will have another reason to get excited about the upcoming NASCAR season and the March 9 Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race as Atlanta Motor Speedway today introduced an $88 ticket special in the frontstretch Earnhardt Grandstand. There will be a limited number of the $88 tickets available which are on sale through the AMS ticket office, www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849)(AMS PR)

Atlanta Offering "Awesome Bill" Ticket Deal: When Bill Elliott was crowned the 1988 Cup Series champion, a ticket to Atlanta Motor Speedway could be purchased for $45. Now, 20 NASCAR seasons later, speedway officials are offering a limited number of $39 “Awesome Bill” tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race. Located in the Turn Three Elliott Grandstand named after Bill Elliott, the $39 “Awesome Bill” ticket is another economically priced seating option for fans wanting to attend a Sprint Cup Series event at NASCAR’s fastest track. Students with a valid school identification may purchase seating in same section for only $19.(AMS PR)(12-6-2007)

Atlanta Offers Smoke-Free Sections Starting in 2008: Fans attending the March 2008 Kobalt Tools 500 event weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway will have a smoke-free seating option. Speedway officials announced the addition of smoke-free sections in three grandstands. Nicorette has partnered with AMS to sponsor the new smoke-free sections which will be available for the 2008 Nicorette 300 Nationwide Series race. Section 156 in the Champions grandstand will be smoke-free on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8. The entire Petty grandstand will be smoke-free on March 8. Sunday's smoke-free sections include section 48 in the Elliott grandstand, section 113 in the Petty grandstand and section 168 in the Winners grandstand.(AMS PR)(10-29-2007)

Cancer Screenings at Atlanta: In the last two weeks, the motorsports community has lost three very dear friends to cancer - publicist Bobby Batson, publicist Ray Cooper and journalist Shav Glick. This weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway has teamed with the Yul Brynner Foundation for the second year in a row in memory of 2005 Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton to screen people for possible head and neck cancer. A fan screening is offered on Saturday outside Gate 15. Doctors and nurses from Emory University Hospital are overseeing the screening.(AMS PR)(10-27-2007)

Pep Boys Auto 500 Weekend October 26-28 Traffic Plan: Basic Traffic Plan for the Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend (October 26-28):
Fans have a choice of which major route to take, either Hwy. 19/41 or Hwy. 20 from I-75 southbound. I-75 northbound race fans can exit at either Exit 212 Hampton-Locust Grove Road or Exit 218, GA Hwy 20. Please choose which route to take based on where you would like to park on property, because fans will be directed to a certain lot based on which way they enter the speedway. Trams, shuttle buses and sidewalks will allow fans to get to their seats easily regardless of where they park on property. Be advised that the direction fans enter speedway property is the same direction they will exit.
ENTERING THE SPEEDWAY:
From Hwy. 19/41: FROM THE NORTH: Those traveling from the North (traveling southbound on Hwy. 19/41) will be directed to parking lots on the north side of the property and should utilize Speedway Blvd.
Those traveling south on Hwy. 19/41 need to be in the right lane and will turn right at Speedway Boulevard and park in the parking lots off of Speedway Blvd. Those with vehicle credentials need to stay in the left lane and enter the speedway just south of the main entrance at entrance E or at entrance G off of Richard Petty Blvd.
FROM THE SOUTH: Those traveling in from the South (traveling northbound on Hwy. 19/41 from Griffin) will turn at main speedway entrance and will be directed to the blue parking lot.
From Hwy. 20: Those traveling in on Hwy. 20 will be directed to parking lots on the south side of the property.
EXITING THE SPEEDWAY: Fans will leave the same way they came in. If they entered from the North, they will be directed northbound. Those who enter from the South will be directed out on the same roads. For up-to-the-minute traffic updates during race weekend, please contact the traffic command center directly at (770) 946-9761.
Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.(AMS PR)(10-25-2007)

John Schneider to Sing National Anthem at Atlanta Cup race: Actor and musician John Schneider will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 28. Best known for his role as Bo Duke in the 1980's hit TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard," Schneider has starred in 14 movies and recorded country music throughout the 1980's. Born in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., in 1960, Schneider grew up in Atlanta and started acting at the age of eight. 1-A-Chord will perform the National Anthem on Saturday, Oct. 27 prior to the start of the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman truck Series event. Formed in Hapeville, Ga. and consisting of six men, 1-A-Chord has traveled the United States sharing their sound in concert halls, shelters and prisons. Stockbridge, Ga.'s Katie Lawhorne will sing the National Anthem preceding Georgia-Pacific Nextel Cup Qualifying under the lights on Friday night, October 26. Lawhorne, an 11-year-old musician, has signed a production contract and her list of accomplishments includes performing at the House of Blues in Hollywood, Calif. Tickets to all three days of racing action are still available by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX, 770-946-4211 or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(10-23-2007)

Water restrictions to change Atlanta sched? The historic Georgia drought may force changes in NASCAR's race plans next weekend at Atlanta. Teams have been told not to wash their big rigs and motor coaches. There has been speculation that NASCAR may change the weekend's format to make the 500 an “impound” race, with no practice after qualifying. Monday's car-of-tomorrow test is also in question, although NASCAR officials yesterday offered no indications it could be canceled. Teams use copious amounts of water to cool their engines during practice runs for qualifying; not a significant amount in the grand scheme of things, but enough perhaps to make for poor PR when the governor has called a state of emergency. All outdoor watering has been banned, because Atlanta has received only two inches of rain over the past two months.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-22-2007)

Fan Tips for Those Attending the Pep Boys Auto 500 Race Weekend: Below are some tips that will help ensure fans have a memorable, exciting visit to NASCAR's fastest track, Atlanta Motor Speedway:
Ų Gate openings - Various gates will be open each day for fans to access the facility. The following is the schedule with opening times and gates available that day: Friday (12 p.m., gates 12-15), Saturday (8:30 a.m., Gates 1 and 12-15), Sunday (9 a.m., all gates).
Ų Important Note: For its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each gate. Fans will be shuttled to their seat regardless of where they park.
Ų Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol Program - The Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol offers golf cart transportation and general assistance throughout the Atlanta Motor Speedway parking areas. This service is limited to the Atlanta Motor Speedway facility only, providing patrons with the ability to move to and from almost any area on the property. Patrons may inquire about any of these services at the Nationwide Insurance Information Booths located throughout the Atlanta Motor Speedway property.
Atlanta Motor Speedway provides tram service between the campgrounds and the entrance gates before and after events and will depart regularly from the designated Nationwide tram stops. Tram passengers under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Trams are provided as a courtesy service to speedway guests. Due to the demand for this service, continuous riding (joyriding) is prohibited
Campground tram route: Runs along inner perimeter road. Through the East Turn and Legends camping areas, with a stop at Entrance M.
Infield tram route: Runs from main entrance to the new tunnel along the road course.
Ų Nationwide Insurance Pit Stops - Nationwide is hosting 2 tented rest areas the display lot. Stop by and relax for a few moments to help fight exhaustion during the race weekend.
Ų ATM Machines - Bank of America will have 12 ATM machines at various locations throughout the property. You will find ATM machines at gates 13, 14, and 15 (will call). There are also locations in the Champions, Earnhardt, Petty and East Turn Grandstands, as well as near the infield concessions area.
Ų Camping Guidelines - Quiet time in all camping areas is from midnight to 7 a.m. (except Mid-State Family Campground) although we do allow the use of generators, we ask that you turn them off by midnight. Also, no flatbed trucks (over 10 feet long), flatbed trailers, box trucks, or portable storage containers are allowed.
Ų Traffic Reports - Traffic information will be provided by WSB 750 AM. Tune in throughout the weekend for the latest traffic news. Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about road/lane closures or construction projects. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.
Ų Beer Cut-Off Times - Beer sales will conclude with 25 laps left in each race. For your convenience please be sure to make your purchases before this time.
Ų Outside food- While we pride ourselves on providing a variety of food and drink options for our guests, visitors are welcome to bring their own items if they prefer. Coolers larger than 14"x14"x14" and glass bottles are not allowed inside the gates of the speedway. Planning ahead will make your entrance to the speedway much simpler for both our visitors and security officers alike.
Ų Handicapped Parking Enforcement - Handicapped parking areas will be strictly enforced for the Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend and misuse could result in being fined and / or towed. These areas are reserved for those fans with a handicap, not for those who plan to use a friend or relative's handicap permit to gain access to these areas. The person who is the owner of that handicapped parking sticker is required to be a passenger in the vehicle.
Ų Ticket Resale - No tickets may be resold on Speedway property. This will be strictly enforced. Fans can also utilize TicketExchange, Ticketmaster's new online service that enables safe and secure fan-to-fan ticket transactions. Buyers simply select the tickets they want based on price and seat location, without having to bid against other buyers, without having to coordinate delivery from anonymous sellers, and without the gamble that the tickets are fraudulent. Sellers are guaranteed payment for tickets sold, without having to collect payment or deliver the tickets to the buyer. For more information on TicketExchange, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Ų Directions to Atlanta Motor Speedway: Directions to AMS, including traffic patterns and facility maps can be found by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(10-20-2007)

Fans Have Opportunity for a 'Behind the Scenes' Tour During COT Test at Atlanta: Fans who purchase a ticket to the March 9, 2008 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race during the Monday, Oct. 29 Car of Tomorrow test at AMS will receive a free behind-the-scenes tour. During the test, which approximately 50 Nextel Cup teams are scheduled to attend, ticket buyers will go under the track, down pit road and into victory lane, where the winner of the Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup race celebrated less than 24 hours before. Admission to the test is free for anyone who purchased a Pep Boys Auto 500 or 2008 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup ticket. Free parking is available in the Blue Lot across from the Earnhardt Grandstand and fans can enter the track through Gate 14.(AMS PR)(10-22-2007)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Announces Record Purse: Drivers competing in the Oct. 26-28 Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend will be battling for their share of a record $6,704,886 purse. The posted purse for the Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup Series event is a record $6,156,331 with a minimum $296,475 earmarked for the winner. Nearly $550,000 is up for grabs in the Oct. 27 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman Truck Series event. This year’s posted awards represent an increase of nearly $150,000 over the 2006 October Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck events at AMS.(AMS PR)(10-21-2007)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Offers Fans a Fat Deal with Fathead Wall Art: Fathead and Atlanta Motor Speedway have teamed up to offer fans one fat deal. For a limited time, fans can purchase a Winners Grandstand ticket ($100 Value) and a life-size NASCAR Fathead wall graphic ($100 value) for just $129, a savings of $71. Fans can watch the race from Turn One at Atlanta Motor Speedway and take their favorite driver or race car home with a Fathead. A bold, colorful, life-size wall graphic of sports and entertainment stars, a Fathead is a life-size high-resolution vinyl graphic that has a special reusable adhesive backing that enables it to be moved from wall to wall. To order, call the AMS Ticket Office at 1-877-9-AMS-TIX and ask for the "Fathead Ticket Special".(AMS PR)(10-19-2007)

Atlanta offers two days of Nextel Cup Action Free to race ticketholders: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expected to test the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy during a two-day Car Of Tomorrow test at Atlanta Motor Speedway and track officials will give fans the opportunity to be the first to see him on the track in his new ride. Earnhardt Jr. and his new #88 crew are one of up to 50 teams expected to participate in the full two-day test on Oct. 29 and 30 following the Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup race. Fans who present a ticket stub from the Oct. 28 event will be granted free admission to both days of the test. Gate 14 in the Earnhardt Grandstand will open with the start of testing at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Fans in attendance will also have an opportunity to register to win guided garage tours and other prizes each day of the test. Tickets to the Pep Boys Auto 500 event weekend, including Friday, Oct. 26 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying night and the Oct. 27 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman Truck Series event are available by contacting the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(10-18-2007)

World Famous Jet Dragster Soars in to Atlanta Motor Speedway: Atlanta Motor Speedway's pit road is usually reserved for high-powered drag cars and NEXTEL Cup stock cars, but it will resemble the flight deck of an aircraft carrier on Friday evening, Oct. 26 when the "F-16 Viper" jet dragster scorches down pit road. The jet engine-powered dragster will make its first pass immediately following Georgia-Pacific Nextel Cup Qualifying, traveling the length of a football field in just over one second, to kick-off the season championship round of the Castrol GTX Friday Night Drag bracket racing. The jet dragster will perform a second run after the conclusion of the final drag race. The dragster, which produces a 30-foot flame and rides on Nextel Cup tires, uses a General Electric engine creating 6,000 pounds of thrust and 5,700 horsepower; more horsepower than the first three rows of the starting line-up in the Sunday, Oct. 28 Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race. Admission to watch the final round of the Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags Championship Bracket Race and the jet-powered dragster is included with the purchase of a ticket to Georgia-Pacific Nextel Cup Qualifying. Tickets are just $20 for the entire evening and can be obtained by calling the AMS ticket office at 1-877-9-AMS-TIX, or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(10-18-2007)

Pre- Pit Passes at Atlanta: With Atlanta Motor Speedway's pre-race pit passes, fans don't have to be a crew member for a Nextel Cup race team to go behind the scenes during the Oct. 26-28 Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend. With a pre-race pit pass, fans can stroll the pit area and watch NASCAR's top drivers and crews as they participate in the fastest qualifying session in NASCAR on Friday night, Oct. 26. A Georgia-Pacific Qualifying night pre-race pit pass is just $75. If being behind the scenes on Friday only isn't enough action, fans can be part of the pre-race action all weekend. The Friday-Sunday pre-race pit pass is just $125 and allows fans to see the spectacle of Georgia-Pacific Qualifying, the Saturday Oct. 27 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman Truck Series race and the Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup race. For more information, visit: www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(10-16-2007)

Kobalt Tools Renews Sponsorship of March Nextel Cup Race at Atlanta: Kobalt Tools has renewed its event entitlement sponsorship of the 2008 spring race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race will serve as the marquee event during the March 7-9 triple-header weekend that also includes the Nationwide Series and the Truck Series.(AMS PR)(10-13-2007)

Jeff Gordon Named Atlanta Grand Marshal with Richard Petty serving as Honorary Starter: Commemorating the 15th anniversary of what many call the single greatest race in NASCAR history, Jeff Gordon will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Oct. 28 Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, giving the command for the drivers to start their engines. Joining Gordon in pre-race honors, Richard Petty has been named as the race's honorary starter, waving the green flag and signaling the start of the race. The fall race at AMS on Nov. 15, 1992, saw seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty take the checkered flag for the final time in his long, storied career and 21-year-old rookie driver Jeff Gordon take the green flag for his first start in a Nextel Cup Series event. In recognition of his 15th anniversary in the Nextel Cup Series and his 31st start at AMS, Gordon will give the infamous command, "Gentlemen, start your engines," prior to the start of the Pep Boys Auto 500. Adding to the fanfare of Petty's last ride, the championship points battle came down to a mere 10-point deficit with eventual champion Alan Kulwicki beating Bill Elliott for the title. Petty's day ended with a fiery crash on lap 95, but he came back to complete the final three laps, eventually taking the checkered flag. While Petty's career ended, Jeff Gordon was just shifting out of first gear. To date, the California native has earned 79 victories, including four at AMS, 310 top-10 finishes and four championships in NASCAR's elite series. To see Petty and Gordon get the Pep Boys Auto 500 started, fans can purchase tickets by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-4-2007)

Pit Passes at Atlanta: With Atlanta Motor Speedway's pre-race pit passes, fans don't have to be a crew member for a Nextel Cup race team to go behind the scenes during the Oct. 26-28 Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend. With a pre-race pit pass, fans can stroll the pit area and watch NASCAR's top drivers and crews as they participate in the fastest qualifying session in NASCAR on Friday night, Oct. 26. A Georgia-Pacific Qualifying night pre-race pit pass is just $75. Like the Friday only pre-race pit pass, the three-day pass grants access to the pit area and garage entrance until 30 minutes prior to the event. Fans must be at least 14-years-old and have appropriate attire in accordance with NASCAR issued guidelines to enter the pit area. No shorts, skirts, sleeveless shirts or open-toed shoes are permitted in the pit area at anytime. Pre-race pit passes are not good for gate admittance and must be accompanied by a grandstand ticket. Quantities are limited so fans are encouraged to reserve their pass in advance. To purchase race tickets or pre-race pit passes to the Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend, fans can call 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(9-28-2007)

By the Numbers at Atlanta Motor Speedway: In any professional sport, statistics, facts and figures dominate fill the annals and NASCAR is no different. Throughout its nearly 50-year existence, Atlanta Motor Speedway has played host to some of the sports most memorable moments and milestones. Below is a numerical look at some interesting historical feats, facts and figures at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
.006 seconds: Margin of victory for Kevin Harvick over Jeff Gordon in the spring 2001 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
3 hours, 3 minutes, 3 seconds in the #3 Chevrolet: Dale Earnhardt's record time for a 500-mile Cup race at AMS on November 12, 1995
9: Of the 12 drivers in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship are driving Chevrolets
24: Degrees of banking in turns at Atlanta Motor Speedway
34: Number of victories for Chevrolet, the most among any manufacturer at Atlanta Motor Speedway
41: Different winners in Atlanta Motor Speedway NEXTEL Cup racing history
45: Record number of lead changes in the fall NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race in 1982
66: Number of AMS starts for Richard Petty, the record for all drivers at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dave Marcis is second with 60 starts
133.87 mph: Pole speed for the July 31, 1960 Dixie 300, the inaugural NASCAR race at AMS. Fireball Roberts sat on the pole and won the race
870: Total acreage at Atlanta Motor Speedway
1,320 feet: Total length of pit road at Atlanta Motor Speedway
$2,843,584: Career NEXTEL Cup winnings for Bobby Labonte at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the most among all drivers
History will be made this October during the Pep Boys Auto 500 on Oct. 28 and fans can witness the action by calling the AMS ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(9-27-2007)

Atlanta's Club One Offers Fans Unforgettable Race Day Experience: Fans looking for a truly unique seating option during Atlanta Motor Speedway's Oct. 26-28 Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup race weekend need to look no further than Club One, AMS' luxury seating option. A large public suite situated high atop the Winners Grandstand, Club One features a premium bar and menu, a 'Sight and Sound' observation deck located on the roof and 65 video screens with quality sound to bring the sights and sounds of the race even closer. Club One patrons also receive pre-race pit passes, direct elevator access from the concourse level and an excellent view of the entire track, including pit road. Exclusive Club One parking is also available as well as a Club One RV parking area reserved for Club One patrons. Fans interested in Club One can contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 770-946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(9-13-2007)

Limited Number of Camping Options Still Available for Atlanta Motor Speedway's: A number of camping options are available for Atlanta Motor Speedway's Oct. 26-28 Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup Series race weekend. Camping spaces remain, in small quantity, in the Mid-State Family Campground, including dry RV spaces. A limited number of camping spaces in the East Turn, Ragu First Turn, and Legends camping lots are available as well. Because of the limited quantities available, fans interested in purchasing a camping space are encouraged to act quickly. In addition to reserved camping opportunities at AMS, unreserved camping will also be available during the Pep Boys Auto 500 event weekend. Still available in a very limited quantity are RV parking spots in the Trackside Terrace lot. Fans who purchase a remaining spot in the Trackside Terrace section will receive 10 admission tickets to a private viewing terrace that overlooks the backstretch of the 1.54-mile quad-oval for the entire weekend. The Trackside Terrace RV parking area not only offers a paved premium parking spot, it also comes equipped with water, electrical and sewer connections for RVs. Camping spaces, as well as tickets to the Pep Boys Auto 500 race weekend, can be purchased by calling 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849), or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(9-10-2007)

Ticket Packages available for Atlanta Fall races: Atlanta Motor Speedway has three ticket packages available for fans wanting more bang for their buck during the Oct. 26-28 Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup Series race weekend. Starting at just $88, fans can purchase a weekend ticket package to five race events at AMS including the qualifying session during Georgia-Pacific Nextel Cup qualifying under the lights on Friday, Oct. 26. Immediately following Friday's qualifying session, the divisional championship bracket races for the Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags will take place as championship contending cars tear down Atlanta Motor Speedway's new eighth-mile pit road drag strip. On Saturday, Oct. 27, the trucks race in the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman Truck Series race. Following the EasyCare 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, the Thunder Ring, AMS' frontstretch quarter-mile oval, will be the center of attention as drivers ranging in age from 8 to 70 will test their skill in Bandoleros, Legends cars and Thunder Roadsters around the quarter-mile track at AMS. Sunday, Oct. 28 will feature the Nextel Cup Series race in the Pep Boys Auto 500. Military packages are also being offered for the October race weekend. Members of America's armed forces can enjoy Saturday and Sunday's action for just $65 and all three days for just $75 with their military identification. For more information on seating options at Atlanta Motor Speedway, fans can contact the AMS ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211 or at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/(AMS PR)(9-3-2007)

Pep Boys to be Title sponsor of Atlanta's Oct Cup race: The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack, the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, announced today that it will be the title sponsor for Atlanta Motor Speedway’s (AMS) 500-mile Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday, October 28. The event will be officially known as the Pep Boys Auto 500. As the headline event for the October 26-28 race weekend.(AMS PR)(8-9-2007)

Atlanta October Race Tickets on Sale Now: Atlanta Motor Speedway's Georgia 500 race weekend tickets are on sale now. The race weekend, held October 26-28, 2007, will provide fans with three days of heart-pounding NASCAR racing excitement. Single-day Nextel Cup tickets start at just $60 and weekend packages start at $88. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, or (877) 9-AMS-TIX, by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-30-2007)

Cancer Screening at AMS: With the recent passing of NASCAR driver Bobby Hamilton from head and neck cancer, this terrible killer is all too relevant. Now Atlanta Motor Speedway is teaming with the Yul Brynner Foundation in honor of Bobby Hamilton to help race fans with free early screening for this devastating disease, which kills more than 15,000 people each year. It will be the second year for the screening at AMS, with six private screening rooms available in the corporate display area in front of Atlanta Motor Speedway. The screening rooms will be open Saturday from 8:30am to 3:00pm and will be manned by doctors and nurses. Last year, head and neck specialists screened more than 200 race fans at AMS, catching many pre-malignant lesions and even some early cancers.(AMS Pit Notes)(3-17-2007)

Atlanta Weekend March 16-18 Traffic Plan: Due to this weekend's Kobalt Tools 500 race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the south side of Atlanta will experience especially heavy traffic flow throughout the weekend. Traffic is expected to be heaviest during the Friday evening rush hour, as fans head to the track for Georgia Power Qualifying Night, and after 8 a.m. on Sunday (March 18) for the Kobalt Tools 500. Fans are encouraged to leave early to avoid the rush of traffic expected to reach the race track around 8 a.m. All racetrack-bound roads, especially Hwys.19/41 and Hwy. 20 (Bruton Smith Parkway) will have heavy traffic. For its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each gate. Fans will be shuttled to their seat regardless of where they park.
Basic Traffic Plan for the Kobalt Tools 500 weekend (March 16-18): Fans have a choice of which major route to take, either Hwy. 19/41 or Hwy. 20 from I-75 southbound. I-75 northbound race fans can exit at either Exit 212 Hampton-Locust Grove Road or Exit 212, Hwy 20. Please choose which route to take based on where you would like to park on property, because fans will be directed to a certain lot based on which way they enter the speedway. Trams, shuttle buses and sidewalks will allow fans to get to their seats easily regardless of where they park on property. Be advised that the direction fans enter speedway property is the same direction they will exit. Entering the Speedway: From Hwy. 19/41: From the North: Those traveling from the North (traveling southbound on Hwy. 19/41) will be directed to parking lots on the north side of the property and should utilize Speedway Blvd.
Those traveling south on Hwy. 19/41 need to be in the right lane and will turn right at Speedway Boulevard and park in the parking lots off of Speedway Blvd. Those with vehicle credentials need to stay in the left lane and enter the speedway at Entrance G off of Richard Petty Blvd. From the South: Those traveling in from the South (traveling northbound on Hwy. 19/41 from Griffin) will turn at main speedway entrance and will be directed to parking lots.
From Hwy. 20: Those traveling in on Hwy. 20 will be directed to parking lots on the south side of the property.
For those interested, GRTA will provide express bus service from Avalon Park in McDonough, off I-75 exit 218. Turn right at exit 218, Turn left at the first stop light and Avalon park is located on the left. This express bus service will have a bus depart at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. and end two hours after the conclusion of the Kobalt Tools 500.
Fans will leave the same way they came in. If they entered from the North, they will be directed to northbound. Those who enter from the South will be directed out on the same roads. Only Buses Will Be Allowed To Exit at Entrance E - No Car Traffic Allowed.(AMS PR)(3-16-2007)

Governor Perdue Celebrates Atlanta Motor Speedway Day: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Sen. John Douglas hosted the fifth annual Atlanta Motor Speedway Day Thursday at the Georgia State Capitol. The function included Cup champion and ESPN analyst Rusty Wallace, Cup drivers Kevin Harvick and David Ragan, Busch driver Steve Wallace, Craftsman Truck drivers Bill Lester, Chase Miller, Joey Clanton and Truck team owner Billy Ballew. Fans in attendance were treated to a parade lap around the State Capitol that saw Gov. Perdue, Harvick and Wallace turn laps on the streets of Downtown Atlanta in Nextel Cup style stock cars.(AMS PR)(3-16-2007)

Georgia Governor to host March 15 Atlanta Motor Speedway Day at State Capitol: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Sen. John Douglas will host the 5th annual Atlanta Motor Speedway Day on Thursday, March 15 at the Georgia State Capitol. Fans are invited and encouraged to attend and show their support for Atlanta's racing industry. Nextel Cup champion and ESPN analyst Rusty Wallace, Cup drivers Kevin Harvick and David Ragan, Busch driver Steve Wallace and Craftsman Truck drivers Bill Lester, Chase Miller, Joey Clanton and owner Billy Ballew will be on hand for the day's festivities. The public is invited to attend this midway of activity which will include a fan zone of showcars on Mitchell Street outside the Capitol. Gov. Perdue will host a news conference at 11:45am/et outside the State Capitol. In addition to the NASCAR drivers, Gov. Perdue will show his support for the nationwide NASCAR Day on May 18, 2007. Atlanta Motor Speedway's two Nextel Cup race weekends contribute an estimated $455 million annually to the Atlanta area economy. Atlanta's races also attract fans from all 50 states and as many as a dozen nations, while another 10 million fans tune in worldwide.(AMS PR)(3-14-2007)

Spectacular Pre-Race Show Planned for Kobalt Tools 500: When country music sensation Darryl Worley performs a concert, it is typically followed by roaring applause, but Worley will have a different encore when he performs a pre-race concert for the Sunday, March 18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Immediately following Worley's concert, FOX television racing analyst and former NASCAR crew chief Jeff Hammond will be delivered to the AMS infield dangling 50-feet below a Black Hawk Helicopter as part of a tribute to America's servicemen and women and in particular, 12 Special Operations Forces Warriors that have recently served in the Middle-East. Also included in the exhibition, conducted by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force base in Florida, will be two Little Bird and two Black Hawk helicopters. In addition, 12 U.S. Army Black Dagger skydivers and a Chinook helicopter will offload the official Atlanta Motor Speedway pace car in the infield.
Adding to the pre-race festivities, Oscar winning screenwriter, director and actor Quentin Tarantino and Hollywood actor Kurt Russell will be on-hand interacting with fans prior to the race to promote their upcoming movie "Grind House." For just $1, fans can have their picture taken with Tarantino and Russell. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Speedway Children's Charities.
Great seats are still available for the entire Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race weekend, including the Nicorette 300 Busch Series race, the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck race and Georgia Power Nextel Cup Qualifying. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (877)-9-AMS-TIX or visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate, the day of the event.(AMS PR)(3-14-2007)

Limited Trackside Terrace RV Parking Spaces Still Available at AMS: Still available in very limited quantity are trackside RV parking spots overlooking the backstretch of the 1.54-mile quad-oval. The Trackside Terrace RV parking area not only offers a paved premium parking spot, it also comes equipped with water, electric and sewer connections for RVs. Fans interested in purchasing a Trackside Terrace RV parking spot can contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-15-2007)

