Jayski's® Silly Season Site - OLD Lowes (Charlotte) Motor Speedway News

PAST LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS

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www.lowesmotorspeedway.com(was Charlotte)

Dry conditions mean restrictions for visiting race fans: Race fans at Lowe’s Motor Speedway are being warned about drought conditions in the Concord/Charlotte, NC area. Starting Wednesday, staff from the city of Concord and from the track will begin passing out flyers to campers, telling them about regulations for fires in the campground. They’re also warning fans about the dangers of carbon monoxide.(wcnc.com)(10-10-2007)
Honorary Grand Marshal for LMS Cup race announced: Ms. Johnnie Fink, a pediatric dental assistant from Kannapolis, N.C., was selected by a panel of celebrity judges to serve as Honorary Grand Marshal of the 2007 Bank of America 500. She will officially start the race this Saturday night, Oct. 13 by saying the famous words: "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines," in front of more than 160,000 race fans at Lowe's Motor Speedway. This is the second year Bank of America has hosted the contest to give fans the opportunity to be Honorary Grand Marshal, with Fink winning the American Idol-style competition that saw 16 contestants give their best rendition of the command to start engines. Celebrity judges for the competition held at the first-ever Bank of America 500 Fan Fest in Uptown Charlotte included: defending Bank of America 500 Champion Kasey Kahne, NASCAR driver / television personality Kenny Wallace, Carolina Panthers right tackle Jordan Gross, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, Lowe's Motor Speedway President & CEO H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, Charlotte Bobcats President & CEO Fred Whitfield, NASCAR.com writer Raygan Swan and Bank of America associate Ken Bailey.(Bank of America/Ketchum PR)(10-10-2007)
Bank of America 500 Pre-Race Show: A death-defying automobile stunt, a concert by three of country music's fastest rising stars and a more fan-friendly format for driver introductions will be among the highlights of pre-race festivities for the Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series race Saturday night, Oct. 13, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. While towing a camper trailer behind a 1979 Buick, veteran stuntman Chris "Crash" Morena will launch from a 40-foot steel ramp and attempt to sail 150 feet through the air before crashing into a collection of parked cars.
Coordinated by legendary stuntman Brian Carson, a Hollywood pyrotechnic team plans to detonate an explosive blast in the recreational vehicle while Morena is in mid-flight. A series of pyrotechnic blasts will also go off around the landing area.
The pre-race concert, produced by CMT, will include performances by Brent Keith, Carter's Chord and Flynnville Train. It will take place on two stages positioned near the start/finish line. Keith first garnered national attention on "Nashville Star," a television talent competition, and was then selected to perform the title track for "Dale," the feature film documenting the life of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.
Carter's Chord and Flynnville Train are up-and-coming groups that have been signed by Show Dog Nashville, the independent record label established by recording star Toby Keith. Carter's Chord features the singing and songwriting sisters Becky, Emily and Joanna Roberts who perform a unique brand of country blues infused with sibling harmonies. Flynnville Train is a five-piece band, led by vocalist Brian Flynn, which draws on country, hard rock and blues inspirations.
For the first time, driver introductions for the Bank of America 500 will be brought closer to the fans. Each of the 43 race cars will be paraded onto the speedway's frontstretch and the drivers will be introduced while standing beside their cars. After each driver is introduced, he will be paraded around the 1.5-mile track in the back of a Toyota Tundra pickup truck.
The Bank of America 500 pre-race show, which starts at 5:40 p.m., will also include a Toyota Tundra Monster Truck, the fire-breathing antics of Robosaurus and the Oregon Aero SkyDancer skywriting team. Whiskey Falls, another up-and-coming country music act whose self-titled debut album was released in September, will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner." The grand marshal for the Bank of America 500 will be selected Tuesday, Oct. 9, during the inaugural Bank of America 500 Fan Fest in uptown Charlotte. Tickets for the Oct. 13 Bank of America 500, round five of the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup, start at just $39 and can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(10-9-2007)
Smith could file suit against Concord Monday: As NASCAR fans begin arriving on their pilgrimage to Concord for the Bank of America 500, many are wondering if this could be one of the last times they'll see a race in Concord, NC. Sources close to the speedway said owner Bruton Smith could file a lawsuit against the city Monday in his continuing struggle to build a drag strip near the Lowe's Motor Speedway. Smith has threatened to move his business elsewhere if the city will not let him build the drag strip. Neighbors said they don’t want the drag strip to be built because of the noise it will create. We've contacted Smith's attorney, but he would not comment on whether or not they will file suit Monday.(wcnc.com)(10-8-2007)
Record $6.5 Million Purse during Bank of America 500 Week Events: Drivers competing in the Oct. 10-13 Bank of America 500 Week schedule of events at Lowe's Motor Speedway will battle for the lion's share of a record $6.5 million purse. The $6,526,587 in posted prize money and awards is $128,806 more than was up for grabs in the same events last year and represents a 166% increase over the $2.4 million drivers raced for just 10 years ago. The Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series race on Saturday night, Oct. 13, will be worth a record $5,185,067, an increase of $106,596 over last October's race. The Dollar General 300 on Friday night, Oct. 12, will be chasing $1,268,191 in posted prize money and awards, an increase of $24,460 from last year. The Jani-King Southern Showdown presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers on Wednesday night, Oct. 10, at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway will be highlighted by a 50-lap feature for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and $73,300 in posted awards will be up for grabs. Tickets for all Bank of America 500 Week events are available by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(10-3-2007)
Buy a Bank of America 500 Ticket, get a Lottery Ticket: Purchasing a ticket to the Oct. 13 Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway between now and Tuesday could be a life-changing experience. Race fans buying tickets between 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and the close of business on Tuesday, Oct. 2, will receive a North Carolina Education Lottery Powerball ticket. Powerball is an exciting, multimillion-dollar game with jackpots starting at $15 million and increasing until won. There are nine ways to win with a single Powerball ticket. Bank of America 500 tickets purchased during this period will have a special redemption code that will allow fans to pick up their North Carolina Education Lottery Powerball ticket at the speedway. The Powerball ticket will be good for the drawing on Saturday night, Oct. 13. The redemption area will be located in front of Smith Tower and the Avenue of Flags, adjacent to the speedway's main entrance. Ticket holders must be 18 years of age or older to receive a lottery ticket. Tickets for the Oct. 13 Bank of America 500 can be purchased by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(10-1-2007)
Bojangles' Pole Night at LMS combines thrills with short-track fun: Bojangles' Pole Night on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Lowe's Motor Speedway will combine the high-speed thrills of Nextel Cup Series qualifying with the slam, bam fun of short-track racing. Following qualifying on the 1.5-mile superspeedway, action moves to the frontstretch quarter-mile oval for a School Bus Slobberknocker and a CRASHCar Trailer Race of Destruction. Robosaurus, the world's first "car-nivorous monster," will also be on hand to demonstrate its amazing car-crushing capabilities. If purchased in advance, adult tickets for Bojangles' Pole Night are just $12 while admission is only $1 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for those 5 and younger. Nextel Cup Qualifying features a record $38,900 in posted awards with $23,900 earmarked for the pole winner. Tickets for Bojangles' Pole Night can also be purchased as part of the four-race $99 SUPER Ticket which includes the Jani-King Southern Showdown World of Outlaws late model race at The Dirt Track on Wednesday night, Oct. 10; the Dollar General 300 Busch Series race on Friday night, Oct 12; and the Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series event on Saturday night, Oct. 13. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(9-24-2007)
Montana Raceway Park's Siderius: LMS's Promoter of the Year: Michelle Siderius, promoter of Montana Raceway Park in Kalispell, Mont., will be honored as the Lowe's Motor Speedway Promoter of the Year during pre-race festivities for the Dollar General 300 Busch Series race Friday night, Oct. 12, at Lowe's Motor Speedway.Located just south of Glacier National Park in Montana's picturesque Flathead Valley, Montana Raceway Park is the only paved quarter-mile oval in the Treasure State. This season, Siderius and her staff presented a schedule that combined a wide variety of weekly racing divisions along with numerous special events. The track's marquee race, the Coors Light Montana 200, features super late models and is annually the state's largest motorsports event. Another season highlight is Legend Thunder, a regional qualifying race that attracts Legends Car and Thunder Roadster competitors from across the United States and Canada.Siderius' parents, John and Sharon Slack, built Montana Raceway Park in 1991 and sold the facility to their daughters and son-in-law-Siderius and Marie and Aaron AuClaire-in 2004. Having been a family business since the first race, Siderius and her partners continue to focus on events and activities that create a family atmosphere for fans and competitors. Former recipients of the Lowe's Motor Speedway Promoter of the Year Award include Earl Baltes, Ralph Capitani, Ned Jarrett, Bill Donoho, Dick and Bob Bahre, Charles PoweII, Mickey Swims, Todd Fisher, Frank Plessinger and Tom Curley.(LMS PR)(9-21-2007)
All-You-Can-Eat Grandstand at Lowe's Motor Speedway: Race fans will have the opportunity to "Feast with the Beast" during the Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series event Saturday night, Oct. 13, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With assistance from Joey Chestnut, winner of the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest and the world's #1 ranked competitive eater, speedway President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler introduced the track's All-You-Can-Eat Grandstand. This new concept is the latest in a long list of fan-related innovations Lowe's Motor Speedway has brought to the NASCAR experience. The menu for the All-You-Can-Eat Grandstand consists of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, popcorn, peanuts, soft drinks and water. A special buffet-style concession area will open one hour prior to the start of the Bank of America 500 and will remain open for two hours after the green flag is waved. The All-You-Can-Eat Grandstand is comprised of three sections in the spacious Diamond Tower Terrace and Jewel Box, overlooking Turn 2 of the 1.5-mile superspeedway. Tickets start at just $59 and are also available for $79, $89 and $99, depending on seating location. When entering Gate 20 on race day, fans with tickets for the All-U-Can-Eat Grandstand will be given a special wristband that will allow them into the Feast with the Beast concession area operated by Levy Restaurants. The Bank of America 500 on Saturday, Oct. 13, is round five of the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup and traditionally plays a pivotal role in deciding who claims the series championship. Tickets for the Bank of America 500, including the All-U-Can-Eat Grandstand, can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(9-6-2007)
Remaining Tickets for 2008 Coca-Cola 600/All-Star race on sale Sept 4th: With renewals completed, all remaining tickets for the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 and May 17 Sprint All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 9am/et. Priced from $39 to $135, a wide selection of grandstand seating options are available for the 49th running of the Coca-Cola 600, including a number of premium frontstretch seats. Tickets for the 2008 edition of the Sprint All-Star Challenge, NASCAR's annual all-star race, range in price from $30 to $85. The Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office will be open from 9am to 7pm/et Tuesday. Tickets can be obtained online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS. They can also be purchased by visiting the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office on the second floor of Smith Tower. Also available are tickets for the May 16 Charlotte Tailgate 200 Craftsman Truck Series race; CTC Pole Night Qualifying on Thursday, May 22; and the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Busch Series race on Saturday night, May 24.(LMS PR)(8-31-2007)
Softer Tire at LMS: Goodyear likely will bring a softer tire for the October race at Lowe's Motor Speedway and is looking at even softer left-side compounds for when the car of tomorrow [COT] hits that track next May. The track, resurfaced in 2006, has posed problems for Goodyear, which has had to bring a hard tire to keep from having tire failures. "We ran the softer left-side in October, and then with the larger fuel cell, we went a little tougher again in May," said Goodyear engineer Mark Keto. "We're going to go back to last fall's left sides, at least that's what it looks like." Four teams tested at the track last week for next season with the car of tomorrow. "We were trying to see how they react - we were looking to see if we could get them more grip," Keto said. "We tested some left sides but mostly rights. It was just kind of a first look at what the car was going to do. They ran comparable speeds to what the current car ran in May. We're trying to get a better understanding. We haven't seen a lot of track time on the intermediate speedways." Keto said that the next intermediate track COT tire test will be Aug. 21-22 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Tentatively scheduled for that test are #29-Kevin Harvick, #9-Kasey Kahne, #36-Jeremy Mayfield and #7-Robby Gordon, Keto said.(SceneDaily.com)(8-12-2007)