Atlanta Announces Record Purse for Kobalt Tools 500 Weekend: NASCAR drivers competing in the March 18 Kobalt Tools 500, the March 17 Nicorette 300 and the March 16 American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be battling for nearly $7 million in posted prize money. The awards for the Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series events are part of a $6,609,084 purse announced for the three days of racing that comprise the March 16-18 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend schedule of events. The weekend will kick off Friday night, March 16 with Georgia Power Nextel Cup Qualifying night, immediately followed by the American Commercial Line 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, where the tough trucks of NASCAR will battle for more than half a million dollars. Racing action will heat up on Saturday, March 17 when the Busch Series regulars try and beat select Nextel Cup drivers in the Nicorette 300, with $1,115,577 up for grabs. On Sunday, the stars of the Nextel Cup series will take on the high banks at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Kobalt Tools 500, racing for a record purse of $4,957,097. Great seats are still available for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, March 16-18. Contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-3-2007)

Nicorette 300 Busch Series Race at Atlanta dedicated to BP: The Nicorette 300 Busch Series Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 17th will be dedicated in memory of NASCAR legend Benny Parsons (1941-2007). In celebration of "BP", the Parsons family will be honored and recognized as Grand Marshals of the Nicorette 300. Parsons' brother, Phil Parsons, a former Cup driver and current Speed TV broadcaster will represent the family at the race serving as Grand Marshal. In 2006, Benny Parsons was one of six NASCAR legends to serve as Grand Marshals of the Nicorette 300 alongside Richard Petty, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker, and Donnie Allison. Parsons, a supporter of Nicorette's NASCAR smoking cessation programs, was a former smoker himself and had recently accepted an invitation by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare to serve as Grand Marshal for the 2007 Nicorette 300. The Nicorette 300 is the only NASCAR race to ever be sponsored by a smoking cessation product. To honor Parsons' life, fans attending the Nicorette 300 will take part in a "Celebration of BP" during pre-race ceremonies. Nextel Vision will air a special video montage featuring highlights from Parson's racing and broadcasting career as well as memories from many of his friends within NASCAR. NASCAR Nextel Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Truck Series racecars will carry a special "BP-72" contingency sticker throughout the Nicorette 300 weekend to remember Parsons and his car number "72." Tickets to the Nicorette 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway are available. To order tickets, call (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or order on-line at atlantamotorspeedway.com.(Lighthouse Marketing PR)(2-28-2007)

Thunder Track Rally at AMS: S&S Cycle, Inc. and Green Flag Marketing, LLC have teamed up to bring "Thunder Track Rally" to Atlanta March 16-18, 2007 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This first-time event will be one in a series bringing motorcycle riders together with Nextel Cup races. Rally riders can purchase premium ticket packages to the Nextel Cup Series event weekend that includes race tickets, a caravan to Atlanta Motor Speedway, special entrance to the "Thunder Track Rally" hospitality tent, live entertainment, celebrity appearances, food vendors, and more. Packages also include Rally souvenirs (embroidered patch, helmet decal, and hat pin) and secure motorcycle parking. A one-day ticket package is available and includes tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race on Sunday, March 18. Two-day ticket packages are also available and include tickets to the Busch Series Nicorette 300 on Saturday, March 17. For more information visit www.thundertrackrally.com.(PR)(2-28-2007)

Four Tickets for One Low Price at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway has three spectacular ticket packages available for fans wanting more bang for their buck during the March 16-18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup Series race weekend. Starting at just $88, fans can purchase a ticket to all four events at AMS including Georgia Power Nextel Cup qualifying under the lights on Friday, March 16. Immediately following the fastest qualifying session in NASCAR, the toughest trucks on the planet will hit the track for the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series race. Single day tickets are available, as well as several weekend packages. Other options include the Winners Grandstand in Turn One which provides fans an excellent view of the frontstretch, the exit of pit road and the entrance of Turn One. Sitting high atop the Winners Grandstand is Club One, a club-type atmosphere providing fans with a truly one-of-a-kind racing experience in a climate-controlled environment. Club One offers a premium menu, bar, theatre-style seating and a sight and sound observation deck on the roof for fans wanting to experience the race action outdoors. For more information on seating options at Atlanta Motor Speedway, fans can contact the AMS ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, at atlantamotorspeedway.com or through an authorized Ticketmaster retail outlet.(AMS PR)(2-5-2007)

Camping Options Still Available At Atlanta: Camping options are still available for Atlanta Motor Speedway's March 16-18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup Series race weekend, including a limited number of infield camping spaces. Tent camping spaces remain, in small quantity, on the infield in the High Speed Corral between Turns One and Two. Additionally, camping spaces remain in the East Turn, Ragu First Turn, Club One and Mid-State Family camping lots, outside of the AMS infield. Because of the limited quantities available, fans interested in purchasing a camping space are encouraged to act quickly. In addition to reserved camping opportunities at AMS, unreserved camping will also be available during the Kobalt Tools 500 event weekend. New for 2007, AMS now has an additional reserved camping lot located off Speedway Boulevard. Infield camping spaces, as well as tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, can be purchased by calling 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849), or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(2-4-2007)

Atlanta Motor Speedway's Lap Sponsorship Packages Available: In one of the most exclusive ticket specials offered by Atlanta Motor Speedway, 325 lucky fans have a chance to put their name on a lap during the March 18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race. With Atlanta Motor Speedway's lap sponsorship packages, fans select a lap to sponsor in the Kobalt Tools 500 and in return will have their name and lap number published in the race program if purchased before the printing deadline of February 16. In addition, lap sponsors will receive a commemorative certificate of their lap, as well as two tickets to March 16 Georgia Power qualifying night followed by the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series race and the Nicorette 300 Busch Series race on Saturday, March 17. Lap sponsors also receive two coveted pre-race pit passes, allowing race fans ages 14 and over access to the sights and sounds of race morning. The pit area is open at select times Friday through Sunday and close 45 minutes before race time. For just $300, the lap sponsorship promises race fans memories of a lifetime, two great races and an up-close view of the weekend's pit action. Lap sponsorships and other great ticket packages for the Kobalt Tools 500 weekend can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX.(AMS PR)(1-29-2007)

American Commercial Lines to sponsor Atlanta race: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials have announced that American Commercial Lines, an industry leader in marine transportation and manufacturing, will sponsor the speedway's Friday night March 16 Craftsman Truck Series race[9:00 pm/et]. The race, which will be held during the March 16-18 Nextel Cup race weekend, will be officially known as the American Commercial Lines 200. American Commercial Lines is one of the largest and most diversified marine transportation and manufacturing companies in the United States with more than 2,600 employees. The company has been operating on the United States Inland Waterways System since 1915.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(1-29-2007)

Kobalt Tools to sponsor Cup race at Atlanta in March: Kobalt, an industry frontrunner in mechanics' tools available exclusively at Lowe's, will sponsor the 500-mile Nextel Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 18, 2007. The race, held during the March 16-18 Nextel Cup race weekend, will be officially known as the Kobalt Tools 500. Starting at 2:00pm/et. "Bringing the Kobalt brand to life through our relationship with NASCAR, Team Lowe's Racing, and of course our partner Speedway Motorsports, Inc., is such an exciting opportunity for Lowe's," said Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing and advertising. "Lowe's will position the Kobalt Tools brand prominently beginning this March in Atlanta with a multi-month marketing program to drive awareness and trial of all Kobalt products sold at Lowe's. Beginning with the Kobalt Tools 500 followed by other events connected to racing through the Memorial Day weekend races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, we look forward to working with Speedway Motorsports to make the most of these activities for NASCAR racing fans." In conjunction with the race sponsorship, Jimmie Johnson and the Lowe's Racing Team will debut the #48 Kolbat Tools Chevy during the Atlanta race weekend [doesn't say if it is for the Busch or Cup race](AMS PR)(1-25-2007)

Extended Ticket Office Hours for Atlanta 500 Race Weekend: The Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office has extended their office hours in preparation for the Atlanta 500 race weekend, March 16-18. In addition to standard office hours (8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday), the ticket office will be open Saturdays (9am to 5pm) and Sundays (1pm to 5pm). During the week of the Atlanta 500, fans will be able to purchase tickets from 8am to 6pm, as well. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at (770) 946-4211, or (877) 9-AMS-TIX. Tickets and additional information is available at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(1-18-2007)

Speedway Motorsports distributes to Speedway Children's Charities:
Atlanta: The Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children's Charities presented more than $212,000 to 22 area charities at the annual holiday celebration on Tuesday, Dec 5th. This year's total donation amount is an increase of more than $30,000 from last year. Representatives from each charity, including children who benefit directly from the Speedway Children's Charities' grants attended.(AMS Site)
Speedway Children's Charities is the primary charitable arm of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which owns and operates Infineon Raceway. Speedway Children's Charities is a non-profit organization with the purpose of raising funds to be distributed to qualified children's organizations. Founded in 1984 by Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., Speedway Children's Charities originated at Lowe's Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Fifty-five youth groups will receive funding from Speedway Children's Charities in 2006.(12-8-2006)

Elliott Grandstand Unveiled at Atlanta Motor Speedway: Bill Elliott's name already fills the Atlanta Motor Speedway and NASCAR record books, and today, speedway officials have made Elliott a more permanent fixture at AMS. To commemorate Elliott's 30 years of racing at AMS, speedway officials today announced that the facility's East Turn Grandstand will be renamed the Elliott Grandstand in honor of Elliott's and his family's contributions to the sport. Ellliott's career includes six victories, five pole positions and 20 top-10 finishes at AMS. The 1988 Nextel Cup Series champion will be making his 57th start on Sunday, October 29 in the Bass Pro Shops 500. Elliott, who has been voted "Most Popular Driver" by the fans an astounding 16 times, calls Atlanta his home track.(AMS PR)(10-28-2006)

Fans can help soldiers at AMS: Fans shopping at the souvenir trailer at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend will have a chance to assist severely wounded and disabled soldiers. The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes has partnered with the track to sell "hero" wristbands at 45 souvenir rigs.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(10-27-2006)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Construction Complete: Construction is complete at Atlanta Motor Speedway, bringing a close to nearly $23 million in improvements and additions. Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman O. Bruton Smith with NEXTEL Cup Series drivers Mark Martin, Carl Edwards, Bobby Labonte and Kasey Kahne all were at the Speedway today previewing the new Club One and unveiling the Bass Pro Shops 500 race winner's trophy called "Big Roar." Including the wooden base, "Big Roar," a bronze grizzly bear, stands more than 8 feet tall and weighs in at nearly 300 pounds. The unveiling took place in front of the Winners Gallery, which pays tribute to past Nextel Cup Series race winners at AMS. Labonte leads all active drivers with six victories at AMS, both Mark Martin and Carl Edwards have two wins at NASCAR's fastest track, while Kahne scored his first AMS victory in March, 2006. In addition to Club One, AMS's new luxury seating option, the Winners Grandstand located in Turn 1 is also complete. Of the 13,000 seats in the Winners Grandstand, approximately 7,700 are individual chair-back seats, complete with cup holders. In addition to the Winners Grandstand and Club One which sits atop it, speedway officials also created a new Trackside Terrace Luxury RV parking area. Located along the backstretch, the new RV parking area is a paved lot which offers water, electrical and sewer hook ups and an extraordinary view of the track.(AMS PR)(10-27-2006)

AMS Traffic Alert: Due to Friday's Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night (7:10 p.m. start) the south side of Atlanta will experience heavier than normal traffic flow during the evening rush hour. A record crowd in excess of 50,000 is expected for this Friday night event. State officials are urging regular cummuters to use alternate routes to Hwys. 19/41 and Hwy. 20, as it will likely be full of race traffic during the evening rush hour. State officials are urging Race Traffic to use Hwys. 19/41 South and GA Hwy. 20. For up-to-the-minute traffic updates, please contact the traffic command center at (770) 946-9761.(AMS PR)(10-26-2006)

Mark Martin to Sell Tickets in AMS Ticket Office: #6-Mark Martin will be selling tickets in the AMS ticket office on Thursday, Oct. 26 from noon to 1 p.m. Fans who stop by the ticket office during these hours can purchase their tickets from Martin, who will not only be running in the Bass Pro Shops 500 NEXTEL Cup race on Sunday, but also the Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, Oct. 27.(AMS PR)(10-25-2006)

Limited Camping Options Still Available at Atlanta: Camping is the fastest growing element at Atlanta Motor Speedway and a very limited number of spaces in the new Trackside Terrace Luxury RV Parking area are still available, as well as a limited number of other options. Fans wishing to camp for the Bass Pro Shops 500 race weekend, Oct. 27-29, should act quickly to ensure a camping spot for the weekend. Fans interested in exploring camping options or purchasing tickets to the Bass Pro Shops 500 race weekend can call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or (877) 9-AMS-TIX, by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com .(AMS PR)(10-25-2006)

Record Purse for Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway: Drivers will be competing for their share of nearly $8.5 million dollars during Atlanta Motor Speedway's Oct. 27-29 Bass Pro Shops 500 race weekend. The awards for the Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck Series races comprise a $6,559,125 purse announced for the two money-paying NASCAR events during the three days of racing at AMS. The weekend of racing will kick off Friday night, October 27 with Georgia-Pacific Qualifying, immediately followed by the Papa John's Pizza Shootout ASA Southern Modified Tour event as they battle on the Thunder Ring, AMS's frontstretch quarter-mile-oval. Racing action will heat up on Saturday, October 28 when the Crown Royal International Race of Champions season finale takes place, with an $880,000 purse up for grabs and a $1 million bonus going to the season champion. Following the Crown Royal IROC race, the Truck series will go door-to-door in the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200, where drivers will vie for a record $528,620 purse. On Sunday, the stars of the Nextel Cup series will take on the 1.54-mile quad-oval in the Bass Pro Shops 500, battling for a record purse of $6,030,505. This year's purse represents an increase of $842,159 over the 2005 edition of the Bass Pro Shops 500.(AMS PR)(10-20-2006)

One Month Left to Buy Oct 2006 Tix & March 2007 Cup Tickets on Sale Oct 2: Fans wanting to attend the largest party in Georgia have just one month left to purchase tickets. The Bass Pro Shops 500 Nextel Cup race weekend will feature three days of racing at NASCAR's fastest track with Georgia-Pacific Qualifying slated for Friday, Oct. 27 under the lights. Saturday, Oct. 28 features the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman Truck race and the Crown Royal IROC season finale. Sunday, Oct. 29, will give fans the opportunity to catch the stars of the Nextel Cup Series battle for 500 high-speed miles in the Bass Pro Shops 500. Three day ticket packages are available for fans wanting to catch all three days of racing, starting at just $88. Single day Bass Pro Shops 500 tickets start at just $60.
AND March 2007 Tickets on Sale October 2: Tickets for the March 16-18 2007 Nextel Cup race weekend go on sale October 2. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, or (877) 9-AMS-TIX, by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com, or through an authorized Ticketmaster retail outlet.(AMS PR)(9-29-2006)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Construction on Schedule: Updates of work completed to date at Atlanta Motor Speedway that will be in place for the October 27-29 Bass Pro Shops 500:
Trackside Terrace RV Camping area:
* 60% of the sod along the Trackside Terrace berm is laid, with the remaining 40% to be complete soon.
* Approximately 35% of the retaining walls for the terraces on the berm are complete.
* Crews have finished grading and 50% of the water, sewage and electrical connections have been placed.
Winners Grandstand / Club One:
* Aluminum decking is being installed in the Winners grandstand and is 75% complete. The chairback seats have arrived and installation will begin this week.
* The existing handicap camping area has been paved and several handicap parking spots have been added.
* 90% of the concrete slab on the Winners Grandstand concourse has been poured.(AMS PR)(9-16-2006)

Camping Options Still Available at Atlanta Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced camping spaces are still available for the Oct. 27-29 Bass Pro Shops 500 race weekend. Camping, in limited quantities, is still available in several campgrounds. The East Turn, Legends and Ragu First Turn campgrounds are all adjacent to the speedway's main entrance and still have spaces available for recreational vehicles. The Mid-State tent and RV campgrounds also have a limited number of spaces remaining. 50 acres of unreserved camping will be available on the Bass Pro Shops 500 event weekend. Still available in a very limited quantity are trackside RV parking spots overlooking the backstretch of the 1.54-mile quad-oval. The Trackside Terrace RV parking area not only offers a paved premium parking spot, it also comes equipped with water, electric and sewer connections for RVs.
Operating hours for the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office have been extended to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays starting Sept. 9. Starting at just $88 and ranging to $109, fans can get a great seat for all three days of the Bass Pro Shops 500 race weekend. The AMS ticket office will open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. the entire week of Oct. 23 through Oct. 29 to handle the last minute rush of ticket buyers for the Bass Pro Shops 500 race weekend. Fan can purchase tickets by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, or (877) 9-AMS-TIX, by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Fans can also stop by the AMS ticket office, speak to a staff member about various camping and ticket options and purchase directly from the ticket office.(AMS PR)(9-14-2006)

Five Events for One Low Price at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway has three spectacular weekend ticket packages available for fans looking for a deal on a great seat for all three days of racing this October for the Bass Pro Shops 500 Nextel Cup race weekend. For just $88, $99, or $109, fans can purchase a weekend ticket package to all five events at AMS with a variety of seating options. In addition to the three weekend ticket packages, AMS is offering a 2-for-1 ticket special which benefits children 12 and younger on Saturday, Oct. 28. For each adult that purchases a $30 no-alcohol section Petty Grandstand ticket, a child age 12 or younger will be admitted free. For more information on these ticket specials and more, fans can contact the AMS ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, at atlantamotorspeedway.com(AMS PR)(9-5-2006)

Scoring Tower Back Up at Atlanta Motor Speedway: When an F2 tornado ripped through Atlanta Motor Speedway one-year ago, it left what could have been mistaken for a high-speed jig-saw puzzle. This week, the final piece of the puzzle was locked into place when the giant scoring tower that sits in Turn One was re-erected after its collapse following the twister. Like its twin in Turn Four, the 100-foot behemoth has indicators for lap times and the number of laps completed, the top-20 cars in the running order and the ability to scroll through the entire fields running order. The towers were constructed as part of the track reconfiguration following the March race in 1997 and hold a place in NASCAR history. The pylons flashed Geoff Bodine's non-restrictor plate NASCAR qualifying record of 197.478 mph on November 15, 1997.(AMS PR)(8-26-2006)

Fans can sponsor a lap at Atlanta: In one of the most limited ticket specials offered by Atlanta Motor Speedway, 325 lucky fans have a chance to call a lap their own in the October 29 Bass Pro Shops 500. With Atlanta Motor Speedway's lap sponsorship package, fans select a lap to sponsor in the October Nextel Cup race. Their name and lap number will be published in the race program if purchased before the printing deadline of Thursday, Sept. 28. In addition, lap sponsors will receive a commemorative certificate of their lap, as well as two tickets to October 27 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying followed by the Papa John's Shootout ASA Southern Modified race. Purchasers of the lap sponsorship package will also receive two tickets to the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck race and the Crown Royal International Race of Champions season finale. Finally, lap sponsors receive two coveted pre-race pit passes, allowing race fans ages 14 and over access to the sights and sounds of race morning. The pits are open Friday through Sunday and close 45 minutes before race time. For just $300, the lap sponsorship package promises race fans memories of a lifetime, four great races and NEXTEL Cup qualifying and an up-close view of the weekend's pit action. Lap sponsorships and other great ticket packages for the Bass Pro Shops 500 weekend can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(8-18-2006)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Construction Continues: Atlanta Motor Speedway announced on March 1, 2006 major facility changes that will be in place for the October 27-29 Bass Pro Shops 500. Construction is well underway and on schedule for these changes and additions which replacing the Weaver Grandstands along the backstretch with an all-new Trackside Terrace RV camping area and the addition of a new Winners Grandstand and Club One overlooking Turn 1. Updates of work completed to date.
Trackside Terrace RV Camping area:
* 80% of the grading on the Trackside Terrace RV camping area is complete.
* Sewage, water and electricity are scheduled to be laid in three weeks.
* In two weeks, retaining walls will be erected for the observation decks on the Trackside Terrace berm. The observation decks will serve as a place for fans with second row RV spots that don't face the track to view the racing action.
Winners Grandstand / Club One:
* 90% of the grading in Turn 1 is complete, resulting in a concourse level widened by 16'.
* 60% of the steel Winners Grandstand structure is erected.
* 25% of the concrete concourse flooring is poured in the Winners Grandstand structure.
* The nine elevators that will service the Winners Grandstand and Club One are being constructed.
* Two antique serving bars and 200 feet of antique paneling have been procured for Club One.
* Crews began pouring concrete for the base slope of the Winners Grandstand today.
Fans can purchase ticket for these three new areas by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, or (877) 9-AMS-TIX, and through atlantamotorspeedway.com.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(8-5-2006)

Later start for Atlanta in Oct: NBC television officials are lobbying NASCAR for a mid-afternoon start for the Oct. 29 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Track spokesperson Marcy Scott confirmed this fall's Nextel Cup race at the 1.54-mile quad-oval is tentatively schedule to begin at 2:55pm/et. By contrast, the green flag for last October's 500-mile race at AMS waved shortly after 12:40pm/et. Late afternoon starts for Sunday events will likely become the norm in NASCAR's Cup Series. ABC and ESPN president George Bodenheimer, whose networks will cover the final 17 races of the season over the next eight years beginning in 2007, favors later starting times.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), it can't be too late this year as NBC has Sunday Night NFL Football.(7-7-2006)

Construction at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Schedule: Atlanta Motor Speedway announced on March 1, 2006 major facility changes that will be in place for the October 27-29 Bass Pro Shops 500 race weekend. These changes include replacing the Weaver Grandstands along the backstretch with an all-new Trackside Terrace RV camping area, plus the addition of the new Winners Grandstand and Club One overlooking Turn 1. Below are updates of work completed to date:
Trackside Terrace RV Camping area:
* Concrete demolition of the Weaver Grandstands is complete.
* More than 30 percent of grading is complete and the remainder will be completed in the next three weeks.
* After completion of the grading process, underground utilities will be put in place.
Winners Grandstand / Club One:
* More than 70 percent of the footers that will support the Winners Grandstand are currently poured.
* Both elevator shafts and stair towers are erected, and concrete landings and floors are currently being poured
* In the next several days, the elevator shafts will be enclosed in steel.
* Grading in Turn 1 is 60 percent complete and will result in a concourse level widened by 16'.
To see images or buy tickets, go to atlantamotorspeedway.com.(6-22-2006)

October Cup Race Tix on sale at Atlanta: Fans who want the best seats for the Bass Pro Shops 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway can do so now, as tickets for all three days of racing action recently went on sale. This October will also be the first opportunity for fans to take advantage of new seating options at AMS. The all new Winners Grandstand overlooks the entrance of Turn One and has a great view of the start\finish line and the exit of pit road. Above the Winners Grandstand will be Club One, an exclusive new club that offers patrons a climate controlled theater style seat and access to a bar and premium menu. Also available is the new Trackside Terrace Camping section, along the backstretch, featuring more than 90 motorcoach parking spaces. All spaces in the Trackside Terrace Camping section will have full water, electricity and sewer hookups. For more info, go to atlantamotorspeedway.com.(6-4-2006)

Atlanta Construction Underway: Atlanta Motor Speedway announced on March 1, 2006 major facility changes that will be in place for the October 27-29 Bass Pro Shops 500. These changes include replacing the Weaver Grandstands along the backstretch with an all-new Trackside Terrace RV camping area plus the addition of the new Winners Grandstand and Club One overlooking Turn 1. The updates of work completed to date:
Trackside Terrace RV Camping area:
* The aluminum grandstands were removed in their entirety last week, finding new homes across the United States. Sections were shipped to Bill Davis, owner of Bill Davis Racing, to be used in a cattle auction barn. Other sections were shipped to a Little League Baseball park in Hackett, Ark., Tri-State Speedway in Ft. Smith, Ark., Douglas Motorsports Park in Douglas, Ga. and sections were sent to Tanner High School in Athens, Ala.
* The demolition of the concrete under the aluminum bleachers was completed on May 23, and demolition of the steel Weaver suite structure began May 24 with a scheduled completion date of Friday, May 26.
* Following the removal of the steel Weaver structure, grading will begin resulting in an 85' wide concourse area for motor homes. The hill will also be lowered 10' and moved forward resulting in a better view for fans parked in the Trackside Terrace Camping section.
Winners Grandstand / Club One:
* More than half of the footers that will support the Winners Grandstand are currently poured.
* Steel has arrived and portions of the steel frame around the elevator shaft were erected today.
* Grading in Turn 1 is underway and will result in a concourse level widened by 16'.(AMS PR)(5-27-2006)

Atlanta Rainout could cost more than $1 million: The economic fallout from the rainout at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which pushed the Golden Corral 500 to a Monday start and cut the crowd to about a third of what track officials expected, began a week ago and will continue for months, maybe even years. AMS president Ed Clark said his extra costs for another day of clean-up and staffing runs into six figures, because the track typically employs 5,000 part-timers and 63 full-time employees. "We won't know exactly for a while, but it's substantial," Clark said, adding that lost revenue from concessions and souvenirs easily could top $1 million.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-21-2006)

Traffic Plans for Atlanta: Due to this weekend's Golden Corral 500 race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the south side of Atlanta will experience especially heavy traffic flow throughout the weekend. Traffic is expected to be heaviest during the Friday evening rush hour, as fans head to the track for Georgia Power Qualifying Night, and after 8 a.m. on Sunday (March 19) for the Golden Corral 500. Fans are encouraged to leave very early to avoid the rush of traffic expected to reach the race track around 8 a.m. All racetrack-bound roads, especially Hwys. 19/41 and Hwy. 20 (Bruton Smith Parkway). The plan of the Golden Corral 500 weekend has been altered from races in the past. Fans have a choice of which major route to take, either Hwy. 19/41 or Hwy. 20 from I-75. Please choose which route to take based on where you would like to park on property, because fans will be directed to a certain lot based on which way they enter the speedway. New trams, shuttle buses and sidewalks will allow fans to get to their seats easily regardless of where they park on property.
ENTERING THE SPEEDWAY:
From Hwy. 19/41:
FROM THE NORTH: Those traveling in from the North (traveling southbound on Hwy. 19/41 through Jonesboro and traveling West from McDonough Road) Will be directed to parking lots on the north side of the property.
* Those traveling south on Hwy. 19/41 need to be in the right lane and will turn right at Speedway Boulevard and park in the parking lots off of Speedway Blvd. Those with vehicle credentials need to stay in the left lane and enter the speedway at Entrance E (First entrance south of the main entrance on Hwy. 19/41.
FROM THE SOUTH: Those traveling in from the South (traveling northbound on Hwy. 19/41 from Griffin) will turn left onto Richard Petty Blvd. and will be directed to parking lots.
From Hwy. 20: Those traveling in on Hwy. 20 will be directed to parking lots on the south side of the property.
Note: For its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each gate.
For those interested, GRTA will provide express bus service from the Clayton County Justice Center, located north of the speedway on Hwy. 19/41 and from Avalon Park in McDonough, off I-75 exit 218. Turn right at exit 218, Turn left at the first stop light and Avalon park is located on the left. This express bus service will begin at 7 in the morning and end two hours after the conclusion of the Golden Corral 500.
EXITING THE SPEEDWAY: Fans will leave the same way they came in. If they entered from the North, they will be directed to northbound on Hwy. 19/41. From there, fans can proceed on Hwy. 19/41 through Jonesboro to I-75. Those who enter from the South will be directed out on the same roads.(AMS PR)(3-16-2006)