NASCAR RaceDay Personalities to race buses at LMS: A School Bus battle of epic proportions will be waged Tuesday [Aug 7] night during the final round of the 14th annual Summer Shootout Series on the frontstretch quarter-mile oval at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Members of SPEED Channel’s “NASCAR RaceDay” crew, including Jimmy Spencer, Hermie Sadler, John Roberts, Wendy Venturini and Rutledge Wood, are among those scheduled to wheel the behemoth creations in a winner-take-all race. Last year Venturini left the rest of her “NASCAR RaceDay” colleagues in the dust as the daughter of two-time ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Bill Venturini used a bump-and-run maneuver to claim the victory. Prior to trading paint on the race track, the “NASCAR RaceDay” personalities will sign autographs on the grandstand concourse beginning at 6:15pm/et. A full slate of Legends Car, Bandolero and Thunder Roadster racing is also on tap and championships will be decided in each of the eight divisions. For information, visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(8-6-2007)
Coca-Cola 600 likely to keep name: The Coca-Cola 600 likely will keep its name and won't have to share the specific Coke brand with another NASCAR race despite a major sponsorship deal announced Monday. Coca-Cola North America and International Speedway Corp. signed a 10-year agreement to bring Coke brands to 10 ISC race tracks. The deal also gives Coca-Cola the naming rights for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race held in July at the Daytona International Speedway. The annual race -- this year's was Sunday -- was the Pepsi 400 for several years. In the Charlotte region, the Coca-Cola 600 has been held every May for more than 20 years at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord. Speedway Motorsports owns the speedway and five others and is the biggest rival to ISC, which owns Daytona and a dozen other tracks. Financial terms of the deal between Coca-Cola and ISC weren't released. Officials with both companies said Monday that the new name for the July race in Daytona hasn't been decided. The first Coca-Cola 600 was in 1985 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, said Lauri Wilks, a spokeswoman for the facility and Speedway Motorsports. The speedway's first 10-year deal with Coke was the longest in motorsports history, Wilks said.(Charlotte Observer)(7-12-2007)
October SUPER Ticket Offers Four Major Races for Only $99 at LMS: A limited number of Lowe's Motor Speedway's extremely popular SUPER Tickets are now available for Bank of America 500 Week Oct. 10-13, offering four nights of major-league auto racing for just $99. The SUPER Ticket allows race fans to attend the Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series event on Saturday night, Oct. 13; the Dollar General 300 Busch Series race on Friday night, Oct. 12; Bojangles' Pole Night on Thursday night, Oct. 11; and the Southern Showdown World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway on Wednesday night, Oct. 10. Priced at just $99, the SUPER ticket represents a whopping 28-percent savings off the $137 retail value if the same seats for the four races were purchased separately. The $99 SUPER Ticket will be available while supplies last and can only be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(6-29-2007)
Black #3 wins at LMS Dirt Track Friday night: Defending World of Outlaws Sprint Series champion Donny Schatz had to take a backseat to 16-year-old Austin Dillon Friday night as a sell-out crowd of more than 14,000 people filled the grandstands at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Eckerd Outlaw Showdown. Schatz passed Paul McMahan for the lead with just three laps remaining and went on to win the 30-lap sprint car finale, while Dillon, grandson of Nextel Cup Series team owner Richard Childress, put a familiar black #3 back in victory lane by winning the Goodyear Fastrak Challenge late model feature. "I don't think I've been more nervous trying to win the Daytona 500," Childress said with pride. "Seeing the black #3 back up there and my family running it, it's just great. He did a great job tonight and I'm proud of Austin." Schatz, who started fifth in the 26-car World of Outlaws feature, passed McMahan for the lead on lap 27 and went on to claim his first victory at the four-tenths-mile clay oval since Oct. 5, 2000. Dillon started seventh in the 24-car Goodyear Fastrak Challenge late model finale and took the lead on lap 20 of the 25-lap race following a side-by-side battle with veteran Jack Pennington and Timbo Mangnum. Clint Bowyer, who drives for Childress in the Nextel Cup and Busch Series, started 16th and passed Pennington for second on lap 23. He chased Dillon under the checkered flag to claim the runner-up money while Pennington settled for third.(LMS PR)(5-26-2007)
Coca-Cola 600 Pre-Race Spectacular to Celebrate the U.S. Military: Continuing a Memorial Day weekend tradition that started 30 years ago, Lowe's Motor Speedway's pre-race spectacular for the Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday, May 27, will celebrate the men and women of the U.S. Military and pay tribute to those who have served their country. The program begins with performances by the 82nd Airborne Division Chorus and the U.S. Army Drill Team, followed by the arrival of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team. The U.S. Army will then "secure" the frontstretch during a demonstration that will include troops in full combat gear, military ground vehicles, helicopters and the firing of an M109 Howitzer gun.
Once the frontstretch is "secured," 1,500 uniformed troops from Fort Bragg will march into the track and assemble at the start/finish line. Following driver introductions, the Fort Bragg Honor Guard will present the colors prior to the playing of Amazing Grace and the firing of a 21-gun salute. Taps will then be played and country music star LeAnn Rimes will sing the national anthem.
The flyover will feature four F-22 fighter jets from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be among the military personnel and their families on hand for the race. Pace became the 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sept. 30, 2005. He serves as the principal military advisory to the President, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. Pace is the first Marine to serve in this capacity. The Coca-Cola 600 military pre-race spectacular starts at 3:15pm/et and continues until the green flag is waved to start the 600-mile classic at 5:40pm/et. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 27, are still available and can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-22-2007)
Coca Cola 600 Grand Marshal and Stater named: Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has been named grand marshal for the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Coca-Cola and speedway officials also announced that Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain will serve as the honorary starter, waving the green flag to send the 43 drivers on their 600-mile journey. In his role as grand marshal, Bredesen will preside over pre-race ceremonies and give the command, "gentlemen, start your engines." Now in his second term as governor, Bredesen is focused on raising high school and college graduation rates, boosting the economies of Tennessee's smaller and mid-sized communities, strengthening public education and promoting access to health care and healthier lifestyles for all state residents. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 27, are still available and can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-21-2007)
LMS prepare for the Fantastic - Times 4: For 47 years, the Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup Series race has thrilled racing fans around the world with incredible feats of speed, prowess and endurance. This Memorial Day weekend, the "600" meets the "4" when the stars of the new motion picture FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER visit the legendary race in search of the Silver Surfer. Specific details of the showdown will be provided soon-but racing organizers and Twentieth Century Fox promise something truly "fantastic." The Coca-Cola 600 will be broadcast live on Sunday, May 27, on FOX at 5:00pm/et. Scheduled to appear at Lowe's Motor Speedway are the film's principal stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis. The four stars will serve as honorary race officials and take part in various activities around the track prior to the main event. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway are available online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or via phone at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).(LMS PR)(5-21-2007)
1,000 N.C. Soldiers & Military Family receive free tix to CTC Pole night at LMS: When the Star-Spangled Banner is played at the start of CTC Pole Night on Thursday, May 24, it will have special meaning for nearly 1,000 North Carolina National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve soldiers and their families attending as guests of CT Communications (CTC; Nasdaq: CTCI). CTC has donated these tickets to members of the U.S. armed forces in honor of their loyalty and service to the country. This year's race weekend will prove particularly memorable for service members. During the 10th annual CTC Pole Night qualifying event and the Coca-Cola 600 race, many teams will display logos from each branch of the military on the hoods of their cars. Similarly, Lowe's Motor Speedway will continue its 30-year tradition of honoring military men and women. Additional details are available online at www.ctc.net/polenight. Tickets for CTC Pole Night are $12 in advance and can be purchased lowesmotorspeedway.com.(CTC PR)(5-17-2007)
Record $6.5 Million Purse for May 27 Coca-Cola 600: Nextel Cup Series drivers will battle for a record $6.5 million during the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway while total posted awards for the track's schedule of May events is more than $14.5 million. Eight races will be run at Lowe's Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway between Friday night, May 18, and Sunday evening, May 27, and each carries a record purse with a total of $14,524,532 up for grabs. Already one of the richest races on the NASCAR circuit, the $6,569,628 in total awards for the Coca-Cola 600 is $136,947 more than was posted for last year's event and $4,481,404 more than competitors raced for in the 600-mile event 10 years ago. Competitors participating in the Nextel All-Star Challenge and the Nextel Open on Saturday night, May 19, will compete for a record $4,264,364 with the Challenge winner guaranteed a minimum of $1,011,125. In addition to the posted prize money, $1,780,853 in television awards for the Nextel All-Star Challenge will be distributed through the Nextel Cup Series Car/Champion Owner Program. Busch Series drivers will battle for a record $1,249,138 during the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night, May 26, and the Quaker Steak & Lube 200 presented by Circle K Craftsman Truck Series event on Friday night, May 18, adds $544,474 to the total prize money. SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Series competitors will race for $30,125 during CTC Pole Night on Thursday, May 24, and the inaugural Kobalt Tools Crew Chiefs race prior to the Nextel All-Star Challenge on Saturday, May 19, is worth $10,000. The World of Outlaws Sprint Series returns to The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway on Friday night, May 25, for the Eckerd Outlaw Showdown. The late model stock cars of the Goodyear Fastrak Challenge are also on the card and the two divisions will race for $75,950 in posted awards. Tickets for all May events, including the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600, are still available and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-17-2007)
Fan wins starter job for Nextel Challenge: Jerry Brandom of Delray Beach, Fla., will be waving the green flag for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, having been selected from thousands of entries in the SPEED CFO (Chief Flag Operator) sweepstakes. Brandom and a guest of his choice will be flown to Charlotte for the weekend's events, receiving a pace car ride and VIP garage tour. Before climbing the tower at Lowe's Motor Speedway to start the All-Star race, Brandom also will have the opportunity to attend the Nextel All-Star Challenge drivers meeting.(SPEEDtv PR)(5-15-2007)
CATS LMS Race Express Adds Second Location: After a successful launch in October, Charlotte Area Transit System's [CATS] LMS Race Express has been expanded to include round-trip transportation from two CATS Park and Ride locations to Lowe's Motor Speedway for the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge and May 27 Coca-Cola 600. Buses will now originate from Carolina Place Mall at exit 64B off I-485 in Pineville, N.C., and Northlake Mall at exit 18 off I-77 north of Charlotte. LMS Race Express buses will utilize priority routes to enter and exit the speedway. For the Nextel All-Star Challenge on Saturday, May 19, they will depart from each Park and Ride location approximately every 30 minutes between noon and 4 p.m. On Sunday, May 27, for the Coca-Cola 600, they will leave approximately every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both drop-off and pick-up locations at Lowe's Motor Speedway will be near the track's main entrance. Return trips will begin approximately one hour following the checkered flag. Tickets for the LMS Race Express are $20 per person and can be purchased online at www.racepackage.com/2007lmsexpress or by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS. Tickets will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Park and Ride lots on race days. No restroom facilities are available on the buses and no smoking or drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted. In addition, no storage space is available for passenger items. However, each rider is permitted one cooler, which is limited to 14 inches in any direction. Tickets for all May NASCAR events at Lowe's Motor Speedway are still available and can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or by visiting www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-14-2007)
LMS Introduces Speedway Ambassadors: Lowe's Motor Speedway has developed two new elements to help fans enjoy their race-day experiences during the track's upcoming schedule of NASCAR races, including the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600. Working in conjunction with Motor Racing Outreach, Lowe's Motor Speedway has developed the Speedway Ambassadors, a program consisting of 30 volunteers who will be available to efficiently assist race fans with problems or questions. Each Speedway Ambassador will have the authority to make on-the-spot decisions concerning fan-related issues. The Ambassadors will be positioned at entry gates prior to events and will move into the grandstands before pre-race activities commence. The Speedway Ambassadors will be available to assist fans during the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge, the May 26 Carquest Auto Parts 300 and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600. Speedway officials have also worked with the North Carolina Highway Patrol to expand the area in which officers will control traffic during event days. In addition to controlling traffic on Speedway Blvd. from I-85 to the track, highway patrol officers will now also monitor and control traffic flow on Concord Mills Blvd., in front of Concord Mills mall. Tickets for all May NASCAR events at Lowe's Motor Speedway are still available and can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or by visiting www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-14-2007)
Humpy to Make Pick for All Star Challenge: H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, will reveal his prediction of who will win the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge during a press conference Tuesday at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in uptown Charlotte. Wheeler, who has correctly picked 10 of the last 18 All-Star race winners, will announce his selection with assistance from Mental Illusionist Lawrence Gregory.(LMS PR)(5-12-2007)
Lowe's Bans Talladega Violators; Will Increase Security: LMS track officials announced that the 14 individuals charged with disorderly conduct for throwing items on the race track following the April 29 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway have been permanently banned from attending races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. [Additional] precautions [the track will take] include placing security personnel every 200 feet to watch the grandstands for unruly behavior, using video cameras to monitor grandstands and the use of tactical-style rapid-response teams.(LMS PR)(5-5-2007)
Michael Jordan to Serve as Grand Marshal for Nextel All-Star Challenge: NBA great Michael Jordan will serve as Grand Marshal for the May 19 NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge. Jordan, the managing member of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats, will give the command, “Gentlemen, start your engines.” Jordan has overseen all of the basketball decisions for the Charlotte Bobcats since joining the front office in June 2006.(Lowes Motor Speedway PR)(5-2-2007)
Auto Fair at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend: UPDATE: A 52-foot limousine crafted from a jet airplane, NBA star LeBron James' customized Hummer H2 and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 1967 Camaro are just a sampling of the radical rides that will be featured during the Apil 12-15 Food Lion AutoFair at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Unique Autosports, the automotive customizing business owned by Will Castro and featured on SPEED's "Unique Whips," is bringing seven of the most radical rides to ever roll out of its Holbrook, N.Y., facility. Among the customized beauties on display from Unique Autosports will be NBA star LeBron James' Hummer H2; NASCAR champion Tony Stewart's "Smokedeville" hearse and bright orange Lamborghini; Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones' 1968 Buick Electra and Cadillac Escalade; and a pair of Nissan SUVs owned by fashion designer Marc Ecko. For more info, visit the Lowe's Motor Speedway web site.(4-10-2007)
UPDATE: The Jet Limo constructed from a Boeing 727 airplane scheduled to appear during the April 12-15 Food Lion AutoFair at Lowe's Motor Speedway was not able to exit Mexico and will not be on hand for the four-day automotive extravaganza.(LMS PR)(4-10-2007)
"Buy and Drive" Puts Fans in Driver's Seat at Lowe's Motor Speedway: Race fans will have the opportunity to put themselves in the driver's seat Wednesday night, March 21, at Lowe's Motor Speedway during a special "Buy and Drive" event. Fans that purchase four or more tickets to any May NASCAR race event at LMS will be allowed to drive their personal vehicles three laps around the 1.5-mile superspeedway. Tickets start at just $29 for the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge and $39 for the May 27 Coca-Cola 600. The speedway ticket office will be open Wednesday from 9am to 9pm. Fans will receive a voucher at the time of their qualifying ticket purchase and must redeem it from 5 to 9pm on Wednesday evening. Drivers must have a valid driver's license and the vehicle must have valid registration, tag and proof of insurance. As a special bonus, the first 125 ticket buyers Wednesday get a pair of tickets to "Dale-The Movie" coming to the Charlotte area this May. For more information, contact the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket services department at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(3-18-2007)
Lowe's Motor Speedway Ticket Office Open Extended Hours: With the NASCAR racing season shifting into high gear, Lowe's Motor Speedway has made it more convenient for race fans to purchase tickets for the track's schedule of May events, including the May 19 NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600. Ticket agents are now on hand to assist race fans from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Fans can purchase tickets during these hours by calling 1-800-455-FANS or in person on the second floor of Lowe's Motor Speedway's Smith Tower. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. Lowe's Motor Speedway offers a variety of camping options at affordable prices for the Nextel All-Star Challenge and Coca-Cola 600 race weeks. Dry camping sites in the Rock City, Tim Flock, Peninsula, Country Crock and Morehead Farms campgrounds start at $100 per space per NASCAR race week. Camping sites can be reserved by contacting the Lowe's Motor Speedway camping office at (704) 455-4445.(LMS PR)(2-24-2007)
All Remaining Bank of America 500 Tickets Go on Sale Monday, Feb. 5: With renewals completed, all remaining tickets for the Oct. 13 Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway go on sale Monday, Feb. 5. Priced from $19 to $135, a wide selection of grandstand seating options are available, including a limited number of premium frontstretch seats. The lower portions of the Chrysler, General Motors and Ford grandstands will be renovated prior to the Bank of America 500 and the new chairback seats in those sections will also be on sale. The Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office will be open extended hours Monday operating from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. In addition to the Bank of America 500, tickets will also be available for the Oct. 12 Dollar General 300 Busch Series race; Bojangles' Pole Night qualifying on Thursday, Oct. 11; and the Southern Showdown, a 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model race, on Wednesday night, Oct. 10, at The Dirt Track. Tickets for all 2007 events at Lowe's Motor Speedway, including the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600, are now available and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(2-4-2007)
$4 Million Frontstretch Grandstand Renovation at LMS: A $4 million renovation of the frontstretch grandstand that includes replacing the current concrete and aluminum bleachers with spacious stadium-style seats is among several capital improvement projects planned this year at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The design and procurement phase of the grandstand renovation is underway and construction will begin following the May 27 Coca-Cola 600. It is scheduled for completion prior to the Oct. 13 Bank of America 500. The $4 million frontstretch grandstand project involves renovating the lower portions of the Ford, General Motors and Chrysler sections, all of which were part of the original grandstand when the track opened in 1960. The renovation is the first phase of a multi-year plan to rebuild the track's frontstretch. This phase includes the construction of a steel and aluminum grandstand which will be placed over the old concrete structure. The new section will include approximately 18,000 stadium-style seats, more walkways, added depth between rows and additional handicap-accessible seating. Other capital projects underway as Lowe's Motor Speedway prepares for its 48th season of NASCAR racing include the construction of a new infield care center and the addition of a modern office/warehouse. The track's souvenir shop is also being renovated and an expansion of the administrative offices on the seventh floor of Smith Tower is nearing completion. All of these projects are slated to be finished before the track's May events, which start with the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge. The new 3,200-square-foot Carolinas HealthCare Infield Care Center will be located inside Turn 4 and is designed to meet the medical needs of both fans and competitors. A new medical heliport adjacent to the care center is also part of the plan. Tickets for all 2007 events at Lowe's Motor Speedway, including the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600, are now available and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(2-2-2007)
LMS = Beast of the Southeast: Long recognized as one of the meanest race tracks on the NASCAR schedule, Lowe's Motor Speedway has emerged a true beast. And capitalizing on that tough reputation, speedway officials have launched a marketing campaign that brands the 1.5-mile quad-oval as "The Beast of the Southeast." Speedway officials will use The Beast of the Southeast logo and theme in print and electronic advertising; as part of multiple direct-mail campaigns; and on the track's web site. An extensive line of The Beast of the Southeast souvenirs is also being developed. Tickets for all 2007 events at Lowe's Motor Speedway, including the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600, are now available and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(2-1-2007)
LMS Employee of the Year Award announced: Angie Crisco has been named Lowe's Motor Speedway's 2006 Employee of the Year. Presented annually, the award recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond the call of duty in executing his or her responsibilities. The winner is determined by a vote of the speedway's executive committee and is selected from among 12 Employee of the Month award recipients. A native of Charlotte who now lives in Albemarle, N.C., Crisco is a ticket sales associate and renewal supervisor in the track's ticket services department. She joined the speedway staff in 1998 after working in various race-time capacities for seven years.(LMS PR)(1-5-2007)
Speedway Motorsports distributes to Speedway Children's Charities:
Lowe's Motor Speedway: More than 50,000 children in the Charlotte region will benefit from the more than $589,000 distributed by Speedway Children's Charities Thursday night during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Children's Charities and chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., was joined by H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway; Scott Smith, president of the Lowe's Motor Speedway chapter of Speedway Children's Charities; and Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Tom Sadler, executive director of Speedway Children's Charities, in awarding the grants to 66 local organizations. Speedway Children's Charities raised the money through individual and corporate donations along with various activities throughout the year, including the world premiere of the Disney-Pixar movie "CARS." The local organizations use the money in meeting the emotional, medical or educational needs of children. In addition to the grant distribution, the gala holiday ceremony included the lighting of Lowe's Motor Speedway's unique 50-foot Christmas Tree; Christmas songs performed by rising country music artist Ansel Brown; and a visit by Santa Claus.(LMS 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)
New Season Pass Offer at LMS: For the first time, Lowe's Motor Speedway is offering a Season Pass featuring a frontstretch grandstand seat for each of the eight events during the track's three NASCAR weekends. The Season Pass, which includes tickets for the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge, May 27 Coca-Cola 600 and Oct. 13 Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series races, is available at a variety of prices ranging from $253 to $524 depending on seat location. Lowe's Motor Speedway's 2007 Season Pass includes a frontstretch grandstand seat for eight events. In addition, each 2007 Season Pass account holder will be issued a special first-in/first-out parking permit which will allow them to park in a designated speedway lot during each of the Nextel Cup Series events. Season Pass holders will also be eligible to purchase pre-race pit passes for the discounted price of $80 each. The 2007 Season Pass can be purchased only by contacting the Lowe's Motor Speedway group sales department at (704) 455-3294.(LMS PR)(12-4-2006)
Matt Long Earns Lowe's Motor Speedway's 2006 Honors: Matt Long has been named Lowe's Motor Speedway's 2006 Salesperson of the Year. This is the second consecutive year Long, a native of Cambridge, Ohio, who now lives in Concord, N.C., has earned the prestigious honor. He joined the Lowe's Motor Speedway corporate sales staff in 2003 after interning with the department in 2002(LMS PR)(12-1-2006)
Lowe's Motor Speedway Christmas Tree Lighting: What: Speedway Motorsports Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith will light a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree at the main entrance to Lowe's Motor Speedway [in Concord, NC] and distribute in excess of $589,000 to 66 local organizations on behalf of Speedway Children's Charities. The money will assist nonprofit charities making a direct and significant impact in the lives of children in need. The public is invited to attend the ceremony that will include lighting a 50-foot Christmas tree; holiday music; hot chocolate and apple cider; an appearance by Lug Nut, the world's fastest mascot; and Santa arriving in a stock car. When: Thursday, Dec. 7. Festivities begin at 6:15pm/et with the formal program starting at 6:30pm/et.