Georgia Motorsports Day Thursday: The 4th annual Georgia Motorsports Day at the Georgia State Capitol will be held on Thursday, March 16th outside the State Capitol on Mitchell Street in Atlanta at 10:100am/et. Scheduled to attend: Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia House Representative Mike Barnes, Georgia State Senator John Douglas, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman and CEO O. Bruton Smith, AMS President Ed Clark, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver - Reed Sorenson (Peachtree City, Ga. Native), NASCAR Busch Series driver - John Andretti (owner of Andretti Indoor Karting Center in Roswell, Ga.), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers - Bill Lester (Atlanta, Ga. resident) and David Ragan (Unadilla, Ga. native). If it rains, the location will be inside the Capitol in the North Wing. This will be the fourth annual racing rally in Georgia; for the last three years, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue passed a resolution supporting the racing industry in Georgia.(AMS PR)(3-15-2006)

Xpress Offers Special Service, Shuttle for Atlanta race: Xpress - Metropolitan Atlanta's clean, comfortable and convenient commuter coach service - will offer public transportation services for the Golden Corral 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 19, 2006. Xpress will operate two separate shuttles from off-site parking and an internal loop shuttle within the Speedway parking areas. More information and scheduling at xpressga.com.(AMS PR)(3-15-2006)

Less Than 200 RV Spaces Remain at Atlanta: Fans wanting to secure a reserved RV parking space for the Golden Corral 500 race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway need to act fast. There are less than 200 reserved spaces remaining in the four lots that comprise the more than 3,416 camping spaces at AMS. RV spaces on the infield at AMS are sold out. Once the 200 spaces that remain in East Turn, Ragu, Legends and Mid-State reserved areas are sold, fans will still have the opportunity to camp in the 49 acres of unreserved campgrounds. To secure a reserved RV camping space or to purchase tickets to all three days of racing excitement, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting atlantamotorspeedway.com.(3-4-2006)

Atlanta Announces Record Purse for Golden Corral Race Weekend: NASCAR drivers competing in the March 19 Golden Corral 500, the March 18 Nicorette 300 and the March 17 John Deere 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be battling for nearly $6.5 million in posted prize money. The awards for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series events are part of a $6,452,858 purse announced for the three days of racing that comprise the March 17-19 Golden Corral 500 race week schedule of events. On Sunday, the stars of the NEXTEL Cup series will take on the high banks at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Golden Corral 500, battling for a record purse of $4,843,713. This year's purse represents an increase of nearly $200,000 over the prize money posted in the March 2005 Golden Corral 500 NEXTEL Cup race just one year ago. The purse for the first race ever held at Atlanta Motor Speedway was $39,500, a far cry from just the winner's take home pay of $147,850 for this year's race. Great seats are still available for the Golden Corral 500 race weekend, March 17-19. Contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting atlantamotorspeedway.com.(3-4-2006)

Rob Schneider, David Spade and Jon Heder Grand Marshals at Atlanta: Hollywood movie stars Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Jon Heder will serve as Grand Marshals for the upcoming NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Golden Corral 500 on March 19 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The trio are headlining the new comedy The Benchwarmers from Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and Revolution Studios. The Benchwarmers will be released nationwide by Columbia Pictures on April 7 and tells the story of three underdogs (Rob Schneider, David Spade and Jon Heder) who form a three-man baseball team to challenge a full squad of elementary school baseball bullies. Their success leads to a high-stakes, winner-take-all game with the best kids in the state where, if they win, they will become an inspiration for every kid who has ever been a benchwarmer. Among their duties at the Golden Corral 500 (airing on FOX at 1:00pm/et), the trio will give the command, "gentlemen, start your engines," to send 43 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series stars around the 1.54-mile quad-oval at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Spade, Schneider and Heder will also make an appearance at the driver's meeting Sunday morning, driver introductions on the frontstretch at AMS and take a garage tour prior to the green flag. To see the three big screen stars deliver the most famous words in auto racing, fans can purchase tickets to the Golden Corral 500 on March 19 by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-3-2006)

Elaborate Changes Unveiled at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway announced three major facility additions that will be in place for the October 27-29 Bass Pro Shops 500 race weekend. More than 13,000 new grandstand seats will be added in the newly created Winners Grandstand, located at the Turn One end of the front straightaway. The new grandstand will feature more than 7,700 comfortable, individual style chair seats with drink holders and an additional 5,300 bench style seats. The chairback seats will be available for purchase annually for $495, including all six days both NEXTEL Cup race weekends and the bench seats will be available on an event by event basis. Also being added is a new luxury seating opportunity called "Club One." Members of Club One will enjoy an extraordinary, climate controlled view of the state-of-the-art facility and heart-pounding on-track action from comfortable theater-style seating. The premium 'Chef's Choice' menu and bar will add to the unique experience. Club One will offer a rooftop 'Sight and Sound' observation deck for members to bask in the sun while being enveloped in the race day spectacle. Approximately 1,000 Club One seats will be sold as an annual package for just $1,595 each. Fans will receive a parking pass in a designated Club One parking lot with four Club One tickets. Club One purchasers will also have the first option to purchase one of 30 new reserved motorcoach parking spaces below Club One.
In a continued effort to meet the increased demands for trackside camping, track officials are adding a new upscale Trackside Terrace Camping section, along the backstretch, featuring more than 90 motorcoach parking spaces. All spaces in the Trackside Terrace Camping section will have full water, electricity and sewer hookups. For more information about the new additions at Atlanta Motor Speedway or to purchase tickets or camping spaces, fans may call (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), (770) 946-4211, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS Site/PR)(3-2-2006)

Atlanta suite tix offered: Atlanta Motor Speedway announced a limited time offer for fans who purchase a three-day public suite ticket. Fans that purchase the suite ticket will be entered into a drawing for five exciting once-in-a-lifetime race weekend experiences. However, the offer will end on Wednesday, March 1. One lucky fan will climb into the AMS flag tower and wave the green flag on Georgia Power Qualifying night. Another will ride in the pace car on Sunday morning just hours before their favorite driver takes the green flag on the same mile and half of asphalt. These are just two of the five exciting opportunities being offered. A fan will also be able to earn their rookie stripe with a 'Rookie Experience' from the Richard Petty Driving Experience. All drivers covet a trip to victory lane and two fans will join the victory lane celebration on Saturday and Sunday from inside the exclusive area that few people, outside sponsors, teams and media ever get to experience first hand. A three-day public suite ticket offers fans an opportunity to sit high above the action in one of the climate-controlled suites at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With a continental breakfast and lunch buffet offered along with four drink vouchers each day, fans can relax and enjoy the race day experience. Suite ticket holders also have the opportunity to wander the pit area until 45 minutes prior to the green flag, watching drivers and their crews as they prepare to take the green flag. Three-day ticket packages are $550 each while Sunday-only suite tickets are also available. These and other great offers for the Golden Corral 500 weekend can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(2-24-2006)

Legends as Grand Marshals for Atlanta Busch race: Six of the greatest drivers and legends of NASCAR - Richard Petty, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker, and Donnie Allison - will serve as Grand Marshals for the Nicorette 300, the Busch Series race on Saturday, March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The six legends were selected by Nicorette nicotine gum to serve as Grand Marshals as a tribute to their racing careers and for their personal support of smoking cessation. The Nicorette 300 marks the first NASCAR race to ever be sponsored by a smoking cessation product and is just one activity in a season-long sponsorship designed to eradicate smoking from the sport of NASCAR. The six NASCAR legends will jointly give the command "Gentlemen, Start your Engines" to start the Nicorette 300 while making appearances throughout the day. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the six legends the morning of March 18 (time to be announced) at a question-and-answer session held at GSK's Winner's Circle Exhibit in the fan walk area. The Winner's Circle is an interactive, entertaining exhibit featuring information about the benefits and challenges of quitting smoking and how Nicorette nicotine gum, NicoDerm CQ nicotine patches and Commit nicotine lozenges can help lead to a smoke-free life. The Winner's Circle Exhibit also features free quit-smoking counseling with trained smoking cessation experts. The six legends combine for 405 NASCAR victories and 13 series championships. Petty had a record 200 wins and seven championships. Pearson ranks second with 105 all-time wins to go along with three championships. Jarrett, a two-time champion, is tied for 10th all-time with 50 career victories. Parsons won the series championship in 1973 and had 21 career wins. Baker won 19 times, including a Daytona 500, while Allison had 10 wins and 115 top-ten finishes. Tickets to the Nicorette 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway are available. To order tickets, call (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or order on-line at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(2-24-2006)

Pit Passes at Atlanta: There is only three weeks left until the start of the Golden Corral 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In addition to the great racing that Atlanta Motor Speedway promises, fans attending the race in March can take the racing experience one step closer with a Pre-Race Pit Pass and a chance to meet their favorite driver for the upcoming Golden Corral race weekend. A Georgia Power Qualifying night Pre-Race Pit Pass is just $75. If being behind the scenes on Friday only isn't enough action, fans can be part of the pre-race action all weekend. The Friday-Sunday Pre-Race Pit Pass is just $125. Pre-Race Pit Passes are good for pit area and garage entrance until 30 minutes prior to the event. Fans must be at least 14 years old and have appropriate attire in accordance with NASCAR issued guidelines to enter the pit area. No shorts, skirts, sleeveless shirts or tank tops or open-toed shoes are permitted in the pit area at anytime. Pre-Race Pit Passes are not good for gate admittance and must be accompanied by a grandstand ticket. To purchase race tickets or Pre-Race Pit Passes to the Golden Corral 500 race weekend fans can call 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(2-21-2006)

Atlanta Announces Addition of New Camping Spaces: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced the creation of 80 new Premium reserved camping spots in the Mid-State Family Campgrounds. Located north of the speedway's main entrance, the new campground will provide water and electricity and is conveniently located next to the main camper shower facility. The 25'X 50' spaces will be the closest available camping to the Champions Grandstand main entrance and will lease for $800 per racing season, which includes both NEXTEL Cup weekends. The new camping spaces go on sale today and are available for purchase by calling 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), or by visiting atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(2-14-2006)

Camping Options Still Available at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced a limited number of reserved camping spaces are still available for the March 17-19 Golden Corral 500 race weekend. The East Turn, Legends and Ragu First Turn campgrounds are all in close proximity to the speedway entrances and still have spaces available for recreational vehicles. In addition, there are a limited number of tent and R.V. spaces in the Mid-State Family Campground. Unreserved camping will also be available during the Golden Corral 500 event weekend. Numerous camping options as well as tickets to the Golden Corral 500 event weekend can be purchased by calling 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), or by visiting atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(2-3-2006)

AMS Lap Sponsorhips Available: In one of the most limited ticket specials offered by Atlanta Motor Speedway, 325 lucky fans have a chance to call a lap their own in the March 19 Golden Corral 500. With Atlanta Motor Speedway's lap sponsorship packages, fans select a lap to sponsor in the March 19 race. Their name and lap number will be published in the race program if purchased before the printing deadline of February 17. In addition, lap sponsors will receive a commemorative certificate of their lap, as well as two tickets to March 17 Georgia Power qualifying night followed by the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 200, and the Nicorette 300 Busch Series race on March 18. Finally, lap sponsors also receive two coveted pre-race pit passes, allowing race fans ages 14 and over access to the sights and sounds of race morning. The pits are open at select times Friday through Sunday and close 45 minutes before race time. For just $300, the lap sponsorship promises race fans memories of a lifetime, two great races and an up-close view of the weekend's pit action. Just about the only thing Atlanta's lap sponsorship package can't promise is that your favorite driver will visit victory lane after the March 19 Golden Corral 500. Lap sponsorships and other great ticket packages for the Golden Corral 500 weekend can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(1-30-2006)

Extended Ticket Office Hours at Atlanta; Limited Camping spaces available: In preparation for the upcoming Golden Corral 500 weekend on March 17-19, Atlanta Motor Speedway's ticket office has extended their hours. The ticket office is always open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm, but has added Saturday (9:00am to 5:00pm) and Sunday (1:00 to 5:00pm) hours to accommodate fans.
AND Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced a limited number of infield camping spaces are still available for the March 17-19 Golden Corral 500 race weekend. The Flock Brothers Corral, which sits between turns one and two, and the High Speed Corral, which is situated between turns three and four on the infield of AMS, each have less than 30 spaces remaining. There are still plenty of Reserved and Unreserved outside camping spaces available. Because of the limited quantity available, fans interested in purchasing a Flock Brothers Corral or a High Speed Corral camping space are encouraged to act quickly. For $400 a year, fans can secure their spot in the Flock Brothers Corral for both NASCAR Nextel Cup race weekends. High Speed Corral spaces can be reserved for just $200 for both race weekends. Infield camping spaces as well as tickets to the Golden Corral 500 can be purchased by calling 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849), or by clicking here: Purchase Tickets Fans can also stop by the AMS ticket office, speak to a staff member about various camping options and purchase directly from the ticket office.(AMS)(1-21-2006)

Reconstruction Coming to a Close at Atlanta: As the final coats of paint are applied, Atlanta Motor Speedway once again looks like the world-class racing facility it was before an F2 tornado ravished it on July 6. In fact, it is a much improved facility. "Since day one, we have pledged to build Atlanta Motor Speedway back in time for the October 28-30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500," said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. "Not only are we going to meet that goal, we were able to take this disaster and use it as an opportunity to make Atlanta Motor Speedway a more fan-friendly track." Getting the track to its current shape has been an enormous undertaking, requiring around-the-clock crews, hundreds of thousands of man-hours and countless contractors and sub-contractors. Below is a list of numbers compiled which represents just some of the reconstruction efforts:
* Over 8 miles of fencing
* 97 contractors and sub-contractors
* 129 New flag poles
* 639 plumbing fixtures
* 750 tons of air conditioning systems
* 10,000 tons of asphalt
* Over 12,000 square yards of carpet
* 20,250 cubic feet of concrete
* 272,000 square feet of sheetrock
* 350,000 man hours
"Over the next year and a half, you will see even more improvements as we continue the rebuilding of the facility," Clark said."We have a long history of continuous upgrades and improvements to bolster the overall fan experience we plan to continue after the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend."
Great seats for the entire Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend are still available and can be purchased by calling 770-946-4211 or 877-9AMSTIX. Fans can also order tickets 24 hours a day at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or www.ticketmaster.com.(AMS)(10-28-2005)

Record Purse for Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 NASCAR drivers competing in the Oct. 30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 and the Oct. 29 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be battling for nearly $6.4 million in posted prize money. The awards for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Craftsman Truck Series events are part of a $7,610,966 purse announced for the three days of racing that comprise the October 28-30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race week schedule of events. The Papa John's Invitational Legends race will battle for over $15,000 in cash and prizes. On Saturday, October 29 the Crown Royal International Race of Champions season finale will take place, with a $200,000 purse up for grabs and $1 million bonus going to the season champion. Following the Crown Royal IROC race, the Truck series will go door-to-door in the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200, where drivers will try and win their share of the $506,529 purse.
On Sunday, the stars of the NEXTEL Cup series will be battling for a record purse of $5,889,437. This year's purse represents an increase of $1,197,036 over the prize money posted in the March 2005 Golden Corral 500 NEXTEL Cup race just seven months ago and $108,168 more than the 2004 edition of the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. The purse for the first race ever held at Atlanta Motor Speedway was $39,500, a far cry from just the winner's take home pay of $285,900 for this year's race.
Great seats are still available for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend, October 28-30. Contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 770-946-4211 or via www.ticketmaster.com or .(AMS) or going to Premiere Sports Travel.(10-23-2005)

Reconstruction Coming to a Close at AMS: As the final coats of paint are applied, Atlanta Motor Speedway once again looks like the world-class racing facility it was before an F2 tornado ravished it on July 6. In fact, it is a much improved facility. "Since day one, we have pledged to build Atlanta Motor Speedway back in time for the October 28-30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500," said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. "Not only are we going to meet that goal, we were able to take this disaster and use it as an opportunity to make Atlanta Motor Speedway a more fan-friendly track." Getting the track to its current shape has been an enormous undertaking, requiring around-the-clock crews, hundreds of thousands of man-hours and countless contractors and sub-contractors. Below is a list of numbers compiled which represents just some of the reconstruction efforts:
* Over 8 miles of fencing
* 97 contractors and sub-contractors
* 129 New flag poles
* 639 plumbing fixtures
* 750 tons of air conditioning systems
* 10,000 tons of asphalt
* Over 12,000 square yards of carpet
* 20,250 cubic feet of concrete
* 272,000 square feet of sheetrock
* 350,000 man hours
"Over the next year and a half, you will see even more improvements as we continue the rebuilding of the facility," Clark said. "We have a long history of continuous upgrades and improvements to bolster the overall fan experience we plan to continue after the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend." Great seats for the entire Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend are still available and can be purchased by calling 770-946-4211 or 877-9AMSTIX. Fans can also order tickets 24 hours a day at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or www.ticketmaster.com.(AMS PR)(10-15-2005)

Bruton Smith Parkway Officially Opens: At 3:00pm/et on Monday, Oct 10th, the Bruton Smith Parkway (the newly realigned GA Hwy. 20) officially opened. Named after Atlanta Motor Speedway Chairman Bruton Smith, the four-lane parkway spans approximately ten miles and runs from exit 218 off I-75 directly to the speedway. Smith, Governor Sonny Perdue and DOT commissioner Harold Linnenkohl participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the highway to vehicular traffic. Smith knows the addition of the new four-lane Georgia Highway 20 is one of the most significant improvements in the history of Atlanta Motor Speedway. "This is a great day for me," said Smith. "The Bruton Smith Parkway is great for the county, the surrounding counties and the hundreds of thousands of race fans that come here. We have people that come to this speedway from every state in the United States and I think that once people find out they have another way in and out of here, we might get some people from some other countries as well." The new Georgia Highway 20 joins Georgia Highway 19/41, which runs south from I-75 Exit 235, as the two main event traffic routes to Atlanta Motor Speedway. Fans may access the speedway web site at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com for more specific information on event traffic patterns as well as general race weekend information and to purchase tickets.(AMS)(10-11-2005)

New Highway opens for Atlanta race weekend: The addition of the new four-lane Georgia Highway 20 will provide fans attending the Oct. 28-30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend one of the most positive improvements in the history of Atlanta Motor Speedway.. Spanning approximately eight miles from I-75 directly to the speedway, the new Bruton Smith Parkway, named for Speedway Chairman Bruton Smith, will give fans a second major traffic corridor to the track and should have a significant impact on race day traffic flow. The Bruton Smith Parkway will run from Exit 218 off I-75 to the speedway. It joins Georgia Highway 19/41 , which runs south from I-75 Exit 235, as the two main event traffic routes to Atlanta Motor Speedway. In preparation for the new Georgia Highway 20, Atlanta Motor Speedway officials have made many improvements to entrances and parking areas, including the addition of shuttle vehicle loops around the speedway and to on-property camping areas. Fans attending the upcoming race weekend are encouraged to follow the direction of speedway parking crews to parking areas and either ride the Nationwide shuttle vehicles or walk to their seating areas via new sidewalks surrounding the speedway. Fans may access the speedway web site at atlantamotorspeedway.com for more specific information on event traffic patterns as well as general race weekend information.(AMS PR)(10-7-2005)

Open House at Atlanta on Sat.: If fans have any doubts about whether Atlanta Motor Speedway will be ready for the Oct. 30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, they can check things out for themselves on Saturday. The speedway is holding an open house and offering fans a chance to drive their personal cars around the speedway, which was hit hard by a tornado in early July. The open house runs from 3-7 p.m. and will feature ticket and autographed merchandise giveaways, infield and garage access, a display of show cars and a two-lap, 5K foot race. To make two laps behind the pace car, fans must purchase race tickets at the open house, or if they've already purchased tickets, a $30 donation to Speedway Children's Charities will give them a green flag.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(9-23-2005)

Atlanta makes Numerous Improvements to Facility; Reconstruction On-Track: In the wake of the F-2 tornado that passed through Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 6, speedway officials have taken the opportunity to make numerous improvements as part of the extensive rebuilding process. Sidewalks have been installed around the speedway's perimeter, to give fans a walking area out of the roadways, which will ease the traffic flow around the speedway. Shuttle stops have also been added around the perimeter of the speedway. Trams and buses have been added to transport fans from camping and parking areas to their grandstands. In addition, a new Gate One ticket booth has also been added to expedite fans entry into the main grandstand area of the speedway and several other gates have been widened and made more accessible. Over 49 acres of unreserved camping has been added to the speedway's inventory for the October race weekend. The new spaces have been graded with campers needs in mind and offer a tree-lined backdrop. The largest difference fans will notice is the addition of the Georgia Highway 20 extension, a four-lane divided highway that runs from the speedway to I-75, scheduled to open in early October. To coincide with the Highway 20 addition, parking areas around the speedway have been improved with better access, drainage and spectator and vehicular flow. With just over one month remaining until the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend, the list of items that still need attention is growing shorter by the day. The suite level of the Champions and Earnhardt grandstands is on schedule and the remaining glass in the Earnhardt suites will be replaced this week. The roof is complete and all of the roof top air conditioning units are in place. The interiors of the suites will be the main focus in the closing weeks. The East Turn suites sustained minimal water damage and the roof was partially damaged. The roof has been repaired and carpet is being installed. The East Turn suite level will be completed by September 16. Over 9,000 seats in the Weaver grandstand were damaged and approximately 6,500 will be repaired in time for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. The major buildings in the infield will be ready for the September 17-18 NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow. All other buildings will be repaired prior to the October NASCAR race weekend.
Interesting facts:
* As many as 460 workers have been on property in a single day.
* Construction crews are working 18-hour days to complete projects.
* Over 25,000 meals have been served to construction workers on property since the storm.
* 47 days until race weekend.
Great seats are still available for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend and are available by calling 770-946-4211 or 877-9AMSTIX. Fans can also visit the AMS ticket office to place their orders and get a sneak peek at the reconstruction efforts. In addition to working with an AMS ticket agent, fans can also order tickets 24 hours a day at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(9-7-2005)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Offers Family Entertainment at an Affordable Price: The cars and stars of NASCAR will come to Atlanta Motor Speedway to take on the fastest track on the circuit, the weekend of October 28-30, for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend. Family ticket specials are in place, offering high-speed entertainment at an affordable price in a family atmosphere. For just $30, fans can purchase two Saturday tickets in the alcohol-free Petty Grandstand for the price of one. To further the family atmosphere, adults entering the family area of the grandstand must be accompanied by at least one child, 12-years-old or younger, who will be admitted free. Saturday has a full day of racing slated, starting with Truck series qualifying at 11:30 a.m. Immediately following the qualifying drama, the lightning fast Crown Royal International Race of Champions Series (IROC), featuring championship drivers like Mark Martin, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr. and more, will take to the high banks for what could be one of the best races of the weekend, in a 67-lap, 100-mile shootout. Following the IROC race, the toughest trucks on the planet will battle for 200-miles in the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 770-946-4211 or 877-9AMSTIX. Fans can also visit the AMS ticket office to place their orders and get a sneak peek at the reconstruction efforts. In addition to working with an AMS ticket agent, fans can also order tickets 24 hours a day at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or www.ticketmaster.com.(AMS PR)(9-2-2005)

Atlanta Improvements to be Unveiled: on Tuesday, September 6th, Ed Clark, Atlanta Motor Speedway president, will hold a press conference to discuss construction progress of rebuild from the tornado damage. Clark will also unveil new improvements made to the facility for the upcoming Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend.(AMS)(8-30-2005)

Atlanta adds Camping Spaces: Atlanta Motor Speedway has added 49 acres of unreserved camping for the October 28-30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend. The addition brings over 2,000 camping spaces to the speedway's inventory. The new spaces have been graded with tent and pop-up campers needs in mind and offers a tree-lined backdrop. Accompanying the upgraded scenery, a new tram service is in place to shuttle fans from the campgrounds to their seats, and back. In addition to the 2,000 unreserved spaces, approximately 50 RV camping spots have been added in the Ragu campground. These new spots have been custom built to house larger motor coaches. Fans wishing to tent camp or bring a pop-up camper have the option of a reserved spot in the Mid-State campground or an unreserved camping spot adjacent to the lake in front of the ticket office. Fans with motor coaches can choose from four reserved areas: the Legends RV campgrounds, East Turn RV campgrounds, Mid-State RV family campgrounds and the Ragu reserved RV campgrounds. Camping is still available in limited quantities and is available by calling 1-877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849).(AMS)(8-30-2005)

Atlanta's $69 Three-Day Super Save Tickets Available: Atlanta Motor Speedway's three-day Super Saver $69 ticket gives fans access to the entire Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend, which will pack five events into three days on October 28-30. The weekend will start off with Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night, followed by the inaugural Atlanta Invitational, an invitation only, all-star Legends race, where local champions and feature winners across the southeast will vie for the prestigious win on the speedway's quarter-mile Thunder Ring. The weekend continues on Saturday with an action-packed double-header. At 1:45 p.m., the Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) series finale and is capped off at 3:15 p.m. with the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Truck Series race. The weekend culminates on Sunday with the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race, a critical race in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. Real race fans will want to catch all three days of action at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and for $69, there's no reason they can't. The $69 three-day Super Saver ticket offer will include:
* One reserved Weaver grandstand ticket (rows 14-24) for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 * One unreserved East Turn grandstand ticket for the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and the Crown Royal IROC race. * One unreserved Champions grandstand (frontstretch) ticket for Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and The Atlanta Invitational Legends race.
The three-day Super Saver ticket will be available while supplies last and can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(PR)(8-25-2005)

NASCAR Prez Visits Atlanta Motor Speedway: Mike Helton, president of NASCAR, visited Atlanta Motor Speedway today to survey the damage the track sustained when a tornado struck the facility three weeks ago. Atlanta Motor Speedway president and general manager Ed Clark took Helton for a tour around the 870-acre facility to view the areas the tornado affected. Following the tour of the property, Clark and Helton addressed the media from AMS's Infield Media Center. "We have a schedule set up and some areas of reconstruction are ahead of schedule," said Clark. "The cleanup is complete and the insurance company is estimating values. The suites are currently being built back and almost all of the suite demolition is complete. One thing that we haven't shared yet is we have targeted October 14 as our completion date, our biggest challenge right now is coordination of scheduling. This way, we are giving ourselves a buffer in case any project runs over.
Helton, prior to working for NASCAR worked for various racetracks, including the former Atlanta International Raceway where he once served as general manager. After having an opportunity to survey the damage he stated, "There is nothing I've seen here today that will stop us (NASCAR) from being here in October. Atlanta Motor Speedway has everything that NASCAR needs to run a race here." Great seats are still available for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend. Tickets can be obtained by calling (770) 946-4211 or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(7-28-2005)

Atlanta Recontruction Update - Week 2: It has only been two weeks since the tornado hit Atlanta Motor Speedway and track officials are pleased with the progress of the reconstruction. "Power has been restored to almost 100 percent of the property," said president and general manager of AMS, Ed Clark. "Our telephone lines, email, Internet and ticket office are back in business which is essential to our day-to-day operations. We have completed the cleanup of the grounds including the removal of all downed trees and broken limbs off trees, the suite level demolition is almost complete and we should have all the material removed by the end of the week. The decking is going on both suite levels this week. The building exterior penetrations have been sealed and all replacement glass and steel orders have been placed, some of the perimeter fencing has been replaced and we have contractors working on finishing that project."
Contractors have been hired and assigned to specific areas as part of the rebuild process. Choate Construction has been hired to complete work on the Tara condominium and administration building, Rentenbach Constructors Inc. is tackling the Earhardt and Champions grandstands and suites, while J.A. Street & Associates Inc. is repairing the East Turn grandstands and suites.
"The organizations we have contracted to work on specific projects have been wonderful to work with," said Clark. "They are committed to completing our projects on the timetable that has been set, so we can provide the fans the amenities they are accustomed to when they arrive for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend this fall."
Great seats are still available for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend. Tickets can be obtained by calling (770) 946-4211 or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(7-23-2005)