Where: Avenue of Flags in front of Smith Tower at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The track is located at the intersection of Speedway Blvd and Highway 29.(LMS PR)(11-29-2006)
Friday's Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out Offers Fans the Chance to Drive around Lowe's Motor Speedway: Over 1,500 race fans are expected to follow in the tire tracks of NASCAR stars Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon as they drive their personal vehicles around Lowe's Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 24, during the 14th annual Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out. Those spending at least $50 on merchandise or 2007 race tickets, or donating $25 to Speedway Children's Charities, can enjoy this once-a-year opportunity. Fans who wish to drive around the track may pick up a ride card beginning at 8 a.m. when the Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out opens. For every $10 spent at the ticket office, gift shop or souvenir haulers, a sticker is placed on the ride card. Once five stickers have been affixed, the card can be redeemed for a ride voucher at the Lowe's Motor Speedway gift shop. The Lowe's Motor Speedway gift shop will offer a full line of NASCAR memorabilia and apparel at reduced prices with many items selling for just $1. A wide variety of hats and T-shirts will also be available, starting at just $3. Tickets for the May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 are the perfect gift for those with NASCAR fans on their holiday shopping list and the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office will be open throughout the event. Gift certificates redeemable for any 2007 race ticket purchase are also on sale. As a special one-day offer, each ticket purchased for the Nextel All-Star Challenge or the Coca-Cola 600 will be accompanied by a free ticket ($12 value) for CTC Pole Night qualifying on Thursday, May 24. For information on the Nov. 24 Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out, contact the Lowe's Motor Speedway gift shop at (704) 455-3202 or the marketing and public relations department at (704) 455-3209.(LMS PR)(11-21-2006)
Soap Box Derby Racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway: Children can have their own racing experiences at Lowe's Motor Speedway with the Levi Strauss Signature Fit Pit during the NASCAR race weekend - October 12-14. Boys and girls, ages 7 to 14, have the opportunity to race Soap Box Derby cars on a racetrack outside of the Fit Pit. As the title sponsor of the All-American Soap Box Derby, the Levi Strauss Signature brand has incorporated the ultimate family activity into its nationwide Fit Pit tour. The All-American Soap Box Derby is a youth initiative of NASCAR. The Fit Pit also features technology for families to find their perfect jeans fit. In 14-seconds, Intellifit's award-winning body scanner sizes a fully-clothed person and then produces a personalized recommendation for the perfect pair of Levi Strauss Signature jeans. NASCAR fans can finish their shopping at the provided online kiosks by visiting Target.com and Walmart.com. The Levi Strauss Signature Fit Pit is located in the Fan Zone.(Alan Taylor PR)(10-13-2006)
CATS "LMS Race Express" Added as Race Day Option at LMS: To accommodate race day crowds approaching the population of a major North Carolina city, one of the nation's most extensive traffic management plans has been developed for the Oct. 11-14 Bank of America 500 Week activities at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With four major race events on tap for the week, local, state and speedway officials are preparing for approximately 300,000 fans, driving more than 110,000 vehicles over the four-day period. The traffic plan includes more than 500 people working to move vehicles safely to and from the speedway in a timely fashion for the Bank of America 500 on Saturday night, Oct. 14. The workforce includes more than 180 uniformed officers from the North Carolina Highway Patrol, 50 traffic specialists from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, 10 officers from the Concord Police Department and more than 200 employees from Lowe's Motor Speedway.
As a new part of the traffic plan, the Charlotte Area Transit System [CATS] will operate express buses to provide round-trip transportation to the Bank of America 500 on Saturday, Oct. 14. The express service will utilize 20 buses and originate from the CATS Park and Ride location at Carolina Place Mall, located south of Charlotte in Pineville, N.C. Tickets for the LMS Race Express are $20 per person and are available in advance by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. Tickets will also be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis at the Park and Ride lot on race day.
The LMS Race Express will utilize a priority route to enter and exit the speedway. Express buses will leave Carolina Place Mall starting at noon on race day and take Interstate 485 and Highway 49 to the speedway. The final departure to the track is scheduled for 4 p.m. The return trips will begin approximately one hour following the conclusion of the race. Buses will exit on Highway 29 to I-485. Both drop-off and pick-up locations will be near Lowe's Motor Speedway's main entrance.
Speedway officials are also distributing detailed maps and suggested routes in and out of the speedway to ticket holders via direct mail prior to their arrival. Recommended routes direct fans to parking areas closest to their respective seating areas. This information is also posted at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. In addition to personnel, the traffic management plan utilizes more than 20 NCDOT traffic cameras, more than a dozen electronic informational signs along routes to the speedway, 2,500 traffic cones, 50 portable light towers at major intersections and more than 1,200 acres of parking. Tickets are still available to all Bank of America 500 Week events by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(10-13-2006)
Bruton Smith Assigns Extra Security to Assist Brian Vickers during Bank of America 500 Week: In the aftermath of the controversial finish Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway Chairman Bruton Smith has assigned extra security for driver Brian Vickers during this week's Bank of America 500 activities at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Monday, the speedway ticket office was inundated with calls from race fans angry about the finish in which Vickers initiated a wreck that took out race leader Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and second-place Jimmie Johnson on the final lap. "We want to make sure Brian has an uninterrupted weekend here and that he is able focus on his driving duties," Smith said. "We will offer security escorts in and out of the speedway and anywhere he feels he needs our assistance. We've done this in the past as well, I think the last time was for Rusty (Wallace) when he knocked Darrell (Waltrip) out of the way to win the all-star race back in 1989. We added security at his house and track the week of the Coca-Cola 600." Tickets are still available for all events and can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(10-10-2006)
"American Idol" Star Kellie Pickler to Sing National Anthem at LMS: "American Idol" finalist and country music recording sensation Kellie Pickler will return to her home state Saturday night, Oct. 14, to perform the national anthem prior to the Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Pickler, who grew up approximately 20 miles from the speedway in Albemarle, N.C., recently hit the airwaves with her debut single, "Red High Heels." Her first CD, "Hometown Girl," will be released on Oct. 31 by 19 Recordings/BNA Records. Pre-race ceremonies for the Bank of America 500, the only night race in the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup, begin at 5:40pm on Saturday, Oct. 14, and the 500-mile battle is scheduled to start at 7:20 p.m. Tickets for Bojangles' Pole Night on Thursday, Oct. 12; the Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday night, Oct. 13; and the Bank of America 500 are still available and can be purchased at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(10-9-2006)
Super Bowl Veteran Marc Koretzky Helping LMS Improve Traffic Flow: Marc Koretzky, a logistics and transportation expert who has helped organize five Super Bowls, is working with Lowe's Motor Speedway to ensure fans enjoy their experience during the track's Oct. 11-14 Bank of America 500 Week races. Koretzky, a 30-year-old native of New Orleans, has been assisting track officials since early August as they develop and implement new procedures to improve traffic flow during the speedway's major events. "As NASCAR keeps growing, if you're inside the circle, you only see it from an inside perspective," Koretzky explained. "What I am able to do is bring a different perspective and ideas on how we can look at doing it other ways." Koretzky has been working closely with Doug Cremer, the speedway's director of guest services and logistics, and his staff. They have developed a strategic plan that includes reorganizing the track's parking lots along with revising traffic patterns in and around the speedway. They have also been working with Charlotte Area Transit System officials to develop a shuttle bus system. Implementing a regional shuttle bus system that will transport fans to and from the speedway's NASCAR events is another major element of the new logistics plan. The preliminary plan for the Bank of America 500 calls for shuttle buses to operate from Carolina Place Mall in Pineville, N.C. Koretzky estimates 800 fans will utilize the service, but he envisions it expanding to other areas for future races. Tickets for all October races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, including the Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series event, are still available and can purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(10-7-2006)
Susquehanna Speedway Park's Fisher to Receive LMS Promoter of the Year Award: Todd Fisher, promoter of Susquehanna Speedway Park in Newberrytown, Pa., will be honored as the Lowe's Motor Speedway Promoter of the Year during pre-race festivities for the Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race Friday night, Oct. 13, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. In a region saturated with dirt-track racing, Fisher has devised a formula that attracts both fans and competitors for two nights of action-packed racing each week at the four-tenths-mile dirt track. Running from mid-April through early November, Fisher and his staff at Susquehanna Speedway Park host nearly 50 events with divisions ranging from winged sprint cars to school buses. Former recipients of the Lowe's Motor Speedway Promoter of the Year Award include Earl Baltes, Ralph Capitani, Ned Jarrett, Bill Donoho, Dick and Bob Bahre, Charles PoweII, Mickey Swims, Frank Plessinger and Tom Curley. Tickets for the Dollar General 300 on Friday night, Oct. 13, start at just $17 and can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(10-7-2006)
Racing Legends to be honored at LMS Pre-Race Ceremony: Bank of America and Lowe's Motor Speedway (LMS) announced their plans to honor past champions from this marquee event on the NASCAR schedule prior to the Bank of America 500 on Saturday, October 14. The special, pre-race ceremony will showcase many of the greatest moments at LMS, and will celebrate the thrilling achievements of both former and current drivers, including Junior Johnson, Fred Lorenzen, Buddy Baker, Charlie Glotzbach, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Richard Petty, Benny Parsons, Darrell Waltrip, Harry Gant, Rusty Wallace, Geoffrey Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon. The 20-minute pre-race celebration at the Bank of America 500 includes a video tribute to Lowe's Motor Speedway and its winning drivers, and an honorary lap around the track on a customized float. In addition, lucky race fans and Columbus, NC residents, Mickey Jackson, and his five-year-old son, Kalob, will serve as Honorary Grand Marshals and give the command to start engines alongside the celebrated legends, after winning the Bank of America 500 Honorary Grand Marshal contest.(see full list of names and profiles at the LMS site)(9-30-2006)
$6.3 Million in Posted Awards at LMS, Tix Still Available: NASCAR drivers competing in the Oct. 14 Bank of America 500 and the Oct. 13 Dollar General 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway will be battling for a record $6,322,231 in posted prize money. The record awards for the Nextel Cup and Busch Series events are part of a $6,397,781 purse announced today for the four nights of racing that comprise the Oct. 11-14 Bank of America 500 Week schedule of events. The record NASCAR purse of $6,322,231 represents an increase of $188,425 over the prize money posted for the same two races just one year ago and is $1.5 million greater than was paid for the October events just five years ago. The Bank of America 500 on Saturday night, Oct. 14, will be worth $5,078,500, an increase of $118,116 over last October's NEXTEL Cup event. It's also the first time posted awards for the 500-mile fall classic have topped $5 million. Tickets for all Bank of America 500 Week events are available by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(9-28-2006)
2007 Coca-Cola 600 Tickets Go on Sale Monday: Tickets for all 2007 May NASCAR events at Lowe's Motor Speedway, including the 48th running of the Coca-Cola 600, go on sale Monday, Sept. 18, at 8:00am/et. Fans are encouraged to buy early in order to secure the best seats for the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR's only 600-mile event, set to take place on Sunday, May 27. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 start at just $39. Fans can also purchase tickets to the Nextel All-Star Challenge, NASCAR's annual all-star event, scheduled for Saturday night, May 19. With a minimum of $1 million earmarked for the winner, the Challenge is the richest race per mile in motorsports and, with tickets starting at just $21; it's a bargain for the fans. In addition to the two Nextel Cup races, the month of May will include the Quaker Steak & Lube 200 Craftsman Truck Series race on May 18, CTC Pole Night qualifying on May 24 and the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Busch Series race on May 26. Tickets for all 2007 May events can be obtained by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket services department toll-free at 1-800-455-FANS, online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or through Ticketmaster outlets.(LMS PR)(9-17-2006)
Lucky Race Fan Earns Spot as Honorary Grand Marshal at LMS in Oct: Racing fan and Columbus, NC resident Mickey Jackson, and five-year-old son, Kalob, earned the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver the ‘gentlemen, start your engines’ command live at this year’s Bank of America 500. Bank of America today announced Mickey as the winner of the Bank of America 500 Honorary Grand Marshal contest, a consumer promotion supporting the company’s title sponsorship of the October 14 race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. For winning the contest, Mickey earns the title of “Honorary Grand Marshal” of the Bank of America 500 and the opportunity to deliver the race-start command, a VIP experience on race day for him and a guest, including pit passes, seats in Bank of America’s newly created, exclusive fan section in the fourth turn terrace at Lowe’s that provides access to a private food court, food and beverage vouchers – and a gift pack of Bank of America 500 racing merchandise. The contest challenged 25 final participants to audition their best race-start command by impressing a panel of celebrity judges with their delivery, creativity and enthusiasm. The panel of judges included legendary driver Buddy Baker, Lowe’s Motor Speedway President and General Manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, PRN Talent Kent Bernhardt and Bank of America Racing Platform Executive Jill Gregory. The Bank of America 500 Honorary Grand Marshal contest is just one part of a larger integrated marketing program that the company has deployed to support its title sponsorship of the October 14 race. Other program components include: A Celebration of Champions; and Exclusive Fan Hospitality; Consumer Programs.(LMS PR/Site)(9-15-2006)
Fans to Audition to be the Honorary Grand Marshal at Oct Cup race at LMS: Two dozen lucky race fans will audition their best "start your engines" command before a panel of celebrity judges on Thursday, September 14, 2006 from 12:00 to 1:00pm/et for the chance to become the "Honorary Grand Marshal" of the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 14. As the Official Bank of Lowe's Motor Speedway, Bank of America created the "Honorary Grand Marshal" contest to celebrate the inaugural Bank of America 500 with race fans throughout the region. Kara Edwards of WSOC-FM will serve as contest emcee and Lowe's Motor Speedway President H.A "Humpy" Wheeler, NASCAR Legend Buddy Baker, PRN Anchor Kent Bernhardt and Bank of America Racing Platform Executive Jill Gregory will judge contestants' auditions on their delivery, creativity and overall passion for the sport. On race day, the "Honorary Grand Marshal" will announce the start of the race on national television, in front of 160,000 race fans and alongside some of NASCAR's biggest legends whose achievements at Lowe's Motor Speedway will be celebrated prior to the race.(LMS PR)(9-13-2006)
“NASCAR RaceDay” Personalities Race School Buses at LMS UPDATE Wendy Wins: A School Bus battle of epic proportions will be waged Tuesday night during the final round of the 13th annual Summer Shootout Series on the frontstretch quarter-mile oval at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Members of SPEED Channel’s “NASCAR RaceDay” crew, including Jimmy Spencer, John Roberts, Wendy Venturini and Rutledge Wood, are among those scheduled to wheel the behemoth creations in a winner-take-all slobberknocker that is sure to leave metal mangled and hearts broken. Prior to banging bumpers on the race track, the “NASCAR RaceDay” personalities will sign autographs on the grandstand concourse beginning at 6:15pm/et. A full slate of Legends Car, Bandolero and Thunder Roadster racing is also on tap and championships will be decided in each of the seven divisions. More info at lowesmotorspeedway.com.(PR)(8-8-2006)
UPDATE: In the School Bus slobberknocker, Wendy Venturini of SPEED Channel's "NASCAR RaceDay" program piloted a purple bus, complete with pink flames, to victory thanks to a bump-and-run move that would be the envy of any Nextel Cup driver. With water spraying from her damaged radiator, Venturini rammed leader Kenny West's Stock Car Steel and Aluminum bus in Turn 4 of the final lap. The collision knocked West's bus sideways, and Venturini took advantage. She drove to the outside, bounced off the wall and beat West to the checkered flag. Other competitors in the wild-and-crazy School Bus battle were "NASCAR RaceDay" personalities John Roberts, Jimmy Spencer and Rutledge Wood along with Lug Nut, the world's fastest mascot.(LMS PR), Highlights from the school bus race can be seen on NASCAR Raceday this Sunday between 11:00am - 1:00pm/et.(8-9-2006)
Judge Rules in favor of LMS in bridge collapse: Four NASCAR fans injured in the post-race collapse of a pedestrian bridge in 2000 cannot seek damages from Lowe's Motor Speedway, the state's Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. The three-judge panel unanimously determined that the lawsuits, filed in 2004, came too long after the bridge was constructed in September 1995. State law protects manufacturers from negligence lawsuits after six years under the premise that a product, such as a walking bridge, will eventually deteriorate and fail over time. More than 100 people were injured, some seriously, on May 20, 2000, when an 80-foot section of the walkway fell 25 feet onto a highway in Concord. Fans were crossing to a nearby parking lot after a NASCAR all-star race. Investigators have said the bridge builder, Tindall Corp., used an improper additive to help the concrete filler at the bridge's center dry faster. The additive contained calcium chloride, which corroded the structure's steel cables and led to the collapse. Most of the rest of the nearly 50 lawsuits filed against the speedway have been settled out of court and it is expected the few remaining lawsuits to conclude by the end of the year. The lead lawyer representing the fans who took their cases to the appellate court said they will consider appealing to the state Supreme Court to win the right to jury trials.(ESPN.com/AP)(7-6-2006)
October SUPER Ticket Offers Four Major Races for Only $99 at LMS A limited number of Lowe's Motor Speedway's extremely popular SUPER Tickets are now available for Bank of America 500 Week Oct. 11-14, offering four nights of major-league auto racing for just $99. The SUPER Ticket allows race fans to attend the Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Series event on Saturday night, Oct. 14; the Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday night, Oct. 13; Bojangles' Pole Night on Thursday night, Oct. 12; and the Jani-King Southern Showdown late model event at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway on Wednesday night, Oct. 11. Priced at just $99, the SUPER Ticket represents a $48 savings if the same seats for the four races were purchased separately. The $99 SUPER Ticket will be available while supplies last and can only be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(6-21-2006)
Bruton Smith Honored as Entrepreneur of the Year in the Carolinas: Bruton Smith, founder and chairman of Speedway Motorsports and Sonic Automotive, was honored Thursday night as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in the Carolinas during a black-tie gala at The Westin hotel in Charlotte. Smith was selected from among 24 finalists by an independent judging panel comprised of area business, academic and civic leaders. Smith is now eligible for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2006 national awards program. Winners in several national categories, as well as the overall winner, will be announced Nov. 18 in Palm Springs, CA. Celebrating its 20th year, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards program recognizes the leaders and visionaries who are creating and building world-class businesses. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.(LMS PR)(6-17-2006)
Air Force Airman to be honored at Coke 600: Air Force Senior Airman Dan Acosta, will be attending the Coca-Cola 600 NEXTEL Cup race on 28 May at Lowe's Motor Speedway. SRA Acosta was wounded in Western Baghdad on Dec. 7, 2005. He was part of an EOD team assigned to locate and disarm an explosive device, which his team did, and they located a second device, but missed the third, which was tripped and as a result of the explosion lost his left arm and severely injured both of his legs. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation and wants to eventually return to his EOD unit. SRA Acosta will be the Air Force recipient of the Stonewall Jackson Award for Patriotism that will be given out during the Coca-Cola 600 pre-race activities. Also attending the race will be Lt. Gen Dennis Larsen. Lt Gen Larsen is the Vice Commander, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. AETC recruits, trains and educates more than 370,000 men and women for the Air and Space force and the nation. In addition, the #21 Wood Brothers Ford Fusion, which the Air Force is an Associate Sponsor, will be running a special Air Force primary paint scheme.(Air Force PR)(5-25-2006)
Carrie Underwood to sing National Anthem and perform at Coke 600: Carrie Underwood, whose hit single "Jesus, Take the Wheel" spent six consecutive weeks at #1 on the Hot Country Songs Chart, will headline the pre-race show at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Carrie Underwood's pre-race performance is included with admission to the Coca-Cola 600. Affordable tickets for the event are still available online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(5-22-2006)
NASCAR sticking with smaller fuel cells for Coke 600: While the cars in the Nextel All-Star Challenge had the smaller fuel cells in them Saturday night, the true test of the change will come in the May 28 running of the Coca-Cola 600. Although drivers have lobbied against the 13-14 gallon fuel cell being used instead of the 22-gallon one, NASCAR will go with the smaller fuel cell. The sanctioning body made that decision before testing earlier this month so that drivers could get the weight in their cars adjusted during their test sessions. "That deal is going to happen," Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said after the all-star race. "Even now that we've raced it, we had short runs and everything. We still don't have enough true live race data to pull it off."(SceneDaily.com)(5-22-2006)
USO's Powell Jr. Grand Marshal, WV Governor Manchin Honorary Starter for Coke 600: Edward Powell Jr., president and chief executive officer of United Service Organizations (USO), has been named grand marshal for the May 28 Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Coca-Cola officials also announced that West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III will serve as the honorary starter and will wave the green flag to send the 43 drivers on their 600-mile journey. In his role as grand marshal, Powell will preside over pre-race ceremonies and give the command, "gentlemen, start your engines." Powell has led the USO since January 2002, carrying out the mission of the international, non-profit organization to enhance the quality of life of U.S. armed forces and their families worldwide. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday evening, May 28, start at $49 and can be obtained online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by contacting the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(5-19-2006)
NC Historic Marker to commemorating 1st race: North Carolina Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue and other dignitaries will be part of a very special ceremony to dedicate a new State of North Carolina Historic Marker commemorating the first NASCAR Strictly Stock race, forerunner of the Nextel Cup Series on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 10:00am/et at the site of the old Charlotte Speedway on Little Rock Road, between I-85 and Wilkinson Blvd. off Exit 32 on I-85
Directions: From I-85 south, take the Little Rock Rd. exit (exit 32). Turn left off the exit and pass the Courtyard by Marriott hotel on the right. The ceremony site will be on the right just past the Courtyard.
From I-85 north, take the Little Rock Rd. exit (exit 32). Turn right off the exit and pass the Courtyard by Marriott hotel on the right. The ceremony site will be on the right just past the Courtyard.(PR)(5-16-2006)
Humpy Picks Edwards to win All-Star Race: H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, thinks #99-Carl Edwards, just four years removed from those rough-and-tumble short-track wars, will collect the $1 million prize Saturday night for winning the 22nd running of NASCAR's NEXTEL All-Star Challenge annual all-star spectacular. Wheeler named Edwards as his selection Monday during his annual pick-the-winner press conference in downtown Charlotte. Known for his promotional flair and Karnac-type ability, Wheeler has correctly picked the winner of the Nextel All-Star Challenge 10 times in the past 17 races. Its three-segment format-40 laps, 30 laps and 20 laps-and the $1 million first-place prize combine to make the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge NASCAR's most unique race. Staying with his short-track theme, Wheeler selected former USAC open-wheel star #9-Kasey Kahne as his dark horse pick. Even though he finished second to Mark Martin in last year's Nextel All-Star Challenge, #38-Elliott Sadler has not visited victory lane since 2004 and thus is not qualified for this year's all-star race. Wheeler says the Emporia, Va., native will remedy that by winning the NEXTEL Open. Veteran #21-Ken Schrader is Wheeler's dark horse selection for the Open. On-track activities for the Nextel All-Star Challenge kick off Friday night with qualifying for the Nextel All-Star Challenge and the NEXTEL Open. In addition to qualifying, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will compete in the Quaker Steak & Lube 200. Tickets start at $20. Tickets start at $21 and may be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-16-2006)
Record $14.2 Million Purse for May Races at LMS: Nextel Cup Series drivers will battle for a record $6.4 million during the May 28 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway while total posted awards for the track's schedule of May events is more than $14.2 million. Six races will be run at Lowe's Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway between Friday night, May 19, and Sunday evening, May 28, and each carries a record purse with a total of $14,227,498 up for grabs. Already one of the richest races on the NASCAR circuit, the $6,432,681 in total awards for the Coca-Cola 600 is $153,032 more than was posted for last year's event and $2,095,632 more than competitors raced for in the 600-mile event just five years ago.
Competitors participating in the Nextel All-Star Challenge and the Nextel Open on Saturday night, May 20, will be competing for a record $4,200,450 with the Challenge winner guaranteed a minimum of $1,005,000. In addition to the posted prize money, $1,780,853 in television awards for the Nextel All-Star Challenge will be distributed through the Nextel Cup Series Car/Champion Owner Program.
NASCAR Busch Series drivers will compete for a record $1,227,316 during the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night, May 27, and the Quaker Steak & Lube 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event on Friday night, May 19, adds $524,098 to the total prize money. The World of Outlaws Sprint Series returns to The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway on Wednesday night, May 24, for the Eckerd Outlaw Showdown. The nomadic sprint car series' first appearance at the four-tenths-mile oval since 2003 will pay competitors $62,100.
Tickets for all May events, including the May 20 Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 28 Coca-Cola 600, are still available and can be obtained by calling (800) 455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-11-2006)
Star-studded guests to perform duties in pre-race events for All-Star Challenge: Sprint Nextel announced that rock groups Train and Red Hot Chili Peppers and perennial all-pro receiver Steve Smith will participate in pre-race festivities for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 20. Pat Monahan, lead singer of the Grammy Award-winning rock band Train, will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the Nextel All-Star Challenge. Warner Bros. Records artists Red Hot Chili Peppers will join the pre-race activities serving as Grand Marshals, which calls for them to give the famous command, "Gentleman, start your engines." In addition, the band will perform a live set, billed as the Red Hot Pit Stop, between the first and second segments of the 90-lap race. STAR Motorsports' Steve Smith, a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, will serve as Honorary Starter by waving the green flag to start the Nextel All-Star Challenge. Smith, a six-year NFL veteran, was an integral part of the Panther's playoff run in 2003 that resulted in a trip to Super Bowl XXXVIII. Tickets for the May 20 running of the Nextel All-Star Challenge are available by calling the speedway ticket office at (800) 455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. (LMS PR), more on my All-Star Race page.(5-10-2006)
All-Star Challenge Concerts: The Grammy Award-winning rock group Train will roll into Lowe's Motor Speedway for a high-octane performance presented by Miller Lite prior to the Nextel All-Star Challenge on Saturday, May 20. Train will perform a one-hour concert on the Miller Lite Rock 'n' Racing stage located between Turns 1 and 2 in the Lowe's Motor Speedway infield. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. and local band, Charity Case, will take the stage at 1:45 p.m. A second warm-up act will follow with Train's performance scheduled to begin at 3:30. Concert admission is free with the purchase of a ticket for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, NASCAR racing's annual all-star event.