Atlanta add's suites: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today the addition of twelve 16-person suites to their frontstretch suite level. Currently, AMS offers 30-person and 64-person suites, but with the recent tornado damage the track sustained, track officials chose to reconfigure the suite level area, adding a third option for their customers. "We have had a lot of requests from companies in the Atlanta market for suites on a smaller scale," said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. "This option is perfect for an organization with fewer employees or wants to entertain their customers on a more intimate level. With the recent tornado damage the speedway received, we are excited to take this opportunity to make positive changes to our already fantastic facility. Our goal is to provide our customers an awesome experience each time they visit Atlanta Motor Speedway and this only enhances what we can offer our patrons."
Companies interested in leasing Atlanta Motor Speedway's newly renovated suites for the upcoming Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend may contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway sales office at 770-946-3918.(AMS PR)(7-21-2005)

Update on Atlanta Motor Speedway: Only one week after suffering damage from an F2 tornado, Atlanta Motor Speedway is officially back in business. On Thursday, Performance Friction Brakes used the 1.54-mile oval to test their brake upgrade kit for BMW M3's by performing repeated stops. The test was scheduled prior to last week's storm and is one track rental among many that use the speedway facility approximately 265 days per year.
In addition, Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway addressed the media with a construction progress update. The track property encompasses 870 acres and the following list of projects will be completed before the Bass Pro Shops MBNA race weekend held October 28-30:
Fencing: Approximately 15 to 20 miles of ornamental and chain link fencing will need to be replaced. The track lost approximately 85% of their chain link fencing.
East Turn Grandstands: The grandstands are in good condition with limited seat damage. Approximately 12 to 14 suites sustained roof damage and are in need of an interior remodeling. Frontstrech area: This area encompasses the Champion, Earnhardt and Petty Grandstands. The entire suite level will need to be remodeled but the grandstands are in good condition with limited seat damage. The entrance gates will need to be rebuilt.
Weaver Grandstands: The Weaver Grandstand is located on the backstretch. The area is still being evaluated. The suites will be taken down as well as much of the concession area will be demolitioned. A significant amount of seat damage exists.
Condominium and administrative office building: The building was surveyed by structural engineers and deemed sound. The building suffered considerable damage to the roof and many glass windows. The AMS staff was able to return to work in the building starting today, however, they have been moved into temporary offices on the third floor. A number of condominium units sustained damage and the building exterior will require major repair.
Souvenir Warehouse: The souvenir warehouse located outside turn two will need to be rebuilt as it suffered structural damage.
Ticket office and gift shop: This area will require roof and gutter repairs.
Ticket booths: All ticket booths will need to be rebuilt.
Catch fence: This is the fencing that separates the track surface from the grandstand areas. Almost half of the outside portion of the catch fence was damaged.
Lighting: Many of the light poles, both to light the property and the racetrack, were downed and will need to be replaced. In addition, the majority of interior MUSCO reflector lights from turn one to the backstretch will be replaced.
SAFER barrier: Installed one year ago, the SAFER barrier system is made up of steel tubes and pads of hard foam, which are affixed to the speedway's concrete walls to absorb some of the energy that is transferred during a crash. Several areas will need to be repaired.
Garage area: The competitor garage areas received minor roof damage and several garage doors will need to be replaced.
Media center and NASCAR sign-in building: Located in the infield, these two buildings will require roof and interior repair.
Competitor infield camping: All the electrical outlets need to be replaced.
Scoring towers: The turn one scoring tower will be rebuilt before race weekend. The backstretch scoring tower will be taken down. The turn four tower sustained minor damage.
Pedestrian and vehicle tunnels: Both tunnels were surveyed by structural engineers and deemed sound.
Grounds: The property lost many trees and will have to be replanted over the next coming year.
The projects are being assessed for how long each project will take to complete and the construction projects are being scheduled based on priority. Great seats are still available for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend. Tickets can be obtained by calling (770) 946-4211.(AMS Site/PR)(7-15-2005)

Oct Atlanta Race to move due to damage? DENIED - help out Cars on the Track..Thurs: Speculation continues in the NASCAR garage that damage from last week's tornado might force NASCAR officials to move the Oct. 30 race from Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Las Vegas, also owned by Bruton Smith, is still the buzz. But NASCAR president Mike Helton said he has had no such talks with Smith.(Winston Salem Journal)
DENIED folks from Atlanta Motor Speedway tell me they will make repairs and hold the Oct 30th Nextel Cup race as scheduled and that fans can help by buying tickets for the race and supporting the track. Goto atlantamotorspeedway.com.(7-11-2005)
UPDATE: on Thursday, July 14, 11:00am/et at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Infield Media Center, Ed Clark, AMS president, will discuss construction progress of rebuild from the tornado damage. AND Performance Friction will be testing their street upgrade kit for the BMW M3 class on Atlanta Motor Speedway's 1.54-mile track. Thursday Thunder racing was cancelled last week and on Thursday, July 14. An overall assessment of the track and grandstand areas will be conducted before a decision regarding the remainder of the 2005 Thursday Thunder racing season can be made.(AMS PR)(7-12-2005)

Damage at Atlanta Motor Speedway from July 6, 2005 storm

Damage at Atlanta Motor Speedway: Remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy moved through metro Atlanta on Wednesday evening, overturning small planes, flooding highways, displacing residents and causing at least two deaths. The Hampton area in Henry County was hit particularly hard. Four planes were overturned and two hangars were damaged at Tara Field, fire officials said. A building at the start/finish line at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, housing several condominiums on the top floors and administrative offices on the bottom floor, suffered "severe" damage, speedway President Ed Clark said. "The condo building and the whole track area got hit pretty hard," Clark said. "It's pretty extreme." Clark said no one was injured, but windows were blown out and vehicles were blown around by strong winds he suspects were part of a tornado. "It had to be when you look at the damage over here," Clark said.
Tonight's race has been canceled, but officials say they will have the track ready before the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500O on Oct. 30. "We'll pull together and make it happen," Clark said. Strong winds downed two of the three scoring towers and left the Weaver grandstand torn in pieces. In the Richard Petty tribute garden, flagpoles and lamp posts were uprooted and a large oak tree was blown over in the road. In the middle of it all, a statue of Petty signing an autograph for a little girl remained undamaged. The building at the start/finish line at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, housing several condominiums on the top floors and administrative offices on the bottom floor, suffered severe damage. Matresses were blown through some units and hung from balconies from some of the condos. Items from other units lay strewn on the ground more than a quarter mile away. The speedway offices were not as badly damaged as the condos, but officials worried about water damage. "We pulled Richard Petty's pictures off the wall and put tarps over the trophies," Clark said. Clark suspects the culprit was a tornado. "It had to be when you look at the damage over here," he said. Thursday morning, Clark estimated damage to the complex at $25 to 40 million. Henry County fire officials said they spotted one, possibly two, tornadoes that didn't touch ground in the area. Other tornadoes were reported in Fayette, Harris and Meriwether counties, but the National Weather Service said none had been confirmed.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution other links: 11alive.com)(7-7-2005)

Nicorette to sponsor 2006 Busch race at Atlanta: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare announced plans for Nicorette to sponsor next year's NASCAR Busch Series race on March 18, 2006 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The event would be renamed the Nicorette 300. This announcement was made today at Infineon Raceway in California prior to the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series event. Earlier this year GSK Consumer Healthcare became the first smoking cessation sponsor in NASCAR with an associate sponsorship on Chip Ganassi Racing Team's #41 Dodge Charger. The company is reaching out to NASCAR fans and their families, raising awareness for its clinically proven smoking cessation therapies and providing quit smoking counseling, with a special Winner's Circle exhibit at 23 NASCAR NEXTEL cup series races this year.(AMS PR)(6-29-2005)

Fall Atlanta Tix on sale Today: Tickets for the Oct. 28-30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend will go on sale to the general public Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Tickets for all grandstands except Weaver (backstretch) will be available when the AMS ticket office opens at 8:30 a.m. The Weaver Grandstand tickets can be waitlisted but will not be available for purchase until April 15. The ticket office will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday for fans to purchase their tickets. Call (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) for more information, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(4-1-2005)

New Driector of Advertising at Atlanta: Dave Mullison has been promoted to Director of Advertising and Promotion, Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark announced today. Mullison, an employee at Atlanta Motor Speedway since 1999, has served as Marketing Communication Manager for the past six years. He will continue primarily in that role, managing all aspects of advertising and event promotions, as well as the AMS website. A native of Frederick, Md., Mullison will work closely with the new Director of Marketing, Marcy Scott, who begins April 11.(AMS)(4-1-2005)

New Director of Marketing and Promotion at Atlanta: Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway, announced today the addition of Marcy Scott as Director of Marketing and Promotion for the facility. Scott has been a member of the NASCAR industry since 1998 and has worked in various capacities from public relations to account management for both sponsors and race teams. Past race teams and sponsors she has worked with include: Trex Decking and Railing, PPI Motorsports, Bill Davis Racing, Nestlé USA, Kellogg's and M&M Mars. A native of Atlanta, Scott graduated in 1994 from the University of Georgia. She is also a graduate of Parkview High School, located in Gwinnett County. Her duties will encompass media and community relations, event promotion, marketing and management of the AMS website. She will start her new role on April 11. Scott will replace Angela Revell, who is moving to Nashville with her husband.(AMS)(3-31-2005)

Singer of National Anthem at Atlanta Apologizes: John Michael Montgomery has apologized to anyone offended by his performance of the national anthem prior to Sunday's Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and blamed a medical condition called acoustic neuroma. "Please accept my sincerest apologies for offending anyone; it was certainly not my intention," said Montgomery in a statement on his Web site. "I will continue to see the doctors as we try to determine the best course of action to remedy the acoustic neuroma condition." Montgomery said the condition leaves the sufferer with a lack of balance.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-24-2005)

Man Found Dead in RV at AMS: A man was found dead of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning Monday morning inside an RV at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Henry County police said today. Police Lt. Jason Bolton said the RV's generator leaked, causing the deadly fumes to accumulate and kill B. Christopher Thompson, 37, of Ball Ground, GA. Thompson's wife, Lori Thompson, 34, was airlifted to Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta. The hospital refused to give information on her condition Monday afternoon. Bolton said the couple spent the weekend in the 1996 Dolphin 535 mobile home while attending the Golden Corral 500 at the racetrack in Hampton. Friends staying in another mobile home found the couple about 10:30am/et Monday. The group had decided to return home Monday rather than fight the traffic Sunday night, Bolton said. Foul play is not suspected and an autopsy will be performed Tuesday.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-22-2005)

3rd Annual Atlanta Motor Speedway Day: on Wednesday, March 16, at the Georgia State Capitol. Fans are invited and encouraged to attend and show their support for Atlanta's racing industry. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup legend Bill Elliott and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers Bill Lester and Terry Cook will be on hand for the day's festivities, which will include a fan zone of showcars, simulators and displays on the south perimeter of the Capitol. The public is invited to attend this midway of activity at the Capitol. Due to time constraints, there will not be any autograph sessions with the drivers. Gov. Perdue will host a news conference at 10 a.m. on the north steps inside the State Capitol building downtown. In addition to the NASCAR drivers, Mark Lazarus (President of Turner Entertainment Group) and Blake Davidson (NASCAR Managing Director for Licensed Products) will also speak at the news conference about the possibility of bringing the NASCAR Hall of Fame to downtown Atlanta. Atlanta Motor Speedway's two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race weekends contribute $455 million annually to the Atlanta economy - more than the combined total of all other sporting events in the city. Atlanta's races also attract fans from all 50 states and as many as a dozen nations, while another 10 million fans tune in worldwide.(AMS PR)(3-16-2005)

National Anthem at Atlanta; Military Theme/Demo; B-1 Bomber flyover; Multi-platinum country recording artist John Michael Montgomery will sing the national anthem for the March 20 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, capping off a heart-swelling military demonstration scheduled for pre-race by the U.S. Special Operations Command. The U.S. Special Operations Command is back for the second straight year with participants from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. Leading the special operations demonstration will be Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger Jr., commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Race fans will be treated to a demonstration by special operations forces that will be capped off with the scheduled arrival of the race's official pace car inside an MH-47 Chinook helicopter from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). In addition to the Chinook helicopter, other aircraft scheduled to be included in the demonstration include the MH-60 Black Hawk and MH-6 Little Bird helicopters and an MC-130 Combat Talon aircraft. Following this dramatic pre-race demonstration, Montgomery will take the stage for the singing of our national anthem. Montgomery's performance will be capped off by a flyover from the B-1 Bomber. Don't miss a second of this exciting pre-race show. Great seats are still available for the Golden Corral 500 starting at just $30. For more information call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(3-15-2005)

Atlanta Races Safe: On Sunday, SMI's Bruton Smith began beating the drums for a second Nextel Cup race here, but not at the expense of Atlanta. Smith, who owns tracks from Las Vegas to Charlotte [Sonoma, Bristol, Atlanta, Texas], said the two race dates at Atlanta Motor Speedway "are very secure. That was a nasty, dirty rumor." He was referring to the rumor of two weeks ago that said Atlanta would be losing one of its dates to Las Vegas. That rumor persisted in the Cup garage here this weekend. But Smith and Humpy Wheeler, the general manager at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, said it wouldn't make economic sense to move a race out of Atlanta despite its occasional inability to sell out. "Simply because it's just a traditional market, it's been there a long time," Wheeler said. "Atlanta draws more people than both [Rockingham and Darlington, tracks that have lost dates because of empty seats]. We've had some full houses in Atlanta, and I think we'll see them again. We've got to get into a better weather situation; that's what you've got to dance around in Atlanta." Wheeler disagreed with a reporter's assertion that two races at Las Vegas and one at Atlanta would be more profitable than two races at Atlanta and one in Vegas. "Possibly and possibly not. I think you'd get more money for [race] sponsorship in Atlanta than you would at Vegas, because of the market," Wheeler said. That's what sells sponsorships. That's why New York could possibly work, if you've got somebody [who would pay a lot] to get a huge amount of exposure. That's something we've got to look at from Atlanta's standpoint." But the Speedway Motorsports Inc. moguls really were at the track to generate some enthusiasm for a second Vegas race date. The track's public address announcer told the crowd at the UAW-Chrysler Daimler 400 to write NASCAR asking for another race.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-14-2005)

Atlanta has a new toll-free number: Atlanta Motor Speedway has a new toll-free ticket number for fans to call to order tickets for upcoming events, including the March 18-20 Golden Corral 500. To make it easier for fans calling from outside the metro Atlanta area, AMS officials have acquired this new toll free line: (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or (877) 926-7849. The local ticket office number, (770) 946-4211, will still be in use for all local customers. Not only can fans purchase tickets on this new toll-free line, but they can also obtain information regarding upcoming events, camping spaces, pre-race pit access and much more.(AMS PR)(3-10-2005)

More on the Atlanta-Vegas rumored race swap: Don't believe everything you read on the Internet [gasp]. A popular auto racing Web site created a stir in Atlanta and Las Vegas this week when it posted a rumor that one of Atlanta Motor Speedway's two NASCAR Nextel Cup races would be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2006 or 2007. The report also said that LVMS "supposedly has plans to add ... possibly 50,000 more seats." The rumor prompted amusement from LVMS general manager Chris Powell and an angry response from his counterpart in Atlanta, Ed Clark. Both tracks are owned by Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc. "I'm just trying to figure out where we're going to put 50,000 seats," Powell said, dismissing the rumor with a chuckle. Clark was not as amused. "The report was completely unfounded and false," Clark said in a statement. "It's very disappointing that Internet sites spread this kind of mistruth. Rumors like this, published without any attempt at verification, create confusion and they hurt our fans, our competitors and our sport. There have been absolutely no discussions in our company about moving a NASCAR date from Atlanta. We will continue to host two NASCAR races well into the future." Powell, who has been lobbying NASCAR for several years to get a second annual Nextel Cup Series race at his track, also said he has heard no talk about Smith moving a race to Las Vegas from any of his tracks -- or adding 50,000 additional seats. Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc. also owns Bristol Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Infineon Raceway.(Las Vegas Sun)(2-27-2005)

An Atlanta race to Las Vegas? UPDATE 4 denied and 'slammed': hearing that in 2006 or 2007, one of Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) Nextel Cup races could be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which supposedly has plans to add more grandstands.....possibly 50,000 more seats.(2-23-2005)
UPDATE: been told by folks at AMS that this is completely false.
UPDATE 2: Contrary to an internet report posted Wednesday, Speedway Motorsports Inc. has no plans to move a NASCAR race date from Atlanta Motor Speedway to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "The report was completely unfounded and false," Clark said. "It's very disappointing that internet sites [hmm..always blame the Internet sites] spread this kind of mistruth. Rumors like this, published without any attempt at verification, create confusion, and they hurt our fans, our competitors and our sport." Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race weekends - each March and October - which are the two largest sporting events annually in Georgia. "There have been absolutely no discussions in our company about moving a NASCAR date from Atlanta," Clark said. "We will continue to host two NASCAR races well into the future, giving fans the 'Real Racing. Real Fast.' that they expect when visiting NASCAR's fastest track."(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(2-23-2005)
UPDATE 3: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark said there's no substance to a report on a popular racing Web site claiming that AMS will lose a Nextel Cup race to its sister track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, in 2006 or 2007. Jayski.com posted the report on Wednesday. "That's totally unfounded, uncalled for and irresponsible to report," Clark said. "It's hurtful to our track and our fans." Jay Adamczyk, who hosts the jayski.com site, declined to comment other than to say, "I stand by what I posted and heard."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(2-24-2005)
UPDATE 4: A report this week on a popular and highly respected motorsports Internet site said within two years one of two Cup races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, giving the local track two annual races. Both facilities are owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc. I [Jeff Wolf] called Bruton Smith, chairman of SMI, to ask if there was merit to the Jayski.com report. Smith responded with a word [what Dale Jr. got penalized for?] that describes what I try to avoid stepping in when walking behind bulls at the rodeo. He added that he had no plans to shift one of Atlanta's races to Las Vegas.(Las Vegas Review Journal)(2-25-2005)

AMS the Drivers Favorite: Atlanta Motor Speedway is the best track in NASCAR. Just ask the drivers. Sports Illustrated did just that, anonymously polling 36 NASCAR drivers. Results published in the Feb. 21 issue put Atlanta Motor Speedway at the top of the chart for favorite track, with 27% of the vote. Daytona (20%) and Bristol (17%) followed. “Drivers love Atlanta for one reason: speed,” Sports Illustrated writes. “The 1.54-mile oval is the fastest track on the circuit, and its long, wide straightaways create plenty of side-by-side racing. … Add it all up, and Atlanta usually produces heart-pounding, outrageously fast races, which is why most drivers (and fans) relish a trip to the Capital of the South.” None of this is any surprise to Ed Clark, President and General Manager at AMS since 1995. He’s seen the photo finishes, the four-wide racing, the ultra-fast speeds. In fact, the only thing that surprises Clark is that Atlanta this honor wasn’t bestowed long ago.
“Our fans know that there isn’t a bad seat in the house here, and that when they come, they are going to see some of the fastest and most competitive racing of the whole year,” Clark said. “The great thing is, what makes a great show for the fans also makes a great race for the drivers. They like going fast – they’re race car drivers. They like running side-by-side at 200 mph. And the fans love to watch it.”
Atlanta Motor Speedway has held the distinction of being the fastest track in NASCAR since its reconfiguration during the summer of 1997. During the first qualifying event following reconstruction, Geoffrey Bodine blazed a lap around the smooth, wide lanes of Atlanta’s new quad-oval raceway in just 28.074 seconds, or 197.478 mph. Since then, speeds have slowed down slightly – in the low 190-mph range – but are still faster than other 1.5-mile NASCAR tracks. Great seats are still available for the March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 and start at $30. For more information contact Ticketmaster or the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(2-23-2005)

Tire Testing at Atlanta Jan 11-12th UPDATE: A Goodyear Tire test is scheduled for January 11-12 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 2004 Rookie of the Year #9-Kasey Kahne and #48-Jimmie Johnson will test the brand new Goodyear compound at NASCAR's fastest track next week as they prepare for the March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 weekend. The test session will be closed to both the media and the public. The test will be the first with the new Atlanta Goodyear tire, which is a different compound than any for any other speedway. Mark Keto, lead engineer for Goodyear's stock car tire development group, said the session will be used to gauge how well the new compound works with the 2005 NASCAR rule changes, such as the reduced spoiler height. NASCAR officials are expected to be on hand to analyze the results. Additional NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series teams are scheduled to test throughout February and March for the spring race weekend. For more information on the Golden Corral 500 weekend, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(1-9-2005)
UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway's 2005 racing season officially started Tuesday at 10:45am/et, as Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne sprinted around the 1.54-mile quad-oval at near-qualifying speeds during a two-day Goodyear Tire test. Rookie of the Year Kasey Kahne and recent AMS Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 winner Jimmie Johnson will continue to test the new Goodyear compounds Wednesday as they prepare for the March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 weekend. Mark Keto, lead engineer for Goodyear's stock car tire development group, said this week's test will help Goodyear establish which tire compound is best for the lightning-fast Atlanta track, the fastest in NASCAR, with the new spoiler rules. "We're going through different tire compounds, but we really just want to know what the driver thinks," Keto said, "And also if the tires which run well on the shorter runs will run well on the longer runs." As the day progressed, Johnson and Kahne made short runs and relayed pertinent information to Goodyear engineers. "Going through the different tires, we're finding the cars are more on the loose side. It's the tires with softer grip that the drivers seem to like and also perform well," Keto said. "We have several that we're carrying over to tomorrow's long-run test." Kahne said he also used Tuesday to think about not only tires, but also the redesigned body of his Dodge Charger. "It's great for us to get this track time with the new design," Kahne said. "Hopefully this will put us ahead of the game to have an even more consistent season."(AMS PR)(1-12-2005)

World Financial Group to sponsor spring craftsman truck race AT AMS: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that World Financial Group will sponsor the new Friday night, March 18 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The event, which will follow Georgia Power Qualifying Night for the NEXTEL Cup Series race, will be called the World Financial Group 200. The World Financial Group 200 will be part of the new spring weekend format that will include NASCAR's three premier racing series: Craftsman Truck, Busch and NEXTEL Cup. World Financial Group began its foray into NASCAR racing this fall, sponsoring the American Speed Association race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October, as well as Carl Edwards' #99 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup car for several races. Tickets are on sale now for all three days of racing excitement during the March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The weekend kicks off with Georgia Power Qualifying Night and the new World Financial Group 200 on Friday, March 18. The action heats up on Saturday, March 19, for the Aaron's 312, showcasing top racing veterans and some of the hottest up-and-coming drivers in the country. The weekend will culminate on Sunday, March 20, with the running of the Golden Corral 500. For tickets to the Golden Corral 500 weekend call Ticketmaster, or call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(12-15-2004)

Holiday Sobriety Challenge at Atlanta: Local celebrities and dignitaries including platinum-certified rapper Da Brat, Georgia state Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, WSB-AM traffic guru Capt. Herb Emory, Star 94's Jonathan Hyla and Hot 107.9's DJ Nabs will participate in a controlled experiment designed to illustrate the dangers of drinking and driving at any level at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday, Dec 10th. Participants will be well under the legal limit of .08 blood alcohol content when they get behind of the wheel of a Chevrolet sedan for a closed-course driving test (along with instructors from Xtreme Measures Teen Driving School). The Georgia State Patrol will monitor the participants' alcohol level and conduct field sobriety tests, then release their results. Results will be revealed during a lunch press conference. MADD Georgia and Team Georgia will provide "fatal vision goggles" and "picture this" accident footage for visual accompaniments for stand-ups or photos. The holidays are the deadliest time of year on America's highways, with more than 40 percent of all traffic fatalities occurring between November and January.(AMS PR)(12-9-2004)

Atlanta's 2005 Schedule not effected by new rule; Atlanta Motor Speedway will not be one of the tracks affected by NASCAR's new altered race weekend schedules, speedway officials confirmed Tuesday. Both of Atlanta Motor Speedway's NASCAR race weekend qualifying rounds are sponsored - in the spring by Georgia Power, in the fall by Georgia-Pacific - and have strong crowd draws. The 2004 qualifying day crowds have been the largest in speedway history. "I applaud NASCAR for what they're trying to do, and I appreciate them taking into consideration that this type of format doesn't suit all tracks," said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. "We have commitments to our sponsors and our fans for three full days of great racing, and that's what we'll deliver." The March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 weekend will kick off with Georgia Power Qualifying Night, which will be held under the lights for the first time during the spring race weekend. Qualifying will be followed by the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race. For more information, call Ticketmaster or the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(11-17-2004)

Seven Zebras Stolen Sunday from Atlanta Motor Speedway UPDATE: In a case that has left speedway officials baffled, seven custom-made zebras were stolen during the night Sunday from the grassy area above turns 1 and 3 of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Six of the zebras were approximately 8 feet tall and 15 feet long. Of those six, three were grazing and three were upright. The seventh zebra was approximately 8 feet tall and 4 feet long. Approximate value for the zebras is $11,200. All seven zebras were placed in the grassy areas overlooking turns 1 and 3 at Atlanta Motor Speedway prior to the start of the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend. They were created for Warner Brothers Films and Alcon Entertainment to use in promotional events for the upcoming release of the movie Racing Stripes. Following Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, all seven zebras were stolen. Tony Loiacono, president and CEO of The Next Box, a marketing company for Warner Brothers, reported the incident on Monday morning. "We had planned to use these zebras at all of our upcoming Racing Stripes events to help support the film, and we had also had a request to send one of the zebras to the Victory Junction Gang Camp when we were finished with them," Loiacono said. "We're really hoping to find them, because we don't have enough time to create a whole new herd." Atlanta Motor Speedway is asking for the cooperation of its fans for the safe return of these seven zebras. AMS President Ed Clark has offered a reward of two tickets to the March 20 Golden Corral 500 for anyone leading to the safe return of these valuable zebras. "We know that race fans are decent and honest people, and they'll bring these back once they realize how important they are to the folks at Racing Stripes and the Victory Junction Gang," Clark said. Anyone with any information is asked to call Loiacono at (760) 533-4434.(AMS PR)(11-1-2004)
UPDATE: Not wishing to be identified, a caller named "Larry" helped point Atlanta Motor Speedway and Warner Bros. Pictures officials to two of the seven zebras stolen after Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, where a promotion took place for the upcoming film Racing Stripes. Larry said the zebras might have been accidentally taken by a few of the youths in his party at Sunday's race. After hearing news of the stolen zebras on Monday, Larry called Warner Bros. officials and offered to return the zebras. Larry said the two zebras - 8 feet tall by 15 feet long - are doing fine and will be returned to Tony Loiacono, president and CEO of The Next Box, a marketing company hired by Warner Bros. for the event. Larry refused the reward of two tickets to the March 20 Golden Corral 500, saying he was ashamed to have been involved in the removal of the zebras from speedway property. Atlanta Motor Speedway officials also located a third zebra in the Shedd's Spread Country Campground RV lot on Monday morning, thanks to a call from alert race fan Ray Macolly. The other four zebras are still on the loose. All seven zebras were placed in the grassy areas overlooking turns 1 and 3 at Atlanta Motor Speedway prior to the start of the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend. They were created for Warner Bros. Pictures and Alcon Entertainment to use in promotional events for the upcoming release of the movie Racing Stripes.(AMS PR)(11-5-2004)

AMS Honor's Victims: There will be a moment of silence for the victims before both the Busch and Nextel Cup races on Saturday and Sunday, AMS communications manager Angela Revell said. Also, a black ribbon adorned with 10 stars has been painted on the infield grass, and the flags at the speedway are at half-staff.(Macon Telegraph)(10-29-2004)