AND A live performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers will highlight new activities in the Nextel All-Star Challenge in 2006. The Warner Bros.Records artists will play a set between segments of the all-star event. Their performance comes on the heels of the legendary band's long-awaited double-album release Stadium Arcadium which hits stores May 9. The album features the new hit single "Dani California." The "Red Hot Pit Stop" will take place during the intermission between the first and second segments of the 90-lap event. Additionally, the event will be broadcast for fans in the stands on NEXTEL Vision screens and on the new NASCAR NEXTEL FanView. The device, available trackside during the Nextel All-Star Challenge, is a next-generation race scanner that integrates the audio of today's race-day scanners with live video, race statistics and audio replay, providing at-track race fans with unprecedented access to race and entertainment action. Tickets for the Nextel All-Star Challenge are available at Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at www.LowesMotorSpeedway.com or by calling (800) 455-FANS.(LMS PR)(4-13-2006)
Humpy Retiring? Humpy Wheeler, president of Lowe's Motor Speedway and a legend among track promoters, is 66 and may be considering retirement. That has led to speculation that TMS president Eddie Gossage may replace him in Charlotte. "Not going to happen," Gossage said. "First, I think Humpy will still be doing this after I quit, and I'm 47. I think he will get rolled out in a wheelchair with a blanket over his lap and still be running the show there. But I'm staying put no matter what happens. I birthed this baby [TMS]. I'm not leaving." Gossage worked under Wheeler before coming to TMS.(Dallas Morning News)(4-9-2006)
Food Lion AutoFair at LMS: The Food Lion AutoFair runs Thursday, April 6 through Sunday, April 9 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The Food Lion Pavilion features several unusual vehicles with land, sea, and air capabilities, including The Flying Red Baron from "Monster Garage," Steve Green's Tornado Attacker and an amphicar. Other attractions include unique cars from the Lane Motor Museum, the "Globe of Death" motorcycle stunt show, a tribute to the Turbocharger, collector car auction conducted by Tom Mack Classics on Friday and Saturday and a concert by The Marshall Tucker Band on Sunday.
Garry Hill Automotive Fine Art, Inc. will be exhibiting at the Food Lion Auto Fair at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the Busch Garage April 6th-9th. The show will feature many driver autographed art prints documenting the greatest races and greatest driver moments with a focus on the history of stock car racing. For a complete overview of the Food Lion AutoFair click here.(4-7-2006)
Goodyear to test again at Charlotte: Goodyear officials confirmed Thursday that it will conduct another tire test at Lowe's Motor Speedway next Tuesday, a week after a two-day test on the newly resurfaced 1.5-mile oval. Rick Heinrich, project manager for Goodyear, said Wednesday that the tires showed a little more wear than Goodyear would have liked, but that could be expected as Goodyear attempts to create a compound that will work on the track. Lowe's Motor Speedway underwent a $3.5 million repaving job after tire problems plagued races there last season. Track president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler said it is too early to predict whether tire wear will be an issue during the May races. All of the Nextel Cup teams are scheduled to test May 1-3 and then Busch Series teams will test May 8-10. "It's going to be a challenge, and I'm not sure that we really are going to now exactly what we've got as far as the track is concerned until we have all of the cars come in here in early May," Wheeler said. "We have no idea right now about a second groove because everybody is staying down low."(SceneDaily.com)(3-31-2006)
CARS to premiere at LMS in May: Disney.Pixar's exciting new computer-animated feature "CARS" will stage its World Premiere on Friday, May 26th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC in one of the most unique and elaborate movie events of all-time, it was announced today by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip, and others from the voice cast of the film will be joined by a host of stars from the racing world and 30,000 guests that are expected to attend the "CARS" World Premiere, taking place at the same location as that weekend's famous Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race. The screening of the film represents the first multi-screen digital cinema premiere ever, with Texas Instruments and its DLP CinemaR technology serving as Disney's event technology partner in providing the digital cinema projectors. A series of four giant custom-built outdoor movie screens (115-feet wide and 50-feet tall) will be constructed at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Turn #2 of the track. Each screen will have three DLP Cinema 2K digital projectors dedicated to it. A state-of-the-art sound system is also being created and installed for the event. Tickets for the premiere will be made available for purchase by the general public starting today. Proceeds will benefit Speedway Children's Charities, and Association of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS, visit the Lowe's Motor Speedway box office, or order online here.
To cap off the weekend, the #96 DLP HDTV car will be wrapped as the film's lead character "Lightning McQueen" for the NEXTEL Cup series race in Charlotte the same weekend.
Lightning McQueen (voice of OWEN WILSON), a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters -including Doc Hudson (a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past, voiced by PAUL NEWMAN), Sally (a snazzy 2002 Porsche voiced by BONNIE HUNT), and Mater (a rusty but trusty tow truck voiced by LARRY THE CABLE GUY) - who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship.
The all-star vocal cast also includes free-wheeling performances by Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton, Cheech Marin, George Carlin, Katherine Helmond, and John Ratzenberger. Delivering more fun and authenticity to the cast for "CARS" are vocal performances from some of the all-time greatest names from the racing world including the legendary Richard Petty, plus "drive-on" roles by Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Darrell Waltrip (who holds the record for five-wins at the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600), and Michael Schumacher, the ace German Formula 1 racing legend, who is a seven-times world champion, and is widely considered to be the best Grand Prix racing driver of all-time.(LMS PR)(3-24-2006)
Racing Surface Repaving Complete at LMS: Contractors have finished repaving the racing surface of the 1.5-mile oval at Lowe's Motor Speedway and Jeff Black, the Speedway Motorsports, Inc., paving engineer overseeing the project, says the result is "the best of any track we've ever done." Sunmount Corp., of Roanoke, Texas, completed work on the racing surface Monday night and Goodyear is scheduled to conduct a tire test March 28-29. With paving crews now working on the aprons and pit road, workers have begun re-installing the SAFER barriers which were removed when the $3.5-million project started in early January. The repaving of the racing surface required in excess of 10,000 tons (20 million pounds) of asphalt which included a special polymer that increases the material's softening point. The new surface was applied in two layers, a two-inch "binder" went down first followed by a 1.5-inch "finish" layer. An additional 4,000 to 6,000 tons of asphalt will be used to repave the aprons and pit road. Nearly 100 NASCAR teams are expected to participate in six days of testing on the new surface during early May. NEXTEL Cup cars will be on track May 1-3 with Busch Series teams slated to test May 8-10. Tickets for each of Lowe's Motor Speedway's 2006 NASCAR events, including the Nextel All-Star Challenge on Saturday night, May 20, and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday evening, May 28, can be obtained online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(3-16-2006)
Tire Testing at Lowe's coming up: The repaving at Lowe's Motor Speedway is expected to be finished this weekend. Goodyear has scheduled a tire test there March 28 and 29. Scheduled to test are #21-Ken Schrader, #29-Kevin Harvick, #10-Scott Riggs and #43-Bobby Labonte, along with Bobby Hamilton in his Craftsman Truck.(Roanoke Times)(3-11-2006)
Lowe's Motor Speedway Resurfacing Fast Facts: The resurfacing of Lowe's Motor Speedway marks the third time the entire 1.5-mile oval has been repaved since the track opened in 1960. The first new layer of asphalt was applied in 1973 and the most recent repaving came prior to the 1994 season. In between the track's corners received fresh coats of asphalt in 1979 and 1987. Including design, surveying, safer barrier removal and re-installation, track milling, repairs to the concrete retaining walls and paving, officials estimate the resurfacing project will require 25,000 to 30,000 man hours. In excess of 10,000 tons (20 million pounds) of asphalt will be used to coat the racing surface from the white line to the outside retaining wall. That's equivalent to the weight of 5,882 Nextel Cup cars. If placed bumper to bumper, those 5,882 cars would circle the 1.5-mile track 12.5 times. The repaving of the racing surface will be done in two layers using a special polymer in the asphalt mix. The first layer will be 2 inches in depth and the final layer of asphalt will be 1.5 inches thick. .An additional 4,000 to 6,000 tons of asphalt will be used to resurface the aprons, pit road and the turns of the frontstretch quarter-mile oval. To ensure a smooth racing surface, engineers utilized three-dimensional digital surveying techniques, technology not available when the track was built in 1960 or last repaved in 1994. Sunmount Corp., of Roanoke, Texas, is the contractor repaving Lowe's Motor Speedway. Tickets for each of Lowe's Motor Speedway's 2006 NASCAR events, including the Nextel All-Star Challenge on Saturday night, May 20, and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday evening, May 28, can be obtained online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS)(3-2-2006)
All Remaining Bank of America 500 Tickets on sale: With renewals completed, all remaining tickets for the Oct. 14 Bank of America 500 NEXTEL Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 8. Priced from $19 to $131, a wide selection of grandstand seating options are available, including a limited number of premium frontstretch seats. The Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office will be open extended hours Wednesday, operating from 8am to 8pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at lowesmotorspeedway.com. Refreshments will be available in the ticket office lobby for those purchasing tickets at the track. In addition to the Bank of America 500, tickets will also be available for the Oct. 13 Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race; Bojangles Pole Night qualifying on Thursday, Oct. 12; and the Charlotte Late Model Nationals on Wednesday night, Oct. 11, at The Dirt Track. The extremely popular SUPER Ticket is also available, offering tickets for each of the four Bank of America 500 Week events for the low price of just $99.(LMS PR)(2-8-2006)
May Megaticket Offers Three Coca-Cola 600 Week Events With the introduction of Lowe's Motor Speedway's May Megaticket, race fans can now attend three NASCAR-sanctioned events, including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday evening, May 28, for the low price of $89. The May Megaticket allows race fans to attend the Coca-Cola 600 NEXTEL Cup Series event on Sunday evening, May 28, the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Busch Series race on Saturday night, May 27, and CTC Pole Night on Thursday, May 25. Priced at just $89, the May Megaticket represents a $23 savings if the same seats for the three events were purchased separately. Only a limited number of May Megatickets are available and track officials encourage fans to take advantage of this special offer as soon as possible. The $89 May Megaticket will be available while supplies last and can be purchased online at lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket services department at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(2-7-2006)
Bruton to make offer to buy NHRA: Speedway Motorsports [SMI] track owner Bruton Smith [Lowe's Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Bristol, Texas, Infineon Raceway] says SMI will make a formal presentation in the next seven to ten days to purchase the National Hot Rod Association [NHRA]. The proposal was to be made last week however due to the death of the wife of NHRA director Wally Parks the meeting was postponed. “I hope that (the presentation) will mean something”, said Smith, "but we haven’t bought it yet. I expect to buy it but when I don’t know. They approached me about selling to me…that was the first indication and of course I got interested and so I’m still interested. They do what we do but in a different way…they forget to turn left…they go straight but they sell tickets and that’s what we do. If I buy it we’ll be doing the same thing.” If SMI completes purchase of the drag racing series Smith says the headquarters would be moved from Glendora, California to Las Vegas.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(1-31-2006)
$3 Million Resurfacing Project Includes an "Attitude Adjustment" for Lowe's Motor Speedway: A $3 million resurfacing project underway at Lowe's Motor Speedway will include work in the turns of the 1.5-mile oval that officials say will give the 46-year-old track an "attitude adjustment." Work started Jan. 16 and will be completed prior to the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge on Saturday night, May 20, and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday evening, May 28. "We are going to remold the track to take some of the meaness out of it," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "This is one of the meanest tracks on the NEXTEL Cup circuit and by that I mean it can bite you when you least expect it. Meaness in a race track comes from a number of factors including: how rough the surface is; the difficulty of the entry and exit points in the turns; the ability of the drivers to look ahead; and spots where the racing groove narrows," Wheeler continued. "Although we've had a few exceptions, rookies don't normally do well here because the track is quite difficult and there's even a few seasoned veterans who have never really gotten the hang of it."