National Anthem, Concert at Atlanta, Fly Over; Tickets: Grammy-winning rock band Third Day will star in a special pre-race concert and sing the national anthem and "Georgia on My Mind" for the Oct. 31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. All five members of the Atlanta-based band attended last year's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 as guests of Chevrolet and have quickly become fans of NASCAR. And although the group's members - David Carr, Mark Lee, Brad Avery, Tai Anderson and Mac Powell - won't name one favorite driver, it's fair to say they favor the Chevy guys. The performance will be the first time Third Day has performed for a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race audience. Third Day recently released its seventh album, Wire, which debuted on Billboard's Top 200 album chart at number 12. For updated Third Day information, please visit www.ThirdDay.com. Third Day's race morning concert will begin at 11:10 a.m. and is expected to last 45 minutes. Immediately following the Third Day concert, the Red Baron Squadron will put on a two-minute pre-race show. Third Day will then return to the pre-race stage to perform "Georgia On My Mind" and the National Anthem, which will be punctuated by a B-1 Bomber flying over the speedway. Great seats are still available for the entire Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend. Three-day packages start at $69; for more information call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(10-27-2004)

Mad Man at the Races: MAD Magazine spokescharacter, Alfred E. Neuman, will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway during the upcoming race weekend with the speedway's Aaron's 312 Busch race sponsor, Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership. Neuman will be at the Aaron's product display, located in the display lot in the Earnhardt parking area, on Friday, Oct. 29. He will be hosting a special "Alfred E. Neuman look-alike contest", which will be judged by the Aaron's Dream Girls and MAD Magazine editor John Ficarra. Look-alikes should be at the Aaron's product display at 5 p.m. for the special judging. The winner will receive an Aaron's/MAD Magazine racing goodie bag, which will be awarded onstage during the Aaron's 312 pre-race ceremonies on Saturday, Oct. 30. For more information, visit www.shopaarons.com or visit any Aaron's store.(AMS PR)(10-12-2004)

Protest at Atlanta: A little-known group of minority race fans plans to protest a NASCAR event at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Oct. 31. Hampton Police Chief Bud Smith said representatives from the National Association for Minority Race Fans are seeking a protest permit for that day's race. However, the city ordinance does not address such a request. "We do not have an ordinance that requires them to get a permit," he said. "But we will require them to register at city hall. We will also discuss this issue at the Oct. 5 pre-race meeting." Little is known about the group, which has a Web site at www.namrf.com. The site displays a countdown to when the site will be open to the public, midnight Oct. 1. Until then, only members can log onto the site. Phillip W. Offill Jr., an attorney with Dallas law firm Godwin Gruber, said he represents the group. "This will be a fairly substantial protest," he said. "They are loud and proud and have a problem with what is going on with NASCAR." Specifically, Offill said the group pinpoints racism and the safety of minorities and women at race events but declined to elaborate. "Some more will come out closer to the release of the documentary," he said. "But a lot of folks, because of the color of their skin or gender, don't feel safe at race events."
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Wednesday that he is not familiar with the protest group. He said NASCAR is proud of the strides made within the organization to attract everyone as fans. "NASCAR respects the right of all people to express their opinions and NASCAR is committed to making the sport off and on the track even more like America," he said. "No issue is more important for NASCAR to succeed and grow."
Smith said the group specifically wants to protest the Oct. 31 race, the Bass Pro Ships MBNA 500, but Offill alluded to Talladega as another possible target but would not elaborate. The EA Sports 500 is slated at Alabama's Talladega Superspeedway Oct. 3. Talladega officials said Wednesday they have not had contact with the group, which they had not heard of. Offill said the Web site is available only to members because they don't want to let "personalities" get out in front of the issues and concerns of the group.
Smith said the group seeks a peaceful demonstration but the request itself is unusual. "They say they are very peaceful and not aggressive," he said, "but I have not known of a race protest and I've been here since 1972. As long as they are peaceful, we'll work with them." The group, accompanied by a film crew, first approached the Henry Superior Court clerk's office for a permit. However, Clerk Judy Lewis sent them to Hampton since the track is inside the city limits. Getting permission to protest and actually having a place in which to do so are two different things. AMS spokeswoman Angela Revell said she is not familiar with the group and has had no contact with any of its representatives. She also expressed surprise that minorities have a beef with NASCAR. "I guess they haven't heard of Magic Johnson's minority initiatives," said Revell. Earlier this year, sports legend Johnson announced plans to boost minority involvement in NASCAR. He told reporters in June his dad, a "big fan," took him to the track when he was a child. The event made a lasting impression. NASCAR is also making other efforts to diversify the fan base including developing a program called "Drive for Diversity," [www.drivefordiversity.com] aimed at generating well-trained minority and female drivers and crew members. Last year, NASCAR clashed with Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition when board member Bill Shack called car racing organizations "the last bastion of white supremacy." NASCAR Chief Operating Officer George Pyne responded that his organization is "vigorously" reaching out to minorities, citing mandated sensitivity training for all employees and the formation of a diversity council, intern programs and college tours.(News-Daily), past news on the diverstiy issue on my Racing Schools/Jobs page.(9-23-2004)
AND More at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.(9-24-2004)

Open House at Atlanta on Sept 25th: It happens only once a year, and this year's day for race fans to drive their own cars around the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway is Saturday, Sept. 25. But there will be much more than just the opportunity to drive your car around the track on Sept. 25, which will be Atlanta Motor Speedway's annual open house. The open house will run from 3-7 p.m. and will feature ticket and autographed NASCAR merchandise giveaways, infield and garage access and plenty of show cars to see. Also, new this year will be the Pacemaker 5000, a 5K foot race presented by Henry Medical Center. The race will be held at 5 p.m. and will include two laps around the speedway. Runners will be able to register at pacemaker5k.org for $15 prior to September 20. On-site registration will be available for $20. All runners will receive a complimentary race T-shirt.
Track rides will begin at 6 p.m., with each car getting a chance to make two laps behind the official Atlanta Motor Speedway pace car. Fans interested in driving the track should purchase their Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend tickets at the open house to receive their laps free. For those who have already purchased tickets for all three days of the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend, a $30 donation can be made to the Speedway Children's Charities for two laps around the speedway.
Fans also gain unprecedented access to the garage and infield areas of Atlanta Motor Speedway during the open house, giving them a chance to see the areas where their favorite drivers will set up to run the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. The garage area will be lined with showcars, games, food and other activities for fans to enjoy. The open house will also give fans a chance to scope out their seats for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, as well as win pit passes and NASCAR merchandise. Hundreds of souvenirs will be sold at the lowest prices of the year, and fans can even take photographs in Victory Lane with the pace car. For more information on the Sept. 25 Atlanta Motor Speedway Open House, call (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(9-22-2004)

Atlanta SAFER underway: The most extensive SAFER barrier installation at any NASCAR-sanctioned speedway is under way at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Work crews will demonstrate the installation process and officials will be available to answer questions about the project. Approximately 7,450 linear feet of the steel and foam energy-reducing barrier will be in place for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race events. Who: Ed Clark -- Atlanta Motor Speedway, President and General Manager Randy Wray -- Speedway Motorsports, Inc., Project Manager When: Wednesday, Sept. 15, 3 p.m. Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway Turn 1 Details: Media members should sign in at the main tunnel and proceed toward turn 1 once through the tunnel. Enter the track at end of pit road and proceed toward Turn 1, and park on the flat apron of the track. B-roll and photo opportunities will take place on the frontstretch. Info: For information, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway public relations department at (770) 946-3950.(AMS PR)(9-11-2004)

Hurricane Francis Stuff: Lowe's is also helping consumers stock up on information before the storm [Hurricane Francis - see www.storm2004.com or www.weather.com]. Homeowners can dial 1-877-3PREPARE (1-877-377-3727) toll-free for hurricane preparedness and safety tips in both English and Spanish. Informational flyers are available in stores, and the Lowe's Severe Weather Guide is in stores and at Lowes.com/hurricane.
AND Atlanta Motor Speedway will open its campgrounds this weekend to evacuees of Hurricane Frances. The speedway, which is equipped to handles thousands of campers during its two annual NASCAR race weekends, will open its two largest gravel campgrounds to evacuees free of charge. AMS will also open its camper shower facilities, allowing evacuees free access to hot showers and restroom facilities. "It's just the thing to do," Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark said. "These are our neighbors, and they're in need. It's just the right thing to do." Already a million people in Florida have been ordered to leave their homes, and states of emergency have been declared in both Georgia and Florida. With Hurricane Frances' path projected to continue up the eastern seaboard, more evacuations are expected. With Atlanta area hotels already filling up, and state officials wondering where to put all of the hurricane evacuees, opening up the AMS campgrounds just seemed a natural, Clark said.
"We had all of this space, and it was going to go unused this weekend," Clark said. "It's the least we can do to open it up for someone who really needs it." Atlanta Motor Speedway is located approximately 25 miles south of Atlanta on Hwy 19/41 and approximately eight miles west of I-75. For more information, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway offices at (770) 707-7904 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Those interested in camping at Atlanta Motor Speedway should enter the speedway grounds at Entrance E off Hwy 19/41 or Entrance G off Richard Petty Boulevard and park in the large gravel lot located adjacent to these entrances. For on-site assistance or directions, visit the ticket office/gift store building.(AMS PR)(9-3-2004)

SAFER at Atlanta: The installation of the new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier walls at Atlanta Motor Speedway is expected to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 7, in time for testing for the speedway's fall race weekend, the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. The project, which is being headed by SMI's contruction manager, Randy Wray, will be completed at night to accommodate the daytime track activities already scheduled. Working with the same crew that has already installed the SAFER walls at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Wray estimated that the project would take 2½ to 3 weeks to complete. Atlanta Motor Speedway will install approximately 7,450 linear feet of the SAFER barrier, which will cover approximately 75 percent of the speedway's outer walls. The SAFER barrier system will be placed outside of all four turns, as well as inside turn 2. The SAFER barrier system is made up of steel tubes and pads of hard foam, which are affixed to a speedway's concrete walls to absorb some of the energy that is transferred during a crash. Wray said the wall has already been completely fabricated, and it is being galvanized. It will start arriving at the track either later this week or early next week in about 25 truckloads.(AMS PR)(8-17-2004)

Atlanta to Create New Mid-State RV Center Family Campground: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today the creation of a new family camping area designed especially with the needs of families in mind. The Mid-State RV Center Family Campground presented by Coachmen and Sports Coach will be located north of the front entrance of the speedway, adjacent to Hwy 19/41 and next to the spacious new bathroom/shower facility. There will be separate camping areas for both RV and tent/pop-up camping, and spaces will being pre-selling immediately for the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. There are 380 RV spaces, which will sell for $125 per race, and 180 tent pop-up spaces, which will be $100 per race. Campers in the family-designated area will be surrounded by sturdy fencing and will be able to depend on round-the-clock security. The new Mid-State RV Family Campground will also have strictly enforced quiet time from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The family campground is sponsored by Mid-State RV Center in Byron, Ga., a longtime sponsor of AMS and supporter of Speedway Children's Charities. Mid-State RV Center is one of the top sellers of all ranges of RVs, from luxurious Coachmen motorhomes to economical travel trailers and pop-ups. For more information or to purchase spaces in the Mid-State RV Family Campground, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office now at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(6-23-2004)

Limited Number of Pre-Race Pit Passes Available at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway will again offer a limited number of $125 pre-race pit passes that fans can purchase for the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 NEXTEL Cup race. For just $125, fans will have the chance to be inside the highly coveted pit area, in the heart of the racing activity for the entire weekend. Weekend pre-race pit passes are good Friday through Saturday morning until 1 hour prior to the Aaron's 312 Busch race, and again on Sunday morning until 1 hour prior to the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. Friday-only pit passes will also be available for just $75, allowing fans into the pit area for all of the day's action, including practice and qualifying for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series, and final practices for the ASA and IROC series. Fans must be at least 14 years old and wear appropriate attire to be admitted into the pit area. Pre-race pit passes are not good for gate admittance and must be accompanied by a grandstand ticket for each day. Tickets for all three days of racing excitement during the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are on sale now. For more information about tickets or pre-race pit passes, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(5-4-2004)

$69 Three-Day Thriller Ticket Package Returns at Atlanta: The three-day thriller ticket package will return for the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with packages starting at just $69. The three-day thriller ticket will allow race fans to attend the chock-full Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race weekend, which will feature four different races in four different racing series, as well as practice and qualifying. The $69 three-day thriller ticket offer will include:
- One reserved Weaver grandstand ticket (rows 14-24) for the Oct. 31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500
- One unreserved East Turn grandstand ticket for Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race and the IROC season finale
- One unreserved Champions grandstand (frontstretch) ticket for Friday’s Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and ASA 150.(more info at the AMS site)(4-9-2004)

IROC Testing at Atlanta: The International Race of Champions (IROC) series will test Tuesday and Wednesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway as they prepare for their Oct. 30 season finale at the fast, high-banked track. Jim and Jay Sauter and Dave Marcis are expected to test the IROC cars on Tuesday, while IROC officials are expecting World of Outlaws drivers Steve Kinser and Danny "The Dude" Lasoski in to test on Wednesday. Lasoski is fresh off a "dream win"after pulling off a stunning victory last Friday in the Crown Royal IROC event at Texas Motor Speedway. In the Crown Royal IROC point standings, which will pay $1 million to the season champion, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman are tied for first with 33 points while Lasoski and Jimmie Johnson are tied for second with 32 points. The two-day test session is closed to the public.(AMS PR)(4-6-2004)

Atlanta to install SAFER: Atlanta Motor Speedway will install the new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier walls prior to the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, AMS President and General Manager Ed Clark announced today. The speedway's parent company, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. has placed Wes Harris, SMI vice president of development, in charge of the project for all SMI tracks. Exact dates for the installation have yet to be determined, but construction on the steel-and-foam walls is not expected to begin until late summer. The project is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. Based on measurements by these engineers, Atlanta Motor Speedway will install approximately 8,000 linear feet of the SAFER barrier, which will cover approximately 75 percent of the speedway's outer walls. The SAFER barrier system will be placed outside of all four turns, as well as inside turn 2.(AMS PR) for past news on SAFER/Softwalls, see my SAFER/Softwall page.(4-1-2004)

SAFER at Atlanta and Lowe's in the Fall UPDATE Lowe's in May?: SMI's Humpy Wheeler and Dean Sicking, who created the SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) barrier, said there's not enough time for Lowe's Motor Speedway to have the safety devices before the May 22 all-star race and the May 30 Coca-Cola 600. Wheeler said he expects Atlanta, which had a top qualifying speed of 194.295 mph last year, and Lowe's Motor Speedway will have the barriers for their October races. Wheeler said he questions whether the barriers are needed at Bristol, a high-banked, half-mile track. Kyle Petty suffered rib injuries when his car spun and hit driver-side into the wall at Bristol a year ago, and he missed one start.(Roanoke Times), more info on SAFER on my SAFER/Softwalls page.(3-14-2004)
UPDATE: Humpy Wheeler says he's accelerated the soft walls installation program "and I hope to have them in before the 600" at his Charlotte track in May, "but that will be pretty tough right now, because we've got six or seven tracks in front of us. We will definitely have them in for the 500 in October, and I'm sure we'll have them in here in October unless they run into a shortage of materials. This all puts a burden on the people putting the walls up because this will only be done one time and they're really the only game in town. We'd looked at doing it ourselves and trying to find something better, but we've just run out of time. It's not rocket science to install, but if you haven't done it before, it will take you a while. And it will take 14 to 21 days to install. When you add in rain, you have to consider shutting things down for a month. So we're going to try to do it at night. We're going to get there, it's just going to take a while. We really didn't think we'd do all this until 2005, but it's the thing to do now. I don't know whether we'll do it at Bristol or not."(in part from the Winston Salem Journal)(3-15-2004)

Dale Jr. Best Man: Vinny Zeuli and Michelle Menendez of Orlando, Fla., have known each other for 10 years. But the two decided earlier this week it was finally time to tie the knot. While celebrating their engagement this past Monday at a popular Orlando nightclub, Zeuli and Menendez happened to bump into Dale Earnhardt Jr. The driver of the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet quickly befriended the couple and suggested they exchange their vows in victory lane today at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he would serve as best man. "I just asked her to marry me Monday night," Zeuli said. "We saw Dale Jr. that night and he thought this would be a great idea." With a handful of relatives and a sea of photographers on hand, Atlanta Motor Speedway chaplain Bill Brannon united the two in holy matrimony on a sun-drenched afternoon in the center of victory lane as Earnhardt, decked out in jeans, a Budweiser cap and shirt, and sunglasses, stood beside the groom. "We just met him Monday night," Menendez said. "So, we haven't really known him for very long, but he's so wonderful." When asked if she was a NASCAR fan, Menendez replied,"Well...I'm a fan of Junior."(AMS Pit Notes)(3-13-2004)

Lots of stuff at the Atlanta Pre-Race Show UPDATE: The Air Force Pre-Race show at the March 14 Golden Corral 500 will feature a Hootie, a Delta Boeing 767 flyover, a chorus of uniformed Army soldiers and a couple of lightning-fast Air Force jets. And don’t forget about Arnie. Darius Rucker, the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, will perform Georgia On My Mind during the Air Force pre-race festivities. During Rucker’s vocal performance, a Delta 767 jet will buzz the crowd, announcing its recently announced status as the official airline of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Following Georgia On My Mind, the 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Chorus will stoke up the crowd with their stirring rendition of the national anthem. The 82nd Airborne Division’s “All-American” Chorus, a non-profit organization, performs throughout the continental United States. Their primary mission is to serve the soldiers of the U.S. Army and Fort Bragg, but their off-post performances continue to increase, so much in fact that they have become one of the Army’s greatest recruiting tools. During the performance of the national anthem, the Air Force will showcase its impressive jets with a flyover of four A-10s. Once all the pomp and circumstance of the Air Force pre-race festivities have ended, golfing legend Arnold Palmer will give the famous command for drivers to start their engines, leading off the Golden Corral 500. Waving the green flag for the field of 43 will be James Maynard, the co-founder and chairman of Golden Corral Corporation. Pre-race activities will begin by 9 a.m., so fans are reminded to get to their seats early.(AMS PR)(3-11-2004)
UPDATE: As part of the festivities leading up to the Golden Corral 500, several United States special operations warriors from the Army, Navy and Air Force will be honored for their service. These warriors are all veterans of the global war on terrorism and have recently served in Iraq or Afghanistan. "We are pleased to have the special operations warriors with us for pre-race festivities for the Golden Corral 500," said Bob McDevitt, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Golden Corral. "At Golden Corral, we recognize the importance of our armed forces veterans, and we celebrate their service, patriotism and love of country each year by serving free dinners at all 470 of our restaurants nationwide." Golden Corral, America's leading buffet restaurant, celebrates the military each year by providing free meals to all veterans and retired and active duty members of the U.S. Military on the Monday following Veteran's Day. On Military Appreciation Night last year, an estimated 252,000 veterans and retired or active duty military enjoyed free dinners at Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. These meals translated into a nearly $2.5-million thank you from Golden Corral. The military theme of the pre-race activities will continue during a modified aviation demonstration that will include an MH-47 Chinook Helicopter, an MH-60 Black Hawk, several MH-6 Little Bird helicopters and an MC-130E Combat Talon aircraft. The demonstration team is comprised of personnel from Army, Navy and Air Force special operations forces. Units represented include the 160th Special Operations Regiment (Airborne), the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, the 16th Special Operations Wing, and Navy Special Warfare Command.(AMS PR)(3-14-2004)

Atlanta Racing Rally UPDATE: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Senator Mike Crotts will host an Atlanta racing rally on Thursday at the Georgia State Capitol, and fans are invited and encouraged to attend and show their support for the sport. Gov. Perdue will host a news conference at 11 a.m. on the north side of the State Capitol building downtown. Fans interested in attending should be at the Capitol by 10:30 a.m. NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart, Terry Cook, Carl Edwards, Tina Gordon, Bill Lester, Chase Montgomery and Kelly Sutton, as well as Speedway Motorsports Inc. CEO Bruton Smith and Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark are all expected to attend the news conference. A variety of showcars and simulators will line the street next to the Capitol, including the No. 97 Rubbermaid/Sharpie car of Kurt Busch, two Newell Rubbermaid Hummers, the No. 88 UPS car of Dale Jarrett, the No. 10 Power Stroke Diesel truck simulator, the NEXTEL mini-experience, the No. 24 Bang! Racing truck, the AMS pace car and a pair of Richard Petty Driving Experience cars.(AMS PR)(3-11-2004)
UPDATE: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue drove a Richard Petty Experience race car around the Capitol building in Atlanta today as part of the state's second annual NASCAR Day observance, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The story says Atlanta Motor Speedway's two Nextel Cup race weekends are estimated to bring in $455 million a year to the Atlanta economy, more than the combined total of all other sporting events in the city. NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart, Terry Cook, Carl Edwards, Tina Gordon, Bill Lester, Chase Montgomery and Kelly Sutton were scheduled to be on hand, along with Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith and Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark.
AND Georgia State Sen. Carol Jackson has announced the formation of a motorsports caucus for members of the state General Assembly, Atlanta Motor Speedway reports. The caucus is designed to promote the state's racing industry. "Motorsports has a multibillion-dollar economic impact in Georgia," Jackson said.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-11-2004)

Lots of stuff at the Atlanta Pre-Race Show: The Air Force Pre-Race show at the March 14 Golden Corral 500 will feature a Hootie, a Delta Boeing 767 flyover, a chorus of uniformed Army soldiers and a couple of lightning-fast Air Force jets. And don’t forget about Arnie. Darius Rucker, the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, will perform Georgia On My Mind during the Air Force pre-race festivities. During Rucker’s vocal performance, a Delta 767 jet will buzz the crowd, announcing its recently announced status as the official airline of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Following Georgia On My Mind, the 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Chorus will stoke up the crowd with their stirring rendition of the national anthem. The 82nd Airborne Division’s “All-American” Chorus, a non-profit organization, performs throughout the continental United States. Their primary mission is to serve the soldiers of the U.S. Army and Fort Bragg, but their off-post performances continue to increase, so much in fact that they have become one of the Army’s greatest recruiting tools. During the performance of the national anthem, the Air Force will showcase its impressive jets with a flyover of four A-10s. Once all the pomp and circumstance of the Air Force pre-race festivities have ended, golfing legend Arnold Palmer will give the famous command for drivers to start their engines, leading off the Golden Corral 500. Waving the green flag for the field of 43 will be James Maynard, the co-founder and chairman of Golden Corral Corporation. Pre-race activities will begin by 9 a.m., so fans are reminded to get to their seats early.(AMS PR)(3-11-2004)

Golf Carts, ATVs Not Allowed at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials are reminding fans that golf carts and ATVs will NOT be allowed onto the Atlanta Motor Speedway property for any race weekend, including the upcoming March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend. All golf carts and ATVs brought to the speedway will be impounded upon entrance to the AMS grounds and returned upon exit. The only exclusions to this new policy are for handicapped patrons using a single-passenger purpose-built motorized scooter. This policy was enacted because of the danger the golf carts and ATVs pose to both the drivers and other patrons, and it will be strictly enforced. As in the past, fans will be allowed to carry coolers or personal bags on property, and should expect to have their bags searched upon entry. No glass is permitted on speedway grounds. Fans with further questions should call the Atlanta Motor Speedway offices at (770) 707-7904 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(3-11-2004)

Tickets Dwindling: Just a few days remain to purchase tickets to the Speed Zone Fan Hospitality tent, which on Sunday morning before the Golden Corral 500 will feature appearances by #99 SKF driver Jeff Burton, #45 Georgia-Pacific driver Kyle Petty and #48 Team Lowe’s Racing driver Jimmie Johnson. Tickets will be available through Saturday, March 13, and a limited number of seats remain. Interested fans should call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.
The schedule for the morning’s activities will be as follows:
· 9:10 a.m. – Kyle Petty
· 9:30 a.m. – Jeff Burton
· 10 a.m. – Jimmie Johnson
There are still two different packages available for the race morning Speed Zone fan hospitality tent, including:
Speed Zone – $99 -- See Burton, Petty and Johnson in person on race morning, as they answer your questions and talk about the day’s Golden Corral 500 · Take home a free souvenir program, program car, T-shirt and hat!
Speed Zone PLUS – $199 -- See Burton, Petty and Johnson in person on race morning, as they answer your questions and talk about the day’s Golden Corral 500 · Take home a free souvenir program, program car, T-shirt and hat! Plus receive a free pre-race pit pass For more information about the Speed Zone Fan Hospitality tent, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(3-10-2004)

More money at Atlanta:
Competitors in this weekend's Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be battling for a $4,692,401 purse, a record for the spring event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The $4.7 million purse is a 15 percent increase over last year’s purse and a whopping $2.7 million more than the total awards five years ago. The inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race will also offer a sizable purse, with more than $469,632 in posted awards available for the March 13 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200. The Golden Corral 500 weekend kicks off Friday with Georgia Power Qualifying Day. On Saturday, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will make its much-awaited debut in the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200. The weekend culminates Sunday, with the Golden Corral 500 at the fastest track on the circuit Great seats are still available for all three days of intense racing action. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(3-9-2004)

Special Atlanta Guests: University of Georgia football fans will recognize two of the faces in the crowd for next Sunday’s Golden Corral 500. UGA standouts quarterback David Greene and defensive end David Pollack will be on hand to watch the excitement of 43 drivers competing at NASCAR’s fastest track. Greene and Pollack, both of Snellville, Ga., are roommates and teammates at Georgia, which finished the season 11-3. Both are returning for their senior season next year.(AMS PR)(3-8-2004)

Atlanta Starter: James Maynard will have the best view in the house when the green flag flies for the Golden Corral 500 next Sunday – because he’ll be holding the green flag. Maynard is the Founder and Chairman of Golden Corral Corporation. Golden Corral is the owner or franchisor of approximately 500 restaurants in 41 states. The annual sales exceed $1 billion and, each week, on average, almost 3 million guests dine at Golden Corral.(AMS PR)(3-8-2004)

Soldier Buys Tix to Atlanta Race...from Iraq: Jason Young is a corporal in the U.S. Army. He has spent the last 12 months in Iraq, logging over 350 combat hours as crew chief of a Blackhawk helicopter. Next month he’s coming home. And the first thing he’s doing is packing his bags to attend the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Cpl. Young is taking advantage of a special offer he noticed on the Atlanta Motor Speedway website during his downtime in Iraq. That special offer Young noticed was an entire racing weekend, including tickets and hotel stay, for less than $199 per person. Young got a buddy interested and bought two. They each bought the bronze packages from Vroomz.com, which provided them each with a ticket to March 12 Georgia Power Qualifying Day, the March 13 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman Truck Series race and the March 14 Golden Corral 500 (backstretch ticket) plus two nights at an airport-area hotel. Each paid $199.50 for the packages. Vroomz.com president Amy Miller was so touched by their story, though, that she upgraded them to the “Golden Corral” package, which includes a frontstretch seat for the March 14 Golden Corral 500, and an upgrade to a luxury hotel. And after reading about this dedicated soldier, Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark further upgraded his weekend by adding pre-race pit passes. Vroomz.com offers discount weekend packages, complete with race tickets and hotel options, starting at just $99 per person for one day/one night (based on double occupancy). Vroomz.com is also offering shuttle service, standalone hotel rooms and upgrades to suites and fan hospitality areas. To purchase the discount packages, hotel rooms or shuttle tickets, fans should visit www.vroomz.com or call (877) FAN-ROOM (326-7666).(AMS PR)(2-27-2004)

AMS Adds to the their staff: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced the addition of Arleen Zulawski to handle sponsor services in the sales department. “Arleen’s energy and enthusiasm, in addition to her background in sponsor services, will complement our ongoing efforts to maximize our partners’ investments,” said Director of Sales Greg Walter. Before joining Atlanta Motor Speedway, Zulawski worked for three years as a client services manager for Palace Sports & Entertainment in Tampa, FL. While there, she supervised the implementation of more than 150 corporate partners’ marketing agreements, managed the implementation of the arena naming rights partner and season presenting sponsors. Zulawski will perform many of the same duties at Atlanta Motor Speedway, including research, ROI evaluations and promotional opportunities among their sponsors. A Florida native, Zulawski earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences as well as her Master of Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Florida.(AMS PR)(2-25-2004)