Wheeler said track officials spent several months consulting with engineers and motorsports industry insiders before deciding on a resurfacing plan they believe will promote side-by-side racing and passing without completely reinventing the track's personality. Engineers will utilize three-dimensional digital surveying techniques and computer-controlled paving machines, technology not available when the track was built in 1960 or last repaved in 1994. "Repaving a high-banked race track is one of the most difficult jobs in the asphalt industry," Wheeler said. "Using the relatively new process of three-dimensional digital surveying to define elevations that are accurate to an eighth of an inch along with computerized-paving machines will significantly improve the resurfacing process. The tracks in Texas and Atlanta benefited greatly from this technology. We are also going to use a special polymer in the asphalt mix which will better absorb heat and give the surface more traction," added Wheeler. "We believe doing all these things will result in a track that will produce the best possible racing for fans and competitors."
In excess of 10,000 tons of the special asphalt mixture will be required to cover the entire 1.5-mile speedway and pit road. The paving is scheduled to be completed by March 27, allowing time for a Goodyear tire test prior to the May 1-3 Nextel Cup Series testing session. The resurfacing project marks the third time the entire 1.5-mile oval has been repaved since the track opened in 1960. The first new layer of asphalt was applied in 1973 and the most recent repaving came prior to the 1994 season. In between, the track's corners received fresh coats of asphalt in 1979 and 1987. Sunmount Corp., of Roanoke, Texas, is the contractor that will repave Lowe's Motor Speedway. Sunmount is the industry leader in resurfacing high-banked race tracks and its resume includes six high-profile facilities including Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The company will also repave Talladega Superspeedway this summer. To obtain information or purchase tickets for any Lowe’s Motor Speedway event, visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or call the track’s ticket services office at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(1-25-2006)
Toyota, LMS agree to sponsorship deal: Beginning this season, Toyota will serve as the "Official Vehicle, Car and Truck" of Lowe's Motor Speedway as part of an exclusive, multi-year agreement that was announced today by Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) and Lowe's Motor Speedway. The sponsorship calls for the California-based automobile manufacturer and its Florida-based Southeast distributor to partner with Lowe's Motor Speedway in all major events at the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway, including Nextel Cup, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series races, as well as all events at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway. The agreement provides Toyota with the ability to use the track for annual "ride-and-drive" events, new product launches, owner's events and other activities throughout the year. In addition, Toyota vehicles will be used as the "official" pace vehicle for all speedway events, including the May 20 Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 28 Coca-Cola 600. Additional benefits include extensive signage, race tickets and hospitality, and prominent advertising space allocated in the track's publications.(LMS PR)(1-25-2006)
Lowe's Motor Speedway joins forces with Habitat for Humanity: Lowe's Motor Speedway is joining forces with Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County to build a home for a Concord family. The construction project, which will begin Saturday, Jan. 21, is being made possible by the speedway and several of its sponsors, including Lowe's and Nationwide. The first two weeks of construction will take place at Lowe's Motor Speedway where volunteers will frame, roof and side the house. The house will then be moved to Magnolia Crossing, Habitat Cabarrus' new neighborhood in Concord, where construction will be completed over the next couple of months. Magnolia Crossing is a mixed-income subdivision located off of Evans Street where up to 10% of the homes will be built by for-profit builders. The Brooks family will help build and then buy the speedway home. Rebecca Brooks has three sons, Kamari, Brandon and Zavier (4, 3 and 6 months respectively). Brooks, who is eagerly awaiting the completion of the house, says she will finally have "a place to call my own, a place for my kids to play outside and to be safe." Brooks also is eagerly anticipating the lower housing costs, which she says can help her afford clothing and shoes for her sons. This is the second house Lowe's Motor Speedway and its sponsors have built in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County. The first house was constructed in 2004. Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Founded by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates in more than 3,000 communities in 100 nations have built and sold more than 200,000 homes to partner families with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages.(LMS PR)(1-19-2006)
LMS Renames Trophy in Honor of Track Founder Smith: The perpetual trophy honoring winners of the Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway has been renamed in honor of speedway founder O. Bruton Smith. The Bruton Smith Trophy is on display in the second-floor lobby of the track's Smith Tower. It features the familiar manganese sculpture, which has been awarded to each NEXTEL Cup Series race winner at Lowe's Motor Speedway since 1981, atop an oak base which bears two brass plagues inscribed with the name of each Coca-Cola 600 winner. "This is quite an honor," Smith said when the trophy bearing his name was unveiled during a recent gathering of speedway employees. "We are extremely proud that the Coca-Cola 600 has grown into one of the world's most prestigious sporting events, and this trophy pays tribute to the 25 men who have won the race." While building Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1960, it was Smith who decided to make the track's inaugural race a 600-mile event. "Bigger is always better," Smith said about his concept of hosting a 600-mile stock car race. "I just thought it would be unique to run 600 miles. The extra 100 miles made it a bigger, more demanding event."
"The single most important thing I've learned from Bruton in the 30 years we've worked together is to do things in a big way," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "The Coca-Cola 600 is a testament to his way of thinking and it is only fitting we name the trophy in his honor." The 2006 edition of the Coca-Cola 600 will be run Sunday evening, May 28. Tickets, starting at just $39, can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(1-15-2006)
May testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway...and repaving UPDATE: Nextel Cup drivers are scheduled to test on May 1-2 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. Since the May events at Charlotte will be held at night, testing will be held until 9:00pm/et each evening. Fans can watch the Charlotte test session free of charge from the track's main grandstand.(Paraphrased from Gordonline.com), also hearing that the track will be repaved with a scheduled start of Jan 16th thru March.(1-5-2006)
UPDATE:Prep work is well underway at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the track resurfacing project which is slated to be completed in March. SAFER barriers have been taken down and milling of the track is necessary before new asphalt can be applied. Goodyear will then conduct a tire test to find the proper tire specifications prior to the Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series teams scheduled test in May. Lowe's Motor Speedway’s engineering staff met with several drivers to get their input last November at Atlanta including Jeff Gordon. Lowe's Motor Speedway Senior Vice President of Events Jerry Gappens says “The issue really what we saw in ’05 was the tires and the track not getting along so well and of course the teams push those tires to the limits too so you had a combination of things that contributed to some of the issues that we had. There’s not an alarming issue like you’ve seen in the past with the configuration of some tracks…this is just a matter of putting a new surface down which the facility is probably due for.”(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(1-13-2006)
More than 50,000 Local Charlotte Children Benefit: More than 50,000 children in the Charlotte region will benefit from the $505,728 distributed by Speedway Children's Charities Tuesday night during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Lowe's Motor Speedway. O. Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Children's Charities and chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., was joined by North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Scott Smith, president of the Lowe's Motor Speedway chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, in awarding the grants to 68 local organizations. The money, raised through various activities along with individual and corporate donations throughout the year, aids the organizations in meeting the emotional, medical or educational needs of area children. Many area agencies are direct benefactors of Speedway Children's Charities, including Camp CARE (summer camp for children with cancer), Armed Services YMCA (mentoring and tutoring program for children of servicemen), and Holy Angels (residential services and innovative programs for children who have varying degrees of mental retardation and physical disabilities). This year, Speedway Children's Charities distributed approximately $2.4 million to 399 organizations.(LMS PR)(12-8-2005)
Tree Lighting & Speedway Children's Charities Grant Distribution at LMS: North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall will join Speedway Motorsports Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith to light a one-of-a-kind 50-foot-tall Christmas tree at Lowe's Motor Speedway and distribute $505,728 to 68 local organizations on behalf of Speedway Children's Charities. The money will assist nonprofit charities making a direct and significant impact in the lives of children in need. The public is invited to attend the ceremony that will include lighting a 50-foot Christmas tree; holiday music; hot chocolate and apple cider; an appearance by Lug Nut, the world's fastest mascot; and Santa arriving in a stock car. The event takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Festivities begin at 5:45 p.m. with the formal program starting at 6:15 p.m at the Avenue of Flags in front of Smith Tower at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The track is located at the intersection of Speedway Blvd and Highway 29.(LMS)(12-5-2005)
Lowe's Motor Speedway Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out - Nov 25: Bargains and thrills will be the order of the day Friday, Nov. 25, when Lowe's Motor Speedway hosts the Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out, offering holiday gifts at bargain-basement prices and the opportunity to drive around the 1.5-mile superspeedway. The 13th annual day-after-Thanksgiving event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., offers each fan who spends at least $50 on souvenirs or tickets or donates $25 to Speedway Children's Charities the opportunity to drive their personal vehicle two laps around the track. Tickets for the May 20 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge and the May 28 Coca-Cola 600 are the perfect gift for those with NASCAR fans on their holiday shopping list and the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office will be open throughout the event. As a special one-day offer, each ticket purchased for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge or the Coca-Cola 600 will be accompanied by a free ticket for CTC Pole Night qualifying on Thursday, May 25. In addition to numerous track souvenirs, Lowe's Motor Speedwayoffers a wide selection of driver apparel along with memorabilia from the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Non-racing apparel, focusing mainly on women's clothing, will also be available. Souvenir prices will start at just $1 with T-shirts selling for as little as $3. NASCAR souvenir rigs will blanket the track's front entrance offering drastically reduced prices on a wide variety of memorabilia, T-shirts, hats, posters and die-cast cars. Nearly 30 vendors featuring merchandise from top NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers, including Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, are expected. Information concerning the Nov. 25 Souvenir and Ticket Blow-Out at Lowe's Motor Speedway can be obtained by contacting the Lowe's Motor Speedway gift shop at (704) 455-3204 or the Lowe's Motor Speedway marketing and public relations department at (704) 455-3209.(11-15-2005)
Race at LMS almost shortened: #48-Jimmie Johnson might not have won his fourth consecutive points race at Lowe's Motor Speedway had NASCAR officials shortened Saturday's event as they considered because of numerous tire problems. The 336-lap race never had more than 30 laps of green-flag racing between cautions -- many for accidents caused by blown tires. NASCAR president Mike Helton said series officials debated what to do, including shortening the race, as the carnage raged.(Roanoke Times)(10-17-2005)
LMS to be repaved, maybe rebanked: Plans are in place to begin repaving Lowe’s Motor Speedway by March, track president Humpy Wheeler said Friday. Wheeler said the decision to repave the track already has been made. Details such as the type of surface to be used and whether to redesign the bankings are unsettled. “And there’s colors,” Wheeler said of the possibilities that exist now that didn’t when the track was paved 15 years ago. Asked if he would considered going with his school colors, the former South Carolina football player said, “That’s a great idea. The first groove black, the second groove garnet.” Wheeler said the repaving process would take 2-3 weeks. That would give Goodyear, the official tire sponsor of NASCAR, the 30 days it requires to schedule testing before the all-star race and Coca-Cola 600 in May. Wheeler said the decision to repave basically had been made before drivers began complaining about the surface, which had been ground twice to smooth out rough spots, during a test session last month. “It’s been 15 years since it’s been paved,” he said. “And that’s about the end of (the life of the pavement).” Wheeler admitted speeds have increased more than he imagined with the grinding process.Every driver that made the Cup field on speed broke the 188 mph barrier. None did before this race a year ago.(The State)(10-15-2005)
Bojangles' Pole Night Fast Facts at LMS
Date: Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005
Time: 7:10pm/et
Location: Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.
Purse: $38,600
Winner's share: $23,600
2004 Pole Sitter: Ryan Newman (28.590 seconds, 188.877 mph)
Event Record: Ryan Newman (28.590 seconds, 188.877 mph, Oct. 14, 2004)
NEXTEL Cup Track Record: Ryan Newman (27.981 seconds, 192.988 mph, May 26, 2005)
Television/Radio: SPEED Channel will provide live coverage of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup qualifying during Bojangles' Pole Night. The telecast begins at 7:00pm/et. The Performance Racing Network (PRN) will provide live coverage to its affiliate radio stations beginning at 6:45pm/et.