AMS widens track? just this little blurb in the AJC: If the March 14 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway comes down to a four-wide finish, there will be plenty of asphalt to accommodate it. But that's not the main reason track officials widened the track near the start-finish line. "It's more for promotional purposes, to give room for more signage," track spokeswoman Angela Revell said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(2-20-2004)

Arnold Palmer named Grand Marshal: Golf great Arnold Palmer has been named the Grand Marshal for the March 14 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Winner of 92 professional golfing championships, including four at the Masters, Palmer will give drivers the command to start engines on race morning. It’s a far cry from what he’ll be doing several weeks later in August, Ga., where Palmer will tee off for his 50th Masters tournament at Augusta National. Not only will Palmer help start the Golden Corral 500, but he will also be in the Golden Corral 500. Not driving, of course, but emblazoned on the #88 Dale Jarrett UPS/Arnold Palmer: Tribute To A Legend car. UPS Racing will pay tribute to the accomplishments of the great Arnold Palmer by running this special paint scheme for the Golden Corral 500. Palmer was named the “Athlete of the Decade” for the 1960s, is a charter member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, a member of the American Golf Hall of Fame at Foxburg, Pa., and a member of the PGA Hall of Fame in Florida. A renowned businessman and philanthropist, Arnold owns several golf courses around the country, is a consultant to The Golf Channel, is chairman of the USGA Members Program and served as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation for 20 years. Call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 for more information on the weekend's race activities [and Tickets](AMS PR)(2-19-2004)

Atlanta has sensors: Atlanta Motor Speedway has a timing and scoring system to accommodate a "freezing" of the field during NASCAR caution periods. The system, which consists of eight sensors around the 1.54-mile oval, was created by updating the network previously used during Indy Racing League events at the track. NASCAR officials have installed similar devices at Daytona International Speedway, Rockingham, Darlington and Las Vegas, and plan to have the sensors at all tracks this year. NASCAR is working on a way to keep drivers in their positions when the caution flag is displayed. This is especially important since racing to the yellow flag is no longer permitted.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(1-29-2004)

New Slogan for AMS: Atlanta Motor Speedway is rolling out a new advertising campaign beginning this week that will feature the raceway ’s new slogan: Real Racing. Real Fast. “We spent this fall and winter reviewing fan research that our new advertising agency, the Tombras Group, had done, and we found that many fans didn’t realize we were the fastest track in NASCAR,” Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark said. “You can bet that we’ll use this slogan at every opportunity until race fans are saying it in their sleep.” Atlanta Motor Speedway has held the distinction of being the fastest mile-and-a-half track in NASCAR since its reconfiguration during the summer of 1997. During the first qualifying event following reconstruction, Geoffrey Bodine blazed a lap around the smooth, wide lanes of Atlanta’s new quad-oval raceway in just 28.074 seconds, or 197.478 mph. Since then, speeds have slowed down slightly – in the 193-194 mph range – but are still faster than other 1.5-mile NASCAR tracks. In addition to being ultra-fast, the track has widened into a three-groove race track, producing two fantastic side-by-side photo finishes in the past few years. And that’s what AMS means by “Real Racing. Real Fast.”(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(1-26-2004)

New AMS Ticket Manager: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that Kelley Horton has been promoted to the position of ticket manager. Horton, 31, has served as interim ticket manager since longtime ticket manager Frances Goss retired in August after 38 years with the speedway. Working in the ticket office at Atlanta Motor Speedway is nothing new for Horton, who has been with AMS for 12 years. In fact, working in the ticket office has been Horton’s first – and only – full-time job. Horton resides in Griffin with her husband Bert and sons Tyler and Austin.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(1-7-2004)

Atlanta Truck Race Gets a Sponsor: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that EasyCare, a leader in the vehicle service contracts industry, will sponsor the speedway’s inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck race on Saturday, March 13. The race, which will be held during the March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend, will be known as the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200. EasyCare is a leading brand for APCO (Automobile Protection Corporation), which markets and administers vehicle service contracts (extended warranty) on all makes of cars, truck and RV’s. Founded in 1984, nearly two million vehicles have carried the EasyCare or other APCO administered service contracts or warranties, including Volvo VIP, Mazda MEPP, Land Rover Assured, HondaCare and the new Jaguar Extra Mile program . The APCO organization has been recognized by regional and national publications from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to Forbes magazine as one of Georgia and America’s best performing companies. APCO/EasyCare has been involved in racing since becoming a sponsor of the Joe Gibbs Racing organization in 1995. APCO and EasyCare sponsored the ARCA race at Atlanta from 1996-1999, as well as the ARCA and Goody’s Dash events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the past seven years.
Tickets are on sale now for all three days of racing excitement during the March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The weekend kicks off with Georgia Power Qualifying Day on Friday, March 12, as NASCAR’s finest will be pushing to break the seven-year-old qualifying record at the circuit’s fastest track. The action heats up on Saturday, March 13, for the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200. The weekend will culminate on Sunday, March 14, with the running of the Golden Corral 500. Weekend ticket packages for the Golden Corral 500 weekend start at just $59. For more information, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, or call Ticketmaster.(AMS PR)(12-23-2003)

Special Atlanta Offer: At most speedways, $99 won’t even get you inside the gate on race day. At Atlanta Motor Speedway, it not only includes a ticket to the big show – the March 14 Golden Corral 500 – it also includes a one-night stay at a nearby hotel. For a limited time only, Vroomz.com is offering this phenomenal one-stop shopping holiday package for race fans. It will include one Weaver Grandstand (backstretch) ticket to the March 14 Golden Corral 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, as well as a one-night stay at a nearby hotel (based on double occupancy). Fans can also add other premium items to the package for an additional fee, including shuttle passes, pre-race pit passes and tickets to the popular Speed Zone fan hospitality tent, this time featuring Team Lowe’s Racing driver Jimmie Johnson. The $99 Golden Corral 500 holiday packages are on sale now and would make a great gift for any race fan. These packages are limited in number, so fans are urged to call and reserve theirs right away. To purchase the $99 Golden Corral 500 holiday package, fans should visit www.vroomz.com or call (877) FAN-ROOM (326-7666). Vroomz.com is a corporate partner of Atlanta Motor Speedway.(AMS PR)(12-11-2003)

Atlanta Tree Lighting Ceremony: The Atlanta chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charities Foundation will deliver holiday cheer and goodwill to 16 area charities when it presents more than $136,000 in donations at the Tuesday, Dec. 2 annual holiday celebration. Representatives from each charity, including many of the children who benefit directly from the Speedway Children’s Charities’ year-round fundraising efforts, will attend Tuesday’s events, which began at 6 p.m. The program will be held in the Atlanta Motor Speedway ballroom and will feature a performance by the Mt. Carmel Elementary School Choir, as well as a very special visit from Santa Claus.(see more at the AMS Site)(12-2-2003)

Speed Zone Packages Available at Atlanta: Speed Zone will be back for the March 14 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Fans will once again be treated to driver appearances on race morning, with exact drivers and appearance times to be announced in coming weeks. There will be two all-new packages for fans to choose from to be a part of Speed Zone:
Speed Zone -- $99 See NASCAR drivers in person on race morning, as they answer your questions and talk about the day’s Golden Corral 500 · Receive a souvenir program, event T-shirt, event hat and commemorative program car Speed Zone PLUS -- $199 See NASCAR drivers in person on race morning, as they answer your questions and talk about the day’s Golden Corral 500 · Receive a souvenir program, event T-shirt, event hat and commemorative program car PLUS receive a pre-race pit pass (value $125)
For more information about the Speed Zone fan hospitality tent, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(11-20-2003)

Atlanta Offers Three-day thriller Tix: Because of the high demand for the specially priced Three-Day Thriller Ticket for last month’s Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway officials have brought the package back with a new low price for next year’s March 12-14 Golden Corral weekend. This special discount package will allow fans to see all three days of racing action for just $59. The Three-Day Thriller ticket will be available while supplies last and can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(11-18-2003)

Grand Marshals at Atlanta: Hunter Moates from Daviston, Alabama and Zachary "Z-man" Morgan from Lebanon, Missouri have been named as Grand Marshal's at Atlanta this weekend. Hunter has been named one of the Grand Marshals this Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Grandpa Jim Ryan and Grandma Angie Ryan, both members of the RedHead Pro Hunting Team, say Hunter is taking this all in stride. What else can you expect though from a 6-year old who has already called in many a wild turkey and even an elk for his "granny." Z-man is a 10-year old who loves to fish and is a devout NASCAR fan with a smile as big as his heart. He will take part in the official start of Sunday's race. NASCAR drivers who competed in the first Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 in Atlanta back in March still remember the outgoing youngster on crutches making his way through the pit area greeting every driver he saw. Zachary suffers from cerebral palsy but that doesn't stop him from doing just about anything he wants to do.
Since Sunday's race has been dedicated to America's sportsmen and celebrating the National Wildlife Refuge System in honor of its Century of Conservation success, it is only fitting that the Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Steve Williams also be named as a Grand Marshal. Williams previously served as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and was confirmed by the Senate as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in January 2002 where he oversees the operations of the nation's primary wildlife conservation agency.
NASCAR fan, legendary angler and TV host Hank Parker has also been named as one of the Grand Marshals of the race. The CBS Morning Show best described Hank Parker when introducing him as "the rod-n-reel answer to Michael Jordan, in popularity and talent!" The two-time BassMaster's Classic Champion finished "in the money" in 76 percent of all the tournaments he fished during his career. Parker's son, Hank Parker Jr., will be driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in the Bass Pro Shops/Remington #8 car during the Busch Series race on Saturday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-23-2003)

Air Force Pre-Race Stuff: Fans who arrive early for the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be treated to a spectacular show in the sky above the speedway. The U.S. Air Force Pre-Race Extravaganza will begin at 11 a.m. on Oct. 26 and continue until the on-track activities begin at 12:30 p.m. Flyovers will include National Guard Blackhawk helicopters, Air Force A-10s and an F-117 Stealth Fighter. The Air Force Jump Team will take part in a special jump over the raceway, and the Air Force Ceremonial Band and the Dixieland Band will both be performing. Along with the planes, helicopters, musicians and paratroopers, the Air Force will also bring special VIP Brigadier General Edward A. Rice, Jr. Rice is the Commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service located at the Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-22-2003)

Speed Zone still has Tix: Just a few days remain to purchase tickets to the Speed Zone Fan Hospitality tent on the morning of the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, which will feature appearances by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch and Sterling Marlin. Tickets will be available through Saturday, Oct. 25, and a limited number of seats remain. Interested fans should call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211. More info and driver scedhule on my Driver Appearances page.(10-21-2003)

National Anthems at Atlanta: Mercury Records recording artist Mark Wills will sing the national anthem prior to the start of the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Winston Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wills will be reprising his role as anthem singer; he also performed “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to the 1999 fall race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wills’ most recent chart-topper, “19 Something” topped the singles charts for seven weeks and set a record for most plays for one song during a single week.
AND Virginia native and American Idol 2 finalist Alden Wynn will perform “The Star Spangled Banner” for the Oct. 25 Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race. Wynn, 25, is best known as the “buff, blond party boy” who was cast away from American Idol despite a rousing rendition of Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be.”(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-21-2003)

Lap Sponsors at Atlanta: Want to hear the rumble of engines? Watch the crew work feverishly on a car as race day approaches? Maybe even catch a glimpse of your favorite driver? Then you'll want to take a look at the lap sponsorship package for the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend. Lap sponsors will have a lap to call their own in the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. They will also receive two coveted passes into the pre-race pit area, the heart of the action during any race weekend. The pits are open Friday through Sunday, giving race fans a true behind-the-scenes look at the entire weekend. Not only that, lap sponsor will also receive a pair of tickets to the Friday, Oct. 24 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and Brawny 150 presented by Pork The Other White Meat, as well as tickets to the Saturday, Oct. 25 Aaron's 312 Busch Series race. Cost for this amazing package chock full of excitement and behind-the-scenes action costs $300. As always, fans must be at least 14 years old and have appropriate attire to entire the pit area. Tickets for Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 are not included. Lap sponsorships and tickets for all three days of racing during the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend are available now by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-21-2003)

Atlanta Wants a Night Race: As Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark watched the Winston Cup cars circle Lowe's Motor Speedway under the lights Saturday night, he couldn't help but think about how much he'd like to see his own facility host a night race. But he says his current dates, in early spring and late October, tend to be too cool for spectator comfort at night. "What I would like to see is the spring event moved later in the year and run at night," Clark said. But to get the early June date he'd like would mean disrupting some other track's schedule. He knows that would be unfair. "But I talk to NASCAR about it every three or four months to let them know that if they're changing dates around anyway to keep us in mind," he said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(10-14-2003)

Payout at Atlanta Increases: The payout for the 2003 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend will hit a record high $5,933,116, a 10 percent increase over last year’s record-setting purse and almost 130 times the purse of the first NASCAR event held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the 1960 Dixie 300. Back in that 1960 event, 45 drivers competed for a total of $39,000; this year, the winner alone will receive at least five times that amount. The Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 NASCAR passed the $5 million mark for the first time in its 44-year history, jumping to a record $5,051,229 in prize money — up more than half a million dollars from the $4,495,544 awarded just a year ago. The Oct. 25 Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race will also offer a record purse, totaling more than $853,087. Last year’s event guaranteed $775,278, an increase of 10 percent.(AMS PR)(10-14-2003)

Atlanta offers Speed Fan Zone Packages: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch and Sterling Marlin will all be at Atlanta Motor Speedway's Speed Zone Fan Hospitality tent on the morning of the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. For as little as $89 per person, you could be too. Due to popular demand, there are now two packages currently available for the race morning Speed Zone fan hospitality tent, but space is limited and seats are going quickly. The packages available are:
Speed Zone -- $89
Speed Zone PLUS -- $199
For more information about the Speed Zone Fan Hospitality tent, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or see the Atlanta Motor Speedway site.(9-20-2003)

Pit Passes at Atlanta: Want to hear the rumble of engines? Watch the crew work feverishly on a car as race day approaches? Maybe even catch a glimpse of your favorite driver? Then you'll want to take a look at one of the three different packages for the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend that include pre-race pit passes. As always, fans must be at least 14 years old and have appropriate attire to entire [long pants, no open toed shoes] the pit area. Standalone pit passes and ticket packages for all three days of racing during the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend are available now by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211. Tickets for the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 are not included.(AMS PR)(9-10-2003)

Truck Race at Atlanta? UPDATE yes, it is official: NASCAR and officials from Atlanta Motor Speedway are exploring the possibility of the 1.54-mile speedway in Hampton, Ga., hosting a NASCAR Truck series race in 2004, ThatsRacin.com has learned. The series currently runs two races a season at Texas Motor Speedway and one at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., both similiar tracks to Atlanta and owned by the same company, Speedway Motorsports Inc. The Atlanta race would likely be held in conjunction with one of its two Winston Cup weekends next season. The dates for next season's races at Atlanta are March 14 and Oct. 31.(Thatsracin.com)(8-1-2003)
UPDATE: Dodge drivers Bobby Hamilton and Chad Chaffin tested their NASCAR Truck series entries at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week. The track is expected to be added to the series’ 2004 schedule. "That track is fast and tough," Hamilton said. "It's different driving the trucks there because they are so rough. A Winston Cup car drives smooth around that track, and really fast. If they ever got a race there, it would be a good one, though. The trucks put on a good show in Charlotte; Atlanta would be similar." Rick Crawford also had planned to test his new 2004 model Ford at the track last week, but engine problems prevented his team from getting much done.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-30-2003)
UPDATE 2: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today that the speedway has added a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race to its 2004 event schedule. The inaugural 200-mile event will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2004, as part of the Golden Corral 500 weekend. "We thought long and hard about how we could beef up our spring race schedule, and what kind of event the fans really wanted to see," said Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark. "What really convinced me is that the fans have been asking us to run a truck race for years. And after watching them test here many times, and watching a bunch of great truck races, I agree with them that this will be a great, close race with tons of action for the fans." The NASCAR Craftsman Truck series already races at Atlanta Motor Speedway's sister tracks, Texas Motor Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway, and many truck drivers have expressed interest in racing at Atlanta as they have tested at the high-banked track over the years. Atlanta Motor Speedway will kick off its 2004 season with the March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend. Great seats are available for all three days of racing action through the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211(AMS PR)(9-2-2003)

Ticket manager retires: Through ownership changes, financial woes, a track reconfiguration and an explosion in the growth of the track and of NASCAR, one thing remained constant at Atlanta Motor Speedway -- the reliable services provided by ticket manager Frances Goss. On Friday, Goss called it a career. "I've spent the last 38 years having fun, and by retiring I get a chance to expand my horizons for having fun," Goss said. "I'm sad to be leaving everyone here, but the plan now is to have a little more time to enjoy life and my family." Goss said the changes the speedway has undergone since she went to work there in 1965 are mind-boggling. "It's gone from a paved circle in the mud to one of the premier racing facilities in the nation," she said.(AJC)(8-31-2003)

Atlanta Announcement UPDATE new spring race title sponsor: Ed Clark, President of Atlanta Motor Speedway, is scheduled to make a major announcement Saturday, August 23rd at the Bristol Motor Speedway infield media center.(AMS PR)(8-22-2003)
UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that Golden Corral, the family-style restaurants specializing in the biggest and best buffet and grill available anywhere, will be the title sponsor of the track's spring NASCAR Winston Cup race. Next year's event, the March 14 Golden Corral 500, will be the first of the new three-year partnership. Golden Corral, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has 470 restaurants across 40 states - 352 franchised and 118 company-operated. Nation's Restaurant News has ranked Golden Corral No. 1 in the grill-buffet segment for seven consecutive years, and Entrepreneur has named Golden Corral the No.1 franchiser in the family steakhouse category for eight straight years. Success magazine gave Golden Corral a perfect 5-Star rating for franchisee satisfaction, based on an independent survey. Atlanta Motor Speedway has played host to an annual spring NASCAR race since the running of the inaugural Dixie 300 in 1960. The next year, the event was lengthened to 500 miles. Tickets for the Golden Corral 500 weekend are already on sale, and great seats remain. For more information, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(8-24-2003)

Atlanta Title Sponsor - down to four possibilites? UPDATE: hearing that Atlanta Motor Speedway is close to signing a multi-year deal for a fall Cup race title sponsor, the four companies rumored to be the sponsor are: Aaron's, MBNA, Bass Pro Shops and Cingular.(8-6-2003)
AMS Announcement: Atlanta Motor Speedway To Make Special Announcement Tuesday, Aug. 19 at Bass Pro Shops, Discover Mill at 1:00pm/et.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(8-16-2003)
UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today that Bass Pro Shops, the nation's leading outdoor retailer, and MBNA America, the world's largest independent credit card lender, will co-sponsor the track's fall NASCAR Winston Cup race for the next four years. The race, which will be held this year on the Oct. 24-26 weekend, will be known as the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. Bass Pro Shops and MBNA also sponsored the spring Winston Cup race this season, providing some of the most memorable moments of the racing season, including a unique largemouth bass winner's trophy. Tickets for all three days of racing excitement during the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are on sale now. The weekend kicks off with Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night on Friday, Oct. 24, as the fastest qualifying session in NASCAR goes under the lights. Adding to the evening's lineup will once again be the exciting Brawny 150 presented by Pork The Other White Meat, a 150-lap shootout with the Goody's Dash Series cars on the frontstretch quarter-mile track, Thunder Ring. The action heats up on Saturday, Oct. 25, for the Aaron's 312 Busch Series race, showcasing the hottest up-and-coming drivers in the country. The weekend will culminate on Sunday, Oct. 26, with the running of the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, one of the final events of the season, when every point will be at a premium. Weekend ticket packages for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA weekend start at just $69, and single-day race tickets start at $30. For more information, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, or call Ticketmaster.(AMS PR)(8-19-2003)

Atlanta 2004 Race Dates are...: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark confirmed that Atlanta Motor Speedway will host Nextel Cup races on March 14 and Oct. 31 next season. These are basically the same dates the track had this year, except the 500-miler in the fall will be on Halloween Day.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(8-2-2003)

Atlanta Expands Ticket Office Hours: With less than three months left until the Georgia 500 weekend Oct. 24-26 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the action has already picked up at Atlanta Motor Speedway - and right now, it's the ticket office that's hopping. Ticket manager Frances Goss has expanded ticket office hours from now until race time to accommodate the rush, staying open seven days a week. From now until race weekend Oct. 24-26, the ticket office will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday hours will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There are still plenty of fabulous ticket specials and other opportunities for fans to take advantage of. For more information about tickets and packages, call the ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or see www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(7-30-2003)

Dale Jr at AMS's Speed Zone: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be the guest of honor at Atlanta Motor Speedway's Speed Zone Fan Hospitality Area before the start of the Oct. 26 Georgia 500. Earnhardt Jr. will make his appearance at the Speed Zone hospitality tent on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 26. The names of other drivers to appear at Speed Zone, will be announced over the next several weeks. The exact appearance schedule will be released the week prior to the Georgia 500. Earnhardt will be on hand to answer questions from fans that purchase the Speed Zone package. In addition to the driver appearances, Speed Zone attendees will receive a pre-race pit pass, continental breakfast, lunch buffet, a souvenir racing program and non-alcoholic beverages. This one-day Speed Zone package is available for $199 and is on sale now. Race fans can purchase the Speed Zone package by calling the speedway at (770) 946-4211. Tickets for all three days of racing excitement during the Oct. 24-26 Georgia 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are on sale now. For more information about tickets or the all-new Speed Zone with Dale Earnhardt Jr., call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(7-16-2003)

Atlanta Packages: With the demand for AMS FOR LESS packages far exceeding the amount of hotel rooms available in Henry County for the Oct. 24-26 Georgia 500, vroomz.com has taken over the AMS FOR LESS package and opened the program up to hotels citywide. Vroomz.com is expected to begin taking orders for the new hotel and race ticket packages by Monday, July 14. Vroomz.com will take over where the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Atlanta Motor Speedway left off as demand began outpacing supply. Vroomz.com will offer several different options for fans. The first will be the traditional two-night hotel stay and three-day ticket package, with prices starting at under $400 for two people for the entire weekend. Fans may also purchase round-trip shuttle passes for the Oct. 26 Georgia 500. Fans purchasing the weekend package will have their choice of two different ticket packages and a number of different hotel options at all price levels. For info on the different ticket packages, see the AMS site at www.atlantarace.com. Hotel options will be available by visiting vroom.com or calling (877) FAN-ROOM. For fans who have already purchased their Georgia 500 tickets, vroomz.com will also have available separate low-cost hotel rooms and shuttle passes.(AMS PR)(7-14-2003)

Special Atlanta Package Deal: With the first AMS for LESS discount weekend package selling out in just 13 days, Atlanta Motor Speedway and the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau have negotiated with hotels to offer a second discount package for the entire Georgia 500 weekend starting at just $350. Packages will include tickets for three days of racing, two nights' accommodations at a nearby hotel, a shuttle to and from the Georgia 500, as well as discount restaurant coupons for nearby eateries.
Fans will have the option of two different ticket packages to choose from, with basic packages just $350 and premium packages just $450 for two people for the entire weekend.
For just $350, the basic package will include a pair of frontstretch tickets to the Oct. 24 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night, a pair of East Turn tickets for the Oct. 25 Aaron's 312 Busch race and a pair of Weaver Grandstand (backstretch) tickets for the Oct. 26 Georgia 500. Accommodations for Friday and Saturday night will be at the Microtel Inn and Suites at Eagle's Landing or the AmeriHost Inn at Eagle's Landing. A shuttle will be provided to and from the hotel for the Oct. 26 Georgia 500.
The premium package will be $450 and will include all the same benefits as the basic packages but with an upgraded ticket deal. In addition to the pair of frontstretch tickets to the Oct. 24 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and the pair of East Turn tickets for the Oct. 25 Aaron's 312 Busch race, premium package buyers will receive a pair of Earnhardt or Petty Grandstand tickets for the Oct. 26 Georgia 500.
For an additional $25 ($375 or $75), either package can be upgraded to a suite at the Microtel Inn. To purchase these discount packages, which are limited in number, fans should visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or www.henrycvb.com and click on "AMS FOR LESS." Or fans can call (770) 957-5786 and ask for Julie Foster. Prices will be valid for a limited time only and there are a limited number of packages available at this price, so call today. Single packages are also available. Tax is included in all package prices.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(6-25-2002)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Teams Up: In an effort to keep costs low for fans attending Winston Cup races, Atlanta Motor Speedway and the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau have teamed up to offer an unprecedented discount package for the entire Georgia 500 weekend. Packages will include tickets for three days of racing, two nights' accommodations at a nearby hotel, a shuttle to and from the Georgia 500, as well as discount restaurant coupons for nearby eateries. Fans will have the option of two different ticket packages to choose from, with basic packages just $325 and premium packages just $425 for two people for the entire weekend. For just $325, the basic package will include a pair of frontstretch tickets to the Oct. 24 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night, a pair of East Turn tickets for the Oct. 25 Aaron's 312 Busch race and a pair of Weaver Grandstand (backstretch) tickets for the Oct. 26 Georgia 500. Accommodations for Friday and Saturday night will be at the Microtel Inn and Suites at Eagle's Landing or the Amerihost Inn at Eagle's Landing. A shuttle will be provided to and from the hotel for the Georgia 500. To purchase these discount packages, which are limited in number, fans should visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or www.henrycvb.com and click on "AMS FOR LESS." Or fans can call (770) 957-5786. Prices will be valid for a limited time only, so call today. Single packages are also available.(AMS PR)(6-18-2003)

Road Improvements for AMS: Atlanta Motor Speedway, which enjoyed record attendance for both its recent Winston Cup races, is looking forward to taking out a nagging roadblock for racing fans -- traffic jams getting to and from the track. The state Department of Transportation has already started work on widening Georgia 20, the two-lane, 15-mile stretch of 22 traffic lights from the speedway to Interstate 75. The road will be converted into a four-lane parkway that will bypass Hampton, to be completed by 2005. "Traffic is bad for every Winston Cup race weekend," said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. "This should be a marked improvement." Clark does not expect the work will seriously affect race-day traffic between this fall's Georgia 500 race and the 2005 season. In the meantime, the speedway and local officials are working to synchronize lights and take other measures to make it easier on fans, he said. "We had a better traffic pattern plan in March, and it worked better," he said. The 2003 Georgia 500 Oct. 24-26 includes the Winston Cup Georgia 500, as well as the Friday Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and Aaron's 312 Busch race on Saturday.(Atlanta Business Chronicle)(6-2-2003)

Got a 2004 race date: been told that folks are getting renewals for the spring 2004 Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the date being March 14th, 2004.(5-14-2003)

Georgia-Pacific renews sponsorship with Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific has renewed its title sponsorship of NASCAR Winston Cup's Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night. Under terms of the new agreement, Georgia-Pacific will continue to back the fall qualifying session. Georgia-Pacific's paper towel brand, Brawny, will also sponsor the 150-lap Goody's Dash Race following qualifying. The 2003 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and Brawny 150 are slated for Friday, Oct. 24, and tickets are on sale now for just $15. For more information on that or the rest of the weekend's activities - including Saturday's Aaron's 312 Busch race or Sunday's Winston Cup race, call Ticketmaster or the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR/site)(5-9-2003)

Atlanta Pit Passes: For the first time, Atlanta Motor Speedway will offer a limited number of Friday-only pre-race pit passes for just $50 when purchased in conjunction with a Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night ticket. For just $50, fans will have the chance to be inside the highly coveted pit area, in the heart of the racing activity. Pre-race pit passes are good Friday until just prior to the Goody's Dash event, which will take place on the frontstretch quarter-mile track, Thunder Ring. Pre-race pit passes are not good for gate admittance and must be accompanied by a grandstand ticket. Tickets for all three days of racing excitement during the Oct. 24-26 Georgia 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are on sale now. For more information about tickets or the all-new pre-race pit passes, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(5-8-2003)

Atlanta Ticket Deals: Atlanta Motor Speedway is offering a limited number of $125 pre-race pit passes that fans can purchase for the Oct. 26 Georgia 500 Winston Cup race. For just $125, fans will have the chance to be inside the highly coveted pit area, in the heart of the racing activity. Pre-race pit passes are good for Sunday morning until 45 minutes prior to event time. As an added bonus, fans will also be allowed in the pit area for a limited time on Saturday morning.
AND Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced a new specially priced ticket package for the Oct. 24-26 Georgia 500 weekend, offering for the first time the three-day thriller ticket for just $69. The three-day thriller ticket will allow race fans to attend the Oct. 24 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and the Georgia-Pacific 150 Goody's Dash shootout, the Oct. 25 Aaron's 312 Busch race and the Oct. 26 Georgia 500 Winston Cup race for the extremely low price of $69. Tickets for all three days of racing excitement during the Oct. 24-26 Georgia 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are on sale now. For more information about tickets or the all-new pre-race pit passes, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(4-30-2003)

Atlanta looking at a night race UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark said he plans to meet today with George Pyne, NASCAR's chief operating officer. On the agenda is a conversation about how AMS might be affected by an upcoming realignment of the Winston Cup schedule. Clark said he does not anticipate the track losing one of its two race dates, as has been rumored, but he would like to secure a more favorable date than the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 now has. "They've opened the door that they're going to change the schedule some, and we at least want to get our two cents worth in that we'd like to look at moving this race later in the season." Clark said he'd like to host a 500-miler under the lights in the summertime. "Every time I go somewhere in this area I get asked when we're going to run a night race," Clark said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-9-2003)
UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway executives made their pitch to NASCAR officials over the weekend as discussions continue over the realignment of the Winston Cup schedule. Track President Ed Clark said he would like to move this March race to the summer and perhaps even run it under the lights. "They've opened the door that they're going to change the schedule some, and we at least want to get our two cents worth in," Clark said. "We'd like to look at moving this race later in the season. Every time I go somewhere in this area," he added, "I get asked when we're going to run a night race."(Alabama Live)(3-10-2003)

Grand Marshal named for Atlanta: If you ask famous fishermen Johnny Morris and Bill Dance and conservation leader Rob Keck just how big this Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway is, they'll probably grin, spread their arms wide open and reply, "This big." That's because these three legendary outdoorsmen will be seeing the festivities up close, serving as Grand Marshals and giving the famous command to start engines. Morris is the founder of Bass Pro Shops. But fishing isn't just his job - it's his life and his passion. A five-time qualifier for the Bass Masters Classic, Morris is also a member of the Fishing Hall of Fame and a deeply committed conservation leader. Dance is a member of the International Fishing Hall of Fame and a 23-time National Bass Champion. He is a three-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, eight-time Bass Masters Classic qualifier and host of a national TV outdoors show. He has written seven books about fishing, and his largest catch was a 13-lb., 2 oz. Largemouth Bass. Rob Keck is Chief Executive of the 450,000-member National Wild Turkey Federation. He is also the host of the NWTF's two award-winning television programs, "Turkey Call", which airs on TNN (The National Network), and "Turkey Country", which airs on the Outdoor Channel. Keck is a dedicated hunter, fisherman and trapper. Another fishing legend and Missouri Sports Hall of Fame member, Charlie Campbell, will serve as honorary starter for Sunday's race, waving the green flag as 43 cars rumble down the front stretch to begin the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. Campbell, also a five-time B.A.S.S. Masters Classic qualifier, has been an integral part of Bass Pro Shops since 1977. He helped design the original Bass Tracker boat, developed the Charlie Campbell Spinner Bait and helped bring back to popularity the Zara Spook topwater bait. Call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 for more information on Tickets.(AMS PR)(3-7-2003)

Davis to sing National Anthem at Atlanta: Linda Davis will be performing the national anthem for the March 9 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Davis, a self-proclaimed country girl from east Texas, moved to Nashville in 1982 to pursue a life in show business. She landed her first record deal with Capitol Records. Shortly after she received a call from a huge fan, who turned out to be none other than superstar Reba McEntire. McEntire loved Davis' music so much that she invited her to become a featured entertainer on tour with her. Their mutual respect led them into the studio together, where they recorded a duet entitled "Does He Love You," which went on to become a No.1 hit and earn the duo a Grammy award for best country vocal collaboration. Davis currently resides in Nashville with husband Lang Scott and daughters Hillary (16) and Rylee (2). For more information about the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(3-6-2003)

Atlanta Rally UPDATE 2: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Senator Mike Crotts will host an Atlanta racing rally on Thursday, March 6, at the Georgia State Capitol, and fans are invited and encouraged to attend and show their support for the sport. Gov. Perdue will host a news conference at noon on Thursday, March 6, 2003, on the north side of the State Capitol building downtown. Fans interested in attending should be at the Capitol by 11:45 a.m. Speedway Motorsports Inc. CEO Bruton Smith, Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark and other racing dignitaries are all expected to attend the news conference. Earlier the same day, Smith and Clark will also be introduced in the Senate chambers and presented with a proclamation from the State Senate, promising support for keeping two races in Atlanta. Atlanta Motor Speedway's two NASCAR Winston Cup race weekends contribute $455 million annually to the Atlanta economy - more than the combined total of the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons and Thrashers. Atlanta's races also attract fans from all 50 states and as many as a dozen foreign nations, while another 10 million fans tune in worldwide.(AMS PR)(2-28-2003)
UPDATE: Brett Bodine, owner/driver of the #11 Hooter's Ford wil also attend.(3-6-2003)
UPDATE 2: On Thursday, Georgia politicians pledged their support for keeping two NASCAR races in the Atlanta area. This weekend's race and its associated events will bring 250,000 fans from all 50 states and 13 countries, according to Atlanta Motor Speedway. The two races rev the state's economy by $455 million - more than the combined horsepower of Atlanta's four professional teams. But the owners of new tracks out West want to host races, too, and NASCAR officials have suggested moving races from tracks such as Atlanta. Thursday, Bruton Smith, owner of the Atlanta track, drew the proverbial line in the sand, backed up by Gov. Sonny Perdue, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and two dozen other state politicians. "There's been a rumor that we might move one of these events," he said. "We're not going to do that." Smith has invested more than $100 million in Atlanta Motor Speedway and said he's going to continue his support of the track, located 30 miles south of Atlanta in Henry County.(Augusta Chronicle)(3-7-2003)

A Rodeo at Atlanta: Racin' and ropin' will collide this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, as the United States Cowboy Tour Championship Rodeo returns for another exciting night of bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, cowgirl's barrel racing, team roping and bull riding. Fox racing analyst Jeff Hammond will be the featured competitor in the team roping event, as more than 200 of the nation's best cowboys and cowgirls will be competing for over $40,000. The rodeo, presented by Bellamy Strickland Chevrolet/GMC rides into town Friday and Saturday, landing on Speedway Blvd. at AMS, with shows starting each night at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 4-12. There is a $4 discount for families of four or more.(AMS PR)(3-7-2003)

A BIG car slide: Platinum Racing will debut the world's largest race car March 7-9 during the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend. The three-and-a-half story inflatable slide, which is a scale replica of a NASCAR Winston Cup car, took six moths to engineer but only one day to construct. The slide inflates in a mere 3-5 minutes using multiple blowers. Atlanta race fans of all ages will have the opportunity to be among the first to enjoy the thrill of zipping down the world's largest racecar. The slide will be open Thursday, March 6 - Sunday, March 9 from 7a.m. to 1 a.m. and the cost of admission is $5. It will be located in the display lot (in front of the Earnhardt and Champions Grandstands).(AMS PR)(3-7-2003)

Atlanta Rally: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Senator Mike Crotts will host an Atlanta racing rally on Thursday, March 6, at the Georgia State Capitol, and fans are invited and encouraged to attend and show their support for the sport. Gov. Perdue will host a news conference at noon on Thursday, March 6, 2003, on the north side of the State Capitol building downtown. Fans interested in attending should be at the Capitol by 11:45 a.m. Speedway Motorsports Inc. CEO Bruton Smith, Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark and other racing dignitaries are all expected to attend the news conference. Earlier the same day, Smith and Clark will also be introduced in the Senate chambers and presented with a proclamation from the State Senate, promising support for keeping two races in Atlanta. Atlanta Motor Speedway's two NASCAR Winston Cup race weekends contribute $455 million annually to the Atlanta economy - more than the combined total of the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons and Thrashers. Atlanta's races also attract fans from all 50 states and as many as a dozen foreign nations, while another 10 million fans tune in worldwide.(AMS PR)(2-28-2003)

Racing Weather 101: About 20 members of the American Meteorological Society are expected to breeze into Atlanta Motor Speedway on Thursday for a few quick lessons, such as the effects of barometric pressure on tire pressure. Racing's crew chiefs and drivers have long known the correlation between weather and speed, but these local meteorology enthusiasts are still learning the ropes. They will learn more this week as ARCA driver Doug Stevens and his team owner Mark Wallace describe the effects of weather on racing conditions. Stevens has competed in two ARCA events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, finishing 11th and 10th. Stevens is also a graduate of Atlanta Motor Speedway's Thursday Thunder Legends Racing Series, where he won the Pro series championship three straight years. Wallace, who lives in Griffin, is the co-owner of Stevens' ARCA ride and also co-owner of the #77 Winston Cup car driven by Dave Blaney. Wallace also competes in the Thursday Thunder summer racing series, in the Masters (over 40) division.(AMS PR)(2-28-2003)

Fans can attend AMS test session UPDATE Waltrip cancels...but: Atlanta race fans will have a chance to congratulate Michael Waltrip on his second Daytona 500 win next week during a test at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which will be free and open to the public. Fans are encouraged to attend the test session Wednesday, Feb. 26, armed with signs and banners for Waltrip to see as he tests his #15 NAPA Chevy in preparation for the March 9 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway. It will be the first and only time this season that Atlanta Motor Speedway will open up the grandstands and invite fans to come watch testing. Other drivers expected to attend the test are #31-Robby Gordon, #38-Elliott Sadler and rookies #42-Jamie McMurray and #0-Jack Sprague. Fans who attend the test will be directed to enter the speedway through Gate 1, which is located directly behind the gift store (near turn four on the outside of the speedway). Test sessions will run from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with an hour break from lunch around noon. There is no charge for admission to these test sessions. Fans are reminded that while they're here for the test session, they can still pick up tickets to the March 9 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. Seats start at just $25 for Sunday only or $59 for a three-day weekend package and are available by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)
UPDATE: Michael Waltrip has canceled his test, scheduled for this week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but Atlanta race fans are still welcome to attend the Wednesday, Feb. 26 free open test session and cheer for the drivers on hand as they prepare for the March 9 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.(2-24-2003)

Golf Carts, ATVs Not Allowed for at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials have instituted a new policy stating that no fans will be allowed to bring golf carts or ATVs onto the Atlanta Motor Speedway property for the March 7-9 Bass Pro Shops 500 weekend. The only exclusions to this new policy are for handicapped patrons using a single-passenger purpose-built motorized. This policy was enacted because of the danger the golf carts and ATVs pose to both the drivers and other patrons, and it will be strictly enforced. As in the past, fans will be allowed to carry coolers or personal bags on property, and should expect to have their bags searched upon entry. No glass is permitted on speedway grounds. Fans with further questions should visit the Atlanta Motor Speedway site and click on FAQ.(2-22-2003)

MBNA America and Bass Pro Shops to sponsor March Cup race at AMS: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that MBNA America, the world's largest independent credit card lender, and Bass Pro Shops, the nation's leading outdoor retailer, will be the title sponsors of the track's first NASCAR Winston Cup race of the season on Sunday, March 9, 2003. The race, the fourth stop on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit, will be known as the MBNA Bass Pro Shops 500. MBNA also sponsored the spring Winston Cup race last season. Bass Pro Shops is beginning its foray into race sponsorship with this partnership. Headquartered in Springfield, Mo., Bass Pro Shops currently operates stores in 14 cities nationwide, including Atlanta. For more information about the MBNA Bass Pro Shops 500 weekend, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Great seats are available by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or by visiting Ticketmaster or see my Tickets/Tour Links page.(AMS PR)(2-4-2003)

AMS Honor: Atlanta Motor Speedway's 2003 Atlanta 500 weekend has once again been named to the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. The spring and fall race weekends at Atlanta have consistently received the honor over the past decade. The Atlanta 500, which will be held March 9, is the state's second highest attended single-day sporting event - second only to Atlanta Motor Speedway's fall NASCAR Winston Cup race. The Top 20 events are voted on by a committee of Southeast Tourism Society members from each of its ten member states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia). Events are judged on their economic impact to the community, community involvement, attendance, and unique aspects.(AMS PR)(12-20-2002)

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Atlanta Motor Speedway: The United States Middle District of Tennessee has issued an order granting summary judgment in favor of Atlanta Motor Speedway and its parent company, Speedway Motorsports, Inc., in the federal lawsuit filed by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. The decision, dated November 25, 2002, ruled that all claims alleged by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store lacked merit. Judge Todd J. Campbell also dismissed similar claims against NASCAR and Fox Broadcast Company, who were named in the suit.(AMS PR)(12-14-2002)

Atlanta Package: This year, instead of trudging through the crowded mall, loaded down with bags and sacks full of gifts your family will return, Atlanta Motor Speedway has the perfect gift- with no crowds, malls, traffic jams or heavy bags to lug around. Just in time for the holidays, Atlanta Motor Speedway has announced a new three-day ticket package for the March 7-9 Atlanta 500 weekend. This special racing package starts at just $59 and includes three days of racing action. For as little as $59, the race fan in your life will receive all of the following:
March 7 Georgia Power Qualifying Day general admission seat
March 8 ARCA 400 unreserved Champions Grandstand (frontstretch) ticket
March 9 Atlanta 500 reserved Weaver Grandstand (backstretch) ticket, rows 11-16
Fans can also upgrade this package to include an East Turn ticket instead of a Weaver Grandstand ticket for the Sunday, March 9 Atlanta 500 upon request for just $15 or $30 more. As always, fans can save $5 on all single-day tickets purchased before March 1 for the ARCA 400 (tickets start at $35) or Georgia Power Qualifying Day (all tickets are $15). Atlanta 500 tickets start at just $25. Reserve your seats now by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(11-28-2002)

AMS Donations: The Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children's Charity will deliver holiday cheer and goodwill to 21 area charities when it presents more than $234,000 in donations at the Tuesday, Dec. 3 annual holiday celebration. The festivities will begin at 6:00pm in the Atlanta Motor Speedway ballroom and will feature appearances by the Mt. Carmel Elementary School Choir and Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children's Charities was founded in 1994 and over the past 8 years has donated more than $1.5 million to local organizations. For more information about Speedway Children's Charities see www.speedwaycharities.org.(11-28-2002)

Atlanta 2003 Tix on sale: As the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season winds down, Atlanta Motor Speedway is already gearing up for 2003, as tickets are on sale now for the March 7-9 Atlanta 500 weekend. Tickets start at just $25 for the Atlanta 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race and can be obtained by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, by visiting any Ticketmaster location or by visiting the speedway website at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(11-14-2002)

Guarantee Voided: Because the NAPA 500 at Atlanta failed to go the full 325-lap distance, the track's guarantee of 30 lead changes was voided, costing fans a chance for a $1 discount (per lead change) on tickets purchased for next season's events.(AP)(10-27-2002)

DW Grand Marshal for AMS BGN race: It has been two years since Darrell Waltrip turned in his helmet after the 2000 NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and officially retired from racing after 41 years. This Saturday, Waltrip will return to Atlanta as part of the show, serving as the Grand Marshal for the Aaron's 312 Busch race. "This will be a lot of fun - I really appreciate my friends of Aaron's asking me to do this," Waltrip said. "It's all part of my Master Plan. Since I can't get my brother to let me drive the #99 Dream Machine, I am hoping to impress the Aaron's folks enough so that they make Michael put me behind the wheel!" Waltrip, a three-time NASCAR champion who retired with 84 wins and 59 poles, has served as a race analyst for Fox Sports during the last two seasons. Always known for his candor and wit, Waltrip has been a huge hit with fans across the country as a TV commentator. "Race fans - especially Atlanta race fans - have a soft spot in their hearts for DW," Clark said. "It will be great to be able to honor him this weekend, after all he has done for the sport of auto racing."(AMS PR)(10-24-2002)

Starter at AMS: Historically, Atlanta Motor Speedway's (AMS) NAPA 500 was the season-ending NASCAR Winston Cup race. Championships and retirements were celebrated and victors of the rookie race, the point's race and the NAPA 500 were crowned. When NASCAR announced the 2002 schedule, the NAPA 500 was moved to October. While the Winston Cup points battle will not make history at the conclusion of the NAPA 500, history remains a significant part of the weekend's events. Don Brooks passed the green flag to his 16-year old son, Elton Brooks III who will serve as Honorary Starter for Sunday's 325-lap race. Brooks owns and operates 38 NAPA AUTO PARTS stores making him the largest customer of Genuine Parts Company.(AMS PR)(10-24-2002)

Fans get to ride with drivers: Ten lucky NASCAR fans will experience heart-pounding rides in real stock cars with NASCAR's top drivers as part of the grand-prize package of the Coca-Cola Racing Family Reunion. With family and friends looking on, each winner will take a turn riding with a Coca-Cola Racing Family driver on a 160-mph ride around the lightning-fast 1.54-mile track at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Thursday, Oct. 24. In addition to receiving four "hot" laps in a Winston Cup stock car, each grand-prize winner will attend a Friday evening reunion dinner celebration with members of The Coca-Cola Racing Family and their families. The prize package also includes a 5-day, 4-night trip for each winner and five family members or friends to Atlanta, 3-day admission tickets for the entire family to the NAPA 500 race and $2,000 spending money. Grand prize winners are: Brenda Cohen of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Frederick Martin of Albuquerque, N.M., Margaret Pritchard of Elizabeth City, N.C., Paula Ludemann of Sahuarita, Ariz., Lori Browning of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Kristina Goin of Independence, Mo., Timothy Costick of Mary Esther, Fla., Beckie Thompson of Seadrift, Texas, and Virginia Kueker of Belton, Mo. Winners earned their trip through the Coca-Cola "Meet Our Family and Ride Along" instant win promotion. A 10th winner, Kathleen Gereg of Chicago Heights, Ill., was chosen via an interactive game on CocaColaRacingFamily.com. The Coca-Cola Racing Family is the cornerstone of Coca-Cola's involvement in NASCAR. Members include 2000 Winston Cup Champion Bobby Labonte, 1999 Winston Cup Champion Dale Jarrett, Tony Stewart, Steve Park, Ricky Rudd, Kyle Petty, Bill Elliott, Jeff Burton, John Andretti, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Teresa Earnhardt, Kurt Busch, Elliot Sadler, Pattie Petty, Ned Jarrett, Glenn Jarrett, Kelley Jarrett, Jason Jarrett, and Greg Biffle.(Coka Cola PR)(10-23-2002)

Kids under 15 free: With adult tickets just $20, children under 15 admitted free, the Friday, Oct. 25 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night at Atlanta Motor Speedway [scheduled for 7:00pm/et]. It will be the first night qualifying session for the NASCAR Winston Cup cars at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the track's 42-year history. But there will be much more than just that at next Friday's Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night. After the qualifying session is over, the Goody's Dash cars will rumble on the quarter-mile Thunder Ring, the frontstretch oval, for the Georgia-Pacific 150. It is the final event of the 2002 season for the Goody's Dash series. Gates open at 12noon/et and the BGN drivers will qualifying for the Aaron's 312 beginning at 1:45pm/et. Winston Cup practices from 3:20-5:20pm/et, and the BGN happy hour from 5:30-6:30pm/et.(AMS PR)(10-22-2002)

Grand Marshal at AMS: Grand Marshal Nick Scheele, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Ford Motor Company, has been a race fan for as long as he can remember. As a native of England, Scheele grew up watching the rocket-fast Formula One cars. Upon moving to the United States, Scheele became infatuated with the phenomenal show the NASCAR series puts on. While he has watched dozens of races on television, this will be the first time he has actually seen one in person and, of course, his first time serving as Grand Marshal. He will give the famous command for the drivers to start their engines, sending 43 engines rumbling down the frontstretch for Sunday's NAPA 500. Scheele said he won't be cheering for one specific driver this weekend, but rather a whole fleet of them. Scheele, 58, has worked in the automotive industry for 36 years in a variety of capacities, both in Europe and North America. He was chairman and CEO of Jaguar from 1992-1999 and is credited with leading the team that doubled the car maker's sales during that time. He took over as President and COO at Ford last October. Married and the father of three, Scheele is an active supporter of the Save the Children fund and the St. Basil's appeal for Homeless Children. Last year, Scheele was awarded a knighthood by the British Queen. Born in Essex, Scheele is an avid reader and an accomplished linguist, speaking several European languages fluently. Great seats are still available for the entire NAPA 500 weekend. For tickets, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(AMS PR)(10-22-2002)

There Is Nothing Average About Atlanta's 30 Lead Change Guarantee: Through 31 races of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule, the average number of lead changes per race is 17.96. But Atlanta Motor Speedway is far from average. Fans have come to expect a higher level of racing from the fastest track in NASCAR. That's why AMS has guaranteed a MINIMUM of 30 LEAD CHANGES for the Oct. 27 NAPA 500 weekend. Any fewer than 30 lead changes and fans will be able to subtract money from the price of their 2003 tickets at Atlanta - one dollar per lead change, to be exact [so if there are 25 lead changes - deduct $5]. Had the guarantee been in effect during the March MBNA America 500, AMS would have met its standard, as there were 34 lead changes that day. It is one of only two races this season that has produced more than 30 lead changes [The other being 35 at Talladega on Oct 6th]. Should the NAPA 500 not live up to its claim, fans have until Dec. 31 to return their used 2002 NAPA 500 ticket stubs to the ticket office and apply the dollar amount to a ticket for one of next year's races. The event must be run the full 325-lap distance for the offer to be valid. The all-new NAPA 500 weekend kicks off with Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night on Friday, Oct. 25 - the first NASCAR night qualifying session in track history.(more info and tix info at the Atlanta Motor Speedway site)(10-16-2002)

Atlanta Open House: This is the one time all year that fans will be able to drive their own cars around the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway. There are three ways to drive three laps around the track on Sept. 28: Buy your NAPA 500 tickets from ticket agents located in the infield Buy a ticket to the Sat., Oct. 26 Aaron's 312. Not only will you be able to take your laps around the track, you will also receive a free Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night ticket. If you already have your NAPA 500 weekend tickets, you can make a $30 donation to the Speedway Children Charities. Also fans can: Register to win autographed merchandise; Register to win ticket packages and pit passes; Get your picture taken in victory lane or on the track; See show cars from various racing series.(more info at the AMS site)(9-24-2002)

No Tix Increase at AMS in 2003: Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark announced recently that ticket prices will not increase for the 2003 season, which includes two Cup dates, a BGN race, an ARCA race and a full slate of car shows, driving schools and other events. The NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow will again be held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September, drawing more than 80,000 car enthusiasts from all over the country for a weekend festival.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(9-9-2002)

Atlanta Guarantee's 30-Lead Changes in October: Over the last 10 NASCAR Winston Cup races, Atlanta Motor Speedway has averaged 26.3 lead changes per race; in the March MBNA America 500 at Atlanta, drivers recorded 34 official lead changes, more than any race to date this season. AMS President Ed Clark is so confident that the fans will see yet another race chock full of competitive racing and lead changes that he’s offering a guarantee. Clark is guaranteeing there will be at least 30 lead changes in the Oct. 27 NAPA 500. Should there be less, for every lead change under 30, fans will have the opportunity to subtract $1 from their ticket price for one of next year’s Winston Cup races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, scheduled for March 9 and Oct. 26. With as many as 135,000 grandstand and infield ticket buyers expected, the guarantee could mean a discount for a significant number of fans attending 2003 events. And should the NAPA 500 not live up to its claim, fans have until Dec. 31 to return their used 2002 NAPA 500 ticket stubs to the ticket office and apply the dollar amount to a ticket for one of next year’s races. The event must be run the full 325-lap distance to take advantage of this offer. But to be eligible for this guarantee, fans must attend the Oct. 27 NEW NAPA 500. Tickets are available in most grandstands with great seats starting as low as $30 for this exciting new lineup of races.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(8-25-2002)

Pit Passes Available at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that for the first time in history they will offer a limited number of $125 pre-race pit passes that fans can purchase for the Oct. 27 NAPA 500 Winston Cup race. For just $125, fans will have the chance to be inside the highly coveted pit area, in the heart of the racing activity. Pre-race pit passes are good for Sunday morning until 45 minutes prior to event time (12:15pm). As an added bonus, fans will also be allowed in the pit area for a limited time on Saturday morning. Fans must be at least 14 years old to be admitted into the pit area. Pre-race pit passes are not good for gate admittance and must be accompanied by a grandstand ticket.(AMS PR)(6-25-2002)

AMS Tix: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced a new discount ticket package for the Oct. 25-27 NEW NAPA 500 weekend, which will allow race fans to attend the Oct. 26 Aaron's 312 Busch race and the Oct. 27 NAPA 500 Winston Cup race for the extremely low price of $60. This limited $60 superticket offer will include: One reserved Weaver grandstand ticket (rows 14-18) for Sunday's NAPA 500 and one unreserved East Turn grandstand ticket for Saturday's Aaron's 312, one of the longest races of the year for the Busch Series drivers. The superticket will be available while supplies last and can only be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office.(Insider Racing)(6-18-2002)

Atlanta National Anthem: Award-winning country singer John Berry will perform the National Anthem at the March 10 MBNA America 500 in Atlanta. During his career, Berryhas been nominated during his career for Best Male Vocalist at the Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awardsshows. After a brief stint in Nashville, Berry has returned to Georgiaand his now living in Athens with his wife Robin, who performs as his backup singer on the road, and three children. The MBNA America 500 pre-race will also feature new talent Jenai singing "Georgia On My Mind." Jenai is a new artist from Curb Records who has just released her debut album and is being heralded as a star by Brent Maher, the same producer who worked with the Judds.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(3-8-2002)

Atlanta gets spring race sponsor: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced Monday that MBNA America will be the title sponsor of the track's Cup race on Sunday, March 10, 2002. The race, the fourth stop on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit, will be known as the MBNA America 500. "We're pleased to sponsor the spring Winston Cup race, an exciting event at a great track," said Richard K. Struthers, executive vice chairman of MBNA America Bank. "Through our relationship with NASCAR, we.ve learned how dedicated race fans are, and Atlanta fans are no exception. MBNA has had an office in Atlanta for 10 years and recently expanded our operations here. We.re pleased also to expand our relationship with Atlanta Motor Speedway with this terrific race." MBNA supports Joe Gibbs Racing as the primary sponsor of BGN driver #18-Mike McLaughlin and CTS driver #20-Coy Gibbs and is a major associate sponsor on the Winston Cup cars of #18-Bobby Labonte and #20-Tony Stewart. MBNA has served as the lending bank to the official NASCAR credit card program since 1993, a program endorsed by 67 NASCAR drivers and several race facilities, including Atlanta Motor Speedway. [MBNA also sponsors both Cup and BGN races at Dover Downs].(AMS PR), so the Verizon rumor as the race sponsor from late last season (2-25-2002)

AMS Looking for a 'nickname': Atlanta Motor Speedway is looking for a nickname, like Darlington has the Lady in Black and the Track Too Tough to Tame. Indy is the Brickyard, etc. AMS has devised a contest where fans can send in their best nicknames for the track which could be used in ads and promotions. Everyone who sends in a nickname will be entered into their Ultimate Fan contest, in which the winner and a buddy will get a pair of tickets for Georgia Power Qualifying Day, the Pork The Other White Meat 400 (ARCA) and the Atlanta 500, weekend pit passes and the chance to have their pictures taken with the winner of the Atlanta 500 race.(AMS PR), To enter see my Racing Contest page...hmm - the Jayski Thunder Speedway?(1-24-2002)

AMS - ARCA but no Cup race sponsor..yet: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced Tuesday that the National Pork Board will renew its sponsorship of the Pork The Other White Meat 400. The Pork Board also will sponsor the #46 ARCA car driven by three-time series champion Frank Kimmel. The 500-mile Winston Cup race on March 10 remains unsponsored. The Winston Cup race, which had been sponsored in recent years by Cracker Barrel, will be known as the Atlanta 500 unless a sponsor is signed soon.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(1-16-2002)

Atlanta Qualifying in fall at night: The fastest qualifying session on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit just got more exciting, as Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today that the Oct. 25 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Day session will be held at night under the lights. Joining the evening's lineup will also be a 150-lap Goody's Dash Series race, held on the speedway's front stretch quarter-mile track. Georgia-Pacific Qualifying is traditionally the fastest qualifying session of the year for NASCAR Winston Cup drivers, who are gunning each year for the track record of 197.478 mph, set by Geoffrey Bodine in 1997. The new qualifying format will be part of a NAPA 500 weekend that has already undergone major changes since last season. The NAPA 500 was moved from its November date to Oct. 27, and the Aaron's 312 Busch Series race on Oct. 26 has taken the place of the traditional fall ARCA race.(AMS PR)(12-14-2001)

Atlanta Donation and Tree Ceremony: The Atlanta chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charities Foundation will make the holidays a little brighter for 21 Atlanta area charities by donating a record $234,000 during the annual holiday tree-lighting ceremony. The ceremony – which will be attended by Atlanta Motor Speedway mascot Monkey Wrench, Santa and Mrs. Claus and the Mt. Carmel Children's Choir – will be held at 6:00pm Tuesday, Dec. 4 in the Atlanta Motor Speedway ballroom. Donations are made each year to local organizations that impact children, the result of a year-long fund-raising campaign by Speedway Children's Charities with assistance from members of the racing community.(AMS PR)(12-3-2001)

National Anthem and Military Personal Free on Friday: Award-winning country duo Montgomery Gentry will sing the National Anthem at the NAPA 500. Montgomery Gentry, made up of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, ended Brooks & Dunn's eight-year reign as the Country Music Association's Duo of the Year by winning the prestigious award in 2000. The NAPA 500 pre-race will also feature the sounds of the Tops in Blue Air Force showcase entertainment group. Tops in Blue has performed at six World Fairs, more than 100 state fairs and festivals and has produced five movies and two albums. AND To honor the brave men and women who defend our country, Atlanta Motor Speedway announced they would continue their tradition of allowing all military personnel and veteran in free to Friday's Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Day. To take advantage of this special offer, military guests should report to any of gates 12-15 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday with a valid photo identification card and one of four forms of military ID. Seats are still available for the NAPA 500 weekend, see the AMS Site for info(AMS PR)(11-13-2001)

Drive at Atlanta: This weekend only [Saturday], race fans can live out their dream of driving on the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s 1.54-mile track during Saturday’s open house and salute to heroes. The open house, which will be from 3:00 -7:00pm/et at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, is being held on next year’s race date, Oct. 27, to give fans a preview of what the new race date will feel like. In celebration of the new date, speedway officials are also giving the fans their first chance to drive the track in several years. There will also be chances to win free pit pass upgrades and autographed merchandise, a souvenir blowout sale and the opportunity to tour the track and have your photo taken in Victory Lane with the Aaron’s showcar and winner’s trophy. There will also be representatives from local and state law enforcement and fire departments, as well as the Life Flight helicopter from Georgia Baptist Hospital. Fans are invited to sign a giant billboard for the heroes of the New York police and fire departments, which will be displayed at the NAPA 500. Fans interested in driving the track simply need to purchase their Nov. 18 NAPA 500 tickets at this Saturday’s open house to receive three laps around the track in their own car. Fans who have already purchased NAPA 500 tickets can buy their Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Day and ARCA 400 tickets for just $20 to receive three laps around the track. Or fans can donate $20 to the Speedway Children’s Charities, the track’s own charity to benefit local children’s organizations, to receive three laps around the track. Track rides will take place from 5:00 - 7:00pm. Track drivers can take their experience one step further by test driving a real Legends race car. For just $5 per lap, fans can see if they have what it takes to be a race car driver.(AMS PR)(10-24-2001)

Verizon to sponsor Atlanta? and Cracker Barrell Sues UPDATE 2 Back to Verizon? Verizon, the worldwide telecommunications provider, has signed a sponsorship deal for the NASCAR Winston Cup race scheduled next March at Atlanta Motor Speedway that will designate the event the Verizon Wireless 500.(NASCAR.com Buzz)
AND In a dispute that highlights NASCAR's growing pains, Cracker Barrel is suing the racing league over what the company alleges was a lack of television exposure it received as title sponsor of the March race, won by rookie driver Kevin Harvick in heart-stopping fashion. Also named as defendants are Atlanta Motor Speedway; the speedway's parent corporation, Speedway Motorsports Inc.; and the Fox television network, which broadcast this year's Cracker Barrel 500. The disagreement centers on changes in how race title sponsors are recognized as a result of a $2.4 billion television deal that went into effect this year between NASCAR and a consortium of TV networks that includes Fox, NBC and Turner Sports. This year, however, Cracker Barrel claims its corporate name was mentioned only a handful of times during Fox's four-hour broadcast of the race. Fox instead referred to the event as ''Winston Cup racing live from Atlanta presented by UPS.''(Tennessean)(8-18-2001)
UPDATE: It had been rumored that Verizon (see Buzz rumor above), the worldwide telecommunications provider, had signed a sponsorship deal that would have designated the event the Verizon Wireless 500. That report, according to AMS spokesperson Angela Clare, is totally false.(NASCAR Buzz)(8-30-2001)
UPDATE 2: Rumor has it that Verizon, a telecommunciations company, has had meetings with Atlanta Motor Speedway to sponsor its spring race. A contact at Verizon's marketing division said that he had heard nothing about any talks with the track. Verizon is one of a handful of companies the track has had preliminary meetings with.(NASCAR.com)(10-1-2001)

Coolers allowed at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today fans attending the NAPA 500 weekend activities Nov. 16-18 will be allowed to bring coolers into the speedway. “We ask fans to be understanding with the inspection process,” said Ed Clark, president of Atlanta Motor Speedway. “We are going to make our best effort to have a minimum impact on those attending the NAPA 500 weekend.” As has been the track’s regular procedure, coolers and bags will be inspected. Officials ask fans with coolers to arrive early and be patient as inspections of items will take longer than normal. Speedway policy limits coolers to a maximum of 14 inches and no glass bottles or containers are permitted.(AMS PR)(9-28-2001)

Atlanta Race to Move to Oct? UPDATE 3 yep Atlanta in Oct: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark has expressed interest in moving his Winston Cup races to different dates next season. The track hosts the Cracker Barrell 500 in March and the season-ending NAPA 500. Homestead-Miami Speedway president Curtis Gray said his facility, which has the second-to-last race of the season, would be interested in gaining the final race. The past two champions have clinched the title at Homestead-Miami. "Sure it'd be great to have the last of the season," Gray said. "It'd be very prestigious."(St Petersburg Times) AND Clark declined to mention which track would be willing to take the November race, but he did say he'd prefer to hold the event in September or October, "which are two of the driest months of the year in Georgia." The last five Winston Cup race weekends at AMS have been affected by inclement weather. NASCAR has told AMS that the spring race will remain in the second week of March(AJC)(7-8-2001)
UPDATE: Next season, for the first time since 1986, Atlanta Motor Speedway will not host the finale race of the Winston Cup season. Atlanta's fall Winston Cup race in the 2002 season will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27, three weeks earlier than usual. The move, which had been pursued by officials at the speedway and Speedway Motorsports Inc., the track's owner, because of frequent poor weather in November, should allow the Winston Cup season to conclude at Homestead, Fla. Currently, NASCAR's BGN division ends its season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Having the Winston Cup season end the same weekend would provide for a "championship weekend" of sorts. Before Atlanta began hosting the final race of the season in 1987, it was held at Riverside, Calif., for six seasons.(That's Racin')(8-2-2001)
UPDATE 2: see That's Racin's How the 2002 schedule is shaking out along with my Tentative 2002 Winston Cup Schedule(8-3-2001)
UPDATE 3: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark announced today that the fall NASCAR Winston Cup race will move to Oct. 27 for the 2002 season, as has been speculated for several weeks. He also announced a new twist to the date change, revealing that the Busch Series race will also move to October, swapping dates with the ARCA race. The spring Winston Cup race will remain fourth on the schedule, next season falling on March 10. The fall NAPA 500 race moves to October from mid-November. The NAPA 500 weekend will be further modified by the addition of the Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race, which moved from its usual March date to join the fall slate on Saturday, Oct. 26. The ARCA 400 race will move to Saturday, March 9, during the spring race weekend. Tickets for the spring Winston Cup race weekend will be on sale beginning tomorrow at 9:00am/et(AMS PR)(9-10-2001)

Homestead will take it UPDATE Atlanta in Oct: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark has expressed interest in moving his Winston Cup races to different dates next season. The track hosts the Cracker Barrell 500 in March and the season-ending NAPA 500. Homestead-Miami Speedway president Curtis Gray said his facility, which has the second-to-last race of the season, would be interested in gaining the final race. The past two champions have clinched the title at Homestead-Miami. "Sure it'd be great to have the last of the season," Gray said. "It'd be very prestigious."(St Petersburg Times) AND Clark declined to mention which track would be willing to take the November race, but he did say he'd prefer to hold the event in September or October, "which are two of the driest months of the year in Georgia." The last five Winston Cup race weekends at AMS have been affected by inclement weather. NASCAR has told AMS that the spring race will remain in the second week of March(AJC)(7-8-2001)
UPDATE: Next season, for the first time since 1986, Atlanta Motor Speedway will not host the finale race of the Winston Cup season. Atlanta's fall Winston Cup race in the 2002 season will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27, three weeks earlier than usual. The move, which had been pursued by officials at the speedway and Speedway Motorsports Inc., the track's owner, because of frequent poor weather in November, should allow the Winston Cup season to conclude at Homestead, Fla. Currently, NASCAR's BGN division ends its season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Having the Winston Cup season end the same weekend would provide for a "championship weekend" of sorts. Before Atlanta began hosting the final race of the season in 1987, it was held at Riverside, Calif., for six seasons.(That's Racin')(8-2-2001)
UPDATE 2: see That's Racin's How the 2002 schedule is shaking out along with my Tentative 2002 Winston Cup Schedule(8-3-2001)

No Nore Cracker Barrel? UPDATE: hearing Cracker Barrel will not return as the race sponsor for the 2002 Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway(7-30-2001)
UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway has lost Cracker Barrel as sponsor of its spring 500-mile Winston Cup race, and it has laid off some employees and cut working hours for the remaining staff. Officials say they hope to name a new race sponsor within the next two weeks, but the short work weeks will continue indefinitely, according to Lauri Wilks, vice president of communications for Speedway Motorsports, the parent company of AMS.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(8-1-2001)

Homestead will take it: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark has expressed interest in moving his Winston Cup races to different dates next season. The track hosts the Cracker Barrell 500 in March and the season-ending NAPA 500. Homestead-Miami Speedway president Curtis Gray said his facility, which has the second-to-last race of the season, would be interested in gaining the final race. The past two champions have clinched the title at Homestead-Miami. "Sure it'd be great to have the last of the season," Gray said. "It'd be very prestigious."(St Petersburg Times) AND Clark declined to mention which track would be willing to take the November race, but he did say he'd prefer to hold the event in September or October, "which are two of the driest months of the year in Georgia." The last five Winston Cup race weekends at AMS have been affected by inclement weather. NASCAR has told AMS that the spring race will remain in the second week of March(AJC)(7-8-2001)

IRL Out at AMS: After three consecutive years of declining attendance, officials at Atlanta Motor Speedway have dropped the Indy Racing League from their schedule. "When attendance goes down, it's the kiss of death," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president of the company that owns the track. He said the IRL cars are too small and too fast for fans to follow(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(5-25-2001)

Atlanta Wants New Race Dates: Atlanta Motor Speedway has issued a formal request to NASCAR to change both of its Winston Cup dates, according to track president and general manager Ed Clark. "We've actually talked about this for several years, but the discussions are more serious this time around," said Clark. AMS plays host to two races per season on stock-car racing's top circuit: in March and November. An unfortunate history of inclement weather is the main reason behind Clark's request. Four of the past six Winston Cup events at AMS have been affected by rain or sleet When asked what would be the "perfect dates" for the Atlanta races, Clark politely declined comment. It would appear that any dates closer to the summer months --- when the climate is warmer and drier --- would be a preference. Clark also mentioned interest in a night race a couple of years ago The biggest negative for AMS in switching dates would be giving up the season-ending race, where the Winston Cup champion is crowned(Atlanta Jorunal Constitution)(5-6-2001)

AMS Not Happy UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway executives are not happy with Fox officials for changing the on-air name of the Cracker Barrel 500 three weeks ago. Fox declined to mention Cracker Barrel as the race sponsor, instead calling it a Winston Cup race 'presented by UPS.'(Winston Salem Journal)(3-31-2001)
UPDATE: The Winston-Salem Journal reports that "Atlanta Motor Speedway executives are not happy with Fox officials for changing the on-air name of the Cracker Barrel 500 three weeks ago. Fox declined to mention Cracker Barrel as the race sponsor, instead calling it a Winston Cup race 'presented by UPS.' " Sorry, folks, but this is inaccurate. Fox did indeed mention Cracker Barrel by name as required by contract. Lap 35 - 36:42 into broadcast: Mike Joy - "Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500", Lap 188 - 2:08:42 into broadcast: Mike Joy - "Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores 500", Lap 305 - 3:34:54 into broadcast: Mike Joy - "Cracker Barrel 500", There may have been one more, but the tape was reviewed quickly by MotorsportsTV. Actually, Fox's primary use of the UPS tie-in was "NASCAR on Fox presented by UPS," never attributing race title sponsorship to UPS. This is very common on TV sports now. That's a far cry from title sponsorship. The key point though is that Fox did mention Cracker Barrel as they were required to in Atlanta(MotorsportsTV)(4-1-2001)

AMS Grandstand and Memorial: Atlanta Motor Speedway did its part to remember Earnhardt by renaming the North Turn Grandstand after the seven-time Winston Cup champion. On Sunday, the track will honor him before the race by asking fans to stand at the beginning of lap three and silently raise three fingers in the air for the entire lap. At the same time, 7,000 black balloons will be released -- 1,000 for each of his championships.(That's Racin'/AP)(3-10-2001)

AMS Grand Marshal: Willard Scott will serve as Grand Marshal for the March 11 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500. Scott, longtime weatherman for NBC's Today Show, made a niche for himself honoring centenarians on the morning program he began working at almost 21 years ago. Scott's lengthy resume also includes being the first Ronald McDonald, anchoring the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade, appearing as Santa Claus at White House events and lighting the national Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 will be Scott's first NASCAR Winston Cup race, an event he is eagerly anticipating.(AMS PR)(3-7-2001)

AMS National Anthem: Kicks 101.5 morning show host Moby will sing the National Anthem at the March 11 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500. Moby, a radio veteran of more than 32 years, has spent the last 10 years with Kicks in the Atlanta market. He has been honored as Air Personality of the Year (1999), Radio Personality of the Year (1993, 94, 95, 96), Morning Personality of the Year (1993, 94, 95, 96) and Jock of the Year (1994). He has also been featured on such national programs as Oprah, Nightline and the CBS morning news. A dedicated philanthropist, Moby is also involved with Easter Seals, United Cerebral Palsy, the Georgia Council on Child Abuse, Egleston's Children's Hospital and the Leukemia Society, where he serves on the national board of directors. Moby and his fiance Mary Beth, who will be married this weekend, live in Atlanta with Moby's son Jonah and dog Barney(AMS PR)(3-7-2001)

AMS Tix: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that a limited number of tickets for the March 11 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 Winston Cup race will be available for just $19. These specially priced tickets are located in rows 25 through 11 of the Weaver Grandstand and offer fans an excellent view of the entire 1.54-mile quad-oval. Because of the limited number of $19 tickets, they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, but they are still available. Great seats are still available in all other grandstands and price categories. For more info see the AMS Site(AMS PR)(2-15-2001)

Atlanta Specials - Final Day: This is the final day for race fans to take advantage of a the tremendous ticket deals available for the April 28 Atlanta 500 Classic Indy Racing Northern Light Series race at Atlanta. As part of the Fans First initiative, designed to bring fans closer to the racing action, all fans purchasing their Atlanta 500 Classic tickets before Feb. 1, will receive more than just great seats for the race, they will also receive a free qualifying ticket and a free post-race garage pass, giving fans a coveted behind-the-scenes look at the hub of racing activity. In addition, all fans purchasing tickets to the March 11 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 will receive a $20 discount on all $50 or $60 Atlanta 500 Classic tickets. Fans who have already purchased their Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 tickets are also eligible for the discount(see the AMS site for info)(1-31-2001)

Atlanta Tix Prices Stay Same: As part of the Fans First Initiative developed last year, Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark announced there will not be an increase in ticket prices for the 2001 season. Clark also announced a new payment policy for ticket buyers. AMS will also debut a new billing procedure that will allow fans to pay half the cost of their ticket bill upon ordering and the balance at a later date. The new policy will make it possible for fans to purchase their race tickets right away, while the best seats are still available. For more information about tickets see the www.gospeedway.com site(AMS PR)(12-22-2000)

You Might Be A Redneck If..... comedian Jeff Foxworthy, famous for his 'Redneck' jokes, has agreed to serve as the Grand Marshal for the Nov. 19 NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. A lifelong racing fan, this Hapeville native has been visiting Atlanta Motor Speedway since he was a child. Now he will return to his home track as one of the celebrities. As Grand Marshal, Foxworthy will give the most famous command in all of racing, "Gentleman, start your engines," to begin the NAPA 500.(AMS PR) To see some Foxworthy 'Redneck' jokes, see my Racing Humor page(11-6-2000)

AMS to use Talladega rules? UPDATE No: Ed Clark, president and general manager at Atlanta Motor Speedway, has contacted Mike Helton and Gary Nelson to consider a rules package change implementing the roof deflector and front valence and rear spoiler package used at the Winston 500 in Talledega for the NAPA 500. This change would not include the restrictor plates that were used at Talledega. Clark said he believed the use of the Talladega rules could spur interest - and ticket sales - for his season-ending race.(That's Racin')(10-23-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials on Friday declined Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark's proposal that the Winston Cup series use aerodynamic rules similar to those run at Talladega Superspeedway for the Nov. 19 season finale at Atlanta(That's Racin'/SpeedVision)(10-28-2000)

Atlanta Pole Sponsor: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that Georgia-Pacific Corporation will be the title sponsor for Winston Cup qualifying at the final race of the year. The new three-year sponsorship agreement begins Nov. 17, 2000, when Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Day kicks off the NAPA 500 weekend(AMS PR)(5-10-2000)

Empty Seats: About 80,000 fans attended Sunday's race in Atlanta, leaving more than 50,000 seats empty. It's the second time in four races this season that a track has not sold out. North Carolina Speedway was the other track that didn't sell out(Roanoke Times)(3-13-2000)

No Blackout at AMS: The television blackout for the March 12 Cracker Barrel 500 has been lifted for metro Atlanta race fans. Atlanta Motor Speedway, ABC and local network affiliate WSB-TV reached an agreement to telecast the race, AMS general manager and president Ed Clark said(AJC)(3-5-2000)

Speedway Motorsports: NASCAR isn't the only racing entity seeking to expand their media horizons. Bruton Smith, owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc. announced today the purchase of Racing Country USA, a nationally syndicated radio show from Morris International. Founded in 1990 as NASCAR Country, Racing Country USA is a two-hour program reaching over 300 affiliates nationwide. The format includes country music, NASCAR-related features and interviews with top personalities from both venues(Speedway Illustrated)(2-18-2000)

Atlanta Tix: Atlanta Motor Speedway's new program, FANS FIRST, has drawn criticism from some loyal fans of the track. Under the FANS FIRST concept announced Friday, track officials agreed to provide free pit passes before the race to the first 5,000 ticket purchasers beginning Monday of this week for the Cracker Barrel 500 on March 12. But some long-time fans who bought their tickets months ago are expressing anger and disappointment about not being eligible for the promotion. AMS general manager and president Ed Clark has offered a solution: A lottery will be held next week to select 50 people who bought race tickets before this week. Each will be given two prerace pit passes. FANS FIRST tickets were still available Tuesday evening(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(2-9-2000)

Atlanta Tix/Pit Passes: Atlanta Motor Speedway announced a major new initiative designed to bring fans a more unique experience while attending events and activities at the 1.54-mile speedway. Called FANS FIRST, the program will be an ongoing effort to bring fans closer to the inside action and involve them in behind the scenes activities. Atlanta Motor Speedway will be joining with sponsors and media partners to present enjoyable opportunities at each major event. The initial FANS FIRST opportunity will be presented by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Beginning at 8am/et Monday, February 7, the first 5,000 ticket purchasers for the March 12 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 will receive free pre-race pit passes for the event. These individuals will have the opportunity to tour the pit area prior to the event and witness up-close the advance preparation for the event(AMS Site)(2-7-2000)

Insurance and Speedways UPDATE: Nationwide Insurance will sponsor a safety program at tracks owned by Speedway Motorsports. The company will make a $1,000 donation to Speedway Children's Charities in the name of a driver who most notably demonstrates safety during a race. It will provide fan assistance during races and a booth so pictures of children can be taken to assist in identification in case they become lost(St Peterburg Times)(1-12-2000) -- UPDATE: Some more info on the Nationswide sponsorship at the six Speedway Motorsports tracks. It includes: 1.) Sponsorship of the safety vehicles used at those six tracks (including new uniforms for the personnel), 2.) Nationwide Fan Assistance patrol, (10 golf carts at each track to help with medical transports, and serve as roving information booths answering questions, giving directions, etc.), 3.) "Safe Driving Move of the Race", (reminiscent of the Raybestos break of the race) and finally 4.) the child registration booth already mentioned. This is tied into the Nat'l Center for Missing and Exploited children. Nationwide will also have a hospitality tent at each track and a program to give away 50 tickets per race by the Nationwide State Management team for each home state for the track(1-14-2000)

Drive Atlanta and Tickets: AMS is offering fans the chance to drive their own car around the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway under the lights. Plus there are still tickets available for the season ending NAPA 500 on Nov 21st. See the AMS site for details on both(11-9-1999)

Atlanta Announcement: Atlanta track officials used the IRL race to announce a new title sponsor for the NASCAR Busch series race held at the track in March. Aaron's Rental Purchase will lend its name to the under a three-year deal that runs through 2002(PitNow)(7-18-1999)

Fence Holds Up: A higher fence, installed in front of the grandstands at Atlanta after three fans were killed at Charlotte on May 1, got its first test during the Formula 2000 crash. At least three pieces of debris deflected off the new fence, which stands 21 feet high and extends 6 feet over the track. The old fence was 15 feet high and extended out 3 feet. In addition, track officials closed off the first 15 rows in the main grandstand(WRAL/AP)(7-18-1999)

Speedway Motorsports Track News: It was announced that the catch fences on the tracks in Charlotte, Atlanta and Texas will be raised six feet from 15 feet to 21 feet with the additional six feet hanging over the track. The cost of the project will be $1.5-2 million(RPM2Nite)(5-19-1999)

Atlanta TV: Speedway Motorsports announced a record 5.7 television rating, up from a 2.7 the prior year, for the Cracker Barrel 500. ABC's broadcast of the Cracker Barrel 500 received a 15 share and was viewed in approximately 5.7 million households. See complete report at: Record Attendance and TV Rating for Cracker Barrel 500 (WRAL/The Sports Network)(3-19-1999)

AMS Tickets: Atlanta Motor Speedway AMS is offering $25 tickets for the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 on March 14. The tickets, available while supplies last, are for seats in the Weaver Grandstand overlooking the back straightaway. Tickets can be purchased at the AMS ticket office, 8am-6pm/et today, 9-5pm/et Saturday and 1-5pm/et. Sunday. Tickets also can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 800-249-6400 or by direct purchases at select Publix supermarkets. For more information, call the AMS ticket office at 770-946-4211.(icFlorida)(2-26-1999) -- see the Atlanta Motorsports site for ticket info(2-28-1999)

Atlanta BGN Race Sponsor: Hearing that STIHL will not sponsor the BGN race at Atlanta and that the race sponsor would be Yellow Freight(1-17-1999)

A Goodyear tire test is planned for Atlanta before the season finale on Nov. 8, and Goodyear plans to ask the top three in the points to do the test sometime in October, according to NASCAR sources.(JournalNow - Mike Mulhern)(7-31-98)

For some reason folks have been sending me this OLD news: Cracker Barrel will sponsor the spring Atlanta race starting in 1999, the race will be called the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500.(NASCAR Online)(5-21-98) - two months ago this was announced.

Cracker Barrel will sponsor the spring Atlanta race starting in 1999, the race will be called the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500.(NASCAR Online)(5-21-98)

Good story at Speedworld about Atlanta Motor Speedway - 50 years.(3-3-98)

A Permanent lighting system is being installed at Atlanta Motor Speedway(AMS) for the night time race for the Indy Racing League taking place on August 29, 1998. AMS is also having a $20 PRIMESTAR 500 ticket sale that fans can order tickets on-line at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. This site has really improved a bunch(2-19-98)

News on the web about the Atlanta Motor Speedway situation from the Charlotte Observer: "Atlanta hits roadblock, Code violations close speedway: Atlanta Motor Speedway was, at least technically, shut down early last week by the state of Georgia. John Oxendine, Georgia's Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner, ordered the track to suspend racing events until it corrects violations of the state's fire code and obtains its license. He also fined the speedway $2,000 for violating the code. Oxendine said his inspectors found the speedway operated races on four days in 1997 without having a license. That fact was acknowledged by Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark, but he questioned Oxendine's motives. The track was cited for having deficient fire doors, failing to obtain a certificate of occupancy for new VIP suites before they were used for a November race, failing to secure handrails and guardrails in those suites, and for the absence of portable fire extinguishers in several locations. Clark said track officials thought a temporary 30-day certificate of occupancy had been granted before the Nov. 16 NAPA 500. He said the track would work to be in compliance in time for its Primestar 500 weekend on March 6-8."(see the rest of the story at Charlotte Observer)(12-28-97)

In the 12/24/97 Atlanta Journal Constitution(AJC), Ed Clark, AMS General Manager, contested state fire marshall charges about safety violations(see story on this page 12-23). Claims charges are politically motivated. AMS did not have a license to operate 1997 events. Did pay fee in February and thought everything was ok until November 16 when they found out they didn't have a license. Clark thought AMS had a temporary certificate of occupancy so they could operate while problems were fixed. Problems relate to new suites and new grandstands. (see 12/23 AJC) According to AJC today, AMS will request a formal hearing during the next ten days.(thanks Babe)(12-25-97)

The big announcement from Atlanta Motor Speedway was that the IRL(Indy Racing League) will run a race under the lights on Saturday August 29, 1998(RPM2Nite)(8-12-97)

Atlanta Motor Speedway has scheduled a "major news conference" for Monday, which could be the announcement of an Indy Racing League date(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(8-10-97)

Atlanta Motor Speedway will be totally repaved as part of the reconfiguration project(5-13-97)

Atlanta Motor Speedway will change configuration to 1.54 mile Quad-oval for Fall 97 race.(1996)

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Jayski's® is a registered trademark of Jayski LLC
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.