Ticket Info: Tickets for Bojangles' Pole Night are $12 in advance and will be $20 the day of the event. To purchase tickets or obtain additional information, call 1-800-455-FANS or visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(10-13-2005)
Coca-Cola 600 Tickets go on sale Oct. 16: Race fans attending Saturday night's UAW-GM Quality 500 will have the first opportunity to purchase the best remaining seats for 2006 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, including the May 20 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge and the May 28 Coca-Cola 600, as part of a special Super Sunday Promotion. Speedway officials announced that all remaining tickets for next year's May NASCAR events will go on sale at 9 a.m. Sunday. Fans not at the speedway Sunday can call the toll-free ticket hotline at 1-800-455-FANS. In addition to the Coca-Cola 600, tickets will also go on sale for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, Quaker Steak & Lube 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Busch Series event and CTC Pole Night. Super Sunday will also provide race fans who purchased tickets tothis week's NASCAR events the opportunity to renew their 2006 tickets with a 10-percent early-bird discount and reserve their seats for the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 14, 2006. As an added convenience to fans staying on property, the speedway will provide shuttle service from campgrounds to the ticket office Sunday morning. Parking lots near the ticket office will be open free-of-charge for fans staying in area hotels. Ticket renewal orders can also be processed on Super Sunday by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(10-13-2005)
Actor Larry Hagman Named Honorary Race Director: Legendary actor Larry Hagman, who played J.R. Ewing in the hit television series "Dallas," will serve as the Honorary Race Director for the UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race Saturday night, Oct. 15, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Hagman started his career as a stage actor and performed in several Broadway productions before turning his attention to the small screen. He became a television star in 1965, landing the role of Major Nelson on "I Dream of Jeannie." But it was the role of J.R. Ewing on Dallas that earned Hagman a place in the annals of television history. Off screen, Hagman is involved in numerous civic and philanthropic activities. He was chairperson of the American Cancer Society's great American Smokeout from 1981 to 1992. A liver transplant recipient, Hagman also works to heighten awareness of the importance of organ donation. In his role as Honorary Race Director for the UAW-GM Quality 500, Hagman will attend the pre-race drivers' meeting, greet drivers and dignitaries during pre-race ceremonies and visit the control tower.(LMS PR)(10-12-2005)
National Anthems at LMS: Arista Nashville recording artist Phil Vassar will sing the national anthem prior to the UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race Saturday night, Oct. 15, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Vassar skyrocketed to country music stardom in 2000 with the release of his self-titled debut album which featured a quartet of top-10 hits including "Just Another Day in Paradise," "Carlene" and "Six-Pack Summer." Vassar's most recent album, Shaken Not Stirred, serves a bridge from today back to his childhood in Lynchburg, Va.
The Charlotte Chapter of the Singing Men of America will perform the national anthem during pre-race ceremonies for the Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday night, Oct. 14, and Justin Crouse, an employee at Lowe's corporate headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., will sing the national anthem prior to Bojangles' Pole Night qualifying on Thursday, Oct. 13.(LMS PR)(10-12-2005)
Montgomery Gentry at Lowe's before Cup race Sat: Montgomery Gentry, the Country Music Association's 2000 Duo of the Year, will bring its hard-charging music to NASCAR as part of the UAW-GM Quality 500 pre-race show, Saturday night, Oct. 15, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Montgomery Gentry will perform a one-hour concert presented by Miller Lite on the frontstretch of the famed 1.5-mile superspeedway. The duo's smash hit, "Something To Be Proud Of," is currently No. 1 on Billboard's country singles chart. Tickets for all events during UAW-GM Quality 500 Week, including round five of the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(10-12-2005)
Freedom Calls Foundation to Connect Families at LMS: The Freedom Calls Foundation and Lowe's Motor Speedway will give 20 families the opportunity to communicate with loved ones serving in Iraq prior to the UAW-GM Quality 500 NEXTEL Cup Series race Saturday night, Oct. 15. The Freedom Calls Foundation, a New York City based charity, was formed by Ed Bukstel and John Harlow to allow front-line troops to communicate with loved ones at home. Prior to the Dollar General 300 Busch Series race on Friday night, Oct. 14, each participating family will have 20 minutes to interact with their loved one in Iraq via the Freedom Call Foundation's video conferencing system. Joe Nemechek, driver of the #01 Army Chevrolet, and Greg Biffle, who pilots the #16 National Guard Ford, are scheduled to meet with family members and will interact with the troops during several of the video conference calls. The video conferences will be recorded and highlights will be shown on the NEXTEL Vision screens prior to the NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday night, Oct. 15, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. All families participating in the Freedom Calls have been invited to attend the Dollar General 300 and UAW-GM Quality 500 as guests of Lowe's Motor Speedway. Details about the Freedom Calls Foundation, including contribution information, can be obtained at www.freedomcalls.org.(LMS PR)(10-12-2005)
Death-Defying Automobile Stunts Highlight Pre-Race Show at LMS: Veteran stuntman Mark Hager will attempt to cheat death twice Saturday evening, Oct. 15, as he performs a pair of spectacular automobile stunts during the pre-race show for the UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The two stunts Hager will attempt are known as The Sky Crash and The T-bone. The Sky Crash, slated to take place at 5:15 p.m. near Turn 1 of the superspeedway, will see Hager jump his car through the air, hitting a stationary car and sending him into a series of violent end-over-end flips. Approximately 15 cars will be positioned to cushion the blow as he tumbles down the race track. Following a one-hour concert by country music super duo Montgomery Gentry, Hager will return and perform the T-bone near Turn 4. He will jump a car into what he calls a "steel wall" of approximately 15 automobiles, triggering a giant explosion which will surround him with a giant ball of fire. Hager will have to withstand violent impacts during both stunts and he is already preparing physically. He has found that stretching and staying active plays a very important role on how his body is affected by the violent collisions. A 15-year stunt veteran, Hager has performed more than 500 shows nationwide. He has three world records, including a 213-foot school bus jump at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1995. His resume also includes dozens of television and motion picture credits, ranging from automobile jumps and precision driving to motorcycle stunts and fire burns. He jumped the famed General Lee for The Dukes of Hazzard movie, performed at the Disney Lights Motors Action Automotive Stunt Show and spent the summer performing stunts as part of a touring thrill show. Details on Hager and his stunt company, Dangerous Moments, can be obtained online at www.dangerousmoments.com.(LMS)(10-11-2005)
Get Yer Humpy Bobbleheads: In celebration of H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler's 30th year as general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, the first 5,000 fans through the gates for the Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday, Oct. 14, will receive a "Humpy" bobblehead. In addition, Wheeler has autographed two of the bobbleheads and the fans receiving those will get to meet the legendary auto racing promoter. The "Humpy" bobblehead is five inches tall and features Wheeler standing on a base that includes Lowe's Motor Speedway's familiar red, white and blue globe logo. The bobblehead give-away starts when spectator gates open at 2 p.m. and continues while supplies last. Frontstretch tickets for the Dollar General 300 on Friday night, Oct. 14, start at just $17 and can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS)(10-11-2005)
Drivers Eye Record $6.1 Million in Posted Awards at LMS: NASCAR drivers competing in the Oct. 15 UAW-GM Quality 500 and the Oct. 14 Dollar General 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway will be battling for a record $6,133, 806 in posted prize money. The record awards for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series events are part of a $6,184,306 purse announced today for the four nights of racing that comprise the Oct. 12-15 UAW-GM Quality 500 Week schedule of events. The UAW-GM Quality 500 on Saturday night, Oct. 15, will be worth a record $4,960,384, an increase of $23,843 over last October's NEXTEL Cup event at the 1.5-mile superspeedway. Featuring several NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers battling the Busch Series regulars, competitors in the Dollar General 300 on Friday night, Oct. 14, will be chasing the lion's share of a record $1,173,422 in posted prize money and awards, an increase of $52,141 from last year. Tickets for all UAW-GM Quality 500 Week events are available by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(10-4-2005)
Limited Number of Premium Frontstretch Seats Available at Lowe's: A limited number of premium frontstretch seats for the UAW-GM Quality 500, round five of the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, on Saturday night, Oct. 15, at Lowe's Motor Speedway have been released by The Speedway Club and are now on sale through the speedway ticket office. Seats in the enclosed Clubhouse are available for $218 each and include a one-month membership in The Speedway Club, the first facility to offer country club style amenities in a motorsports environment. The climate-controlled Clubhouse is located directly across from pit road and features television monitors, padded chairs, a cash bar and casual dining service. Each Clubhouse ticket holder also receives a pre-race pit pass and will have a prime view of the Montgomery Gentry concert presented by Miller Lite and the spectacular stunt show. In addition to seats in the enclosed Clubhouse, a limited number of tickets are also available in The Speedway Club's outdoor Veranda. Located on the Turn 1 side of the start-finish line, Veranda seats offer a spectacular view of the racing action along with television monitors and a cash bar. Veranda tickets are $156 each. Premium frontstretch seating options are also available for Bojangles' Pole Night on Thursday, Oct. 13, and the Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday night, Oct. 14. The premium frontstretch tickets are available only from the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS)(9-30-2005)
Restrictor Plates at Lowe's Motor Speedway? UPDATE: With less than rave reviews of the ever-changing track surface at Lowe's Motor Speedway from Chasers Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and Mark Martin afer a test last week, NASCAR officials are considering running restrictor plates on the cars in the October 15 race at Charlotte. Stewart and Biffle wrecked two cars apiece during the tests. After plowing his car at 170 mph into the Turn 2 wall, Biffle felt the aftereffects last weekend at Dover. "From the eye, the track looks good," Biffle says. But the tire compound doesn't work well with the track's new surface. NASCAR doesn't expect any relief until the track is repaved after the race.(Sporting News/Lee Spencer)(9-26-2005)
UPDATE:After laser-grinding the Lowes Motor Speedway track to help get another year of wear out of the 1.5-mile layout, track President Humpy Wheeler says the surface will have to be repaved for 2006. Wheeler said “I think what we’ve gotta do though is to study real hard, not just go pave over what we’ve got. I think we probably need to change some of the banking a little bit. Maybe put a different asphalt mix in to make it more stable and get ready for the new car NASCAR is going to bring out. That graduated banking has been around for a long time and it is affective in creating a second groove. What we want to do here is to make sure we have a second groove so you can have passing and lead swapping.” As for a published report concerning the use of restrictor plates after the track is repaved Wheeler said "I'm all for it, let's do it! It just makes better racing. You slow the cars down and you always have better racing. I don't think they're gonna do it...but...keep the rumor going! !"(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(9-28-2005)
Lowe's Motor Speedway to be re-paved: Lowe's Motor Speedway president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler said Thursday that despite a crash-marred, two-day NASCAR Nextel Cup test session this week, he thinks "everything is going to be OK" for UAW-GM 500 weekend on Oct. 13-15. But, Wheeler said, there's "no question" the track will need to be repaved next year. There was a Cup Series record 22 yellow flags in the May Coca-Cola 600 race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the first Cup event held after the track's surface was smoothed out using a diamond-grinding technique called levigating. Since May, areas that had been ground were reground, and additional areas - primarily in the low groove on the exit of Turn 2 and the frontstretch - were ground for the first time. Six cars crashed in two days of testing, with points leader Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle, who is second, each wrecking twice. Mike Bliss and Boris Said also wrecked Tuesday. Wheeler said when teams return next month, they might have to scuff in their tires - run a couple of laps to break them in - set their cars up a little tighter than they're used to and take a lower line into Turn 1. Levigation was used as an alternative to repaving, which is expensive and often leads to a one-groove track for at least the first couple of years. Because all areas of a repaved track have practically the same amount of grip, drivers choose the low groove because it's the shortest way around. That limits passing. "I think there's no question sometime in 2006 we will be repaving the track," Wheeler said. "We need to make sure when we do it we make the right mix. There are new asphalt polymers that are doing for race tracks what Tifton Bermuda grass has done for golf courses. We will also look at the possibility of changing some of the banking. The challenge is how we can create a second groove that's as fast as the first groove, and we need to find out if there is a way to do the second groove and make it just as fast."(ThatsRacin.com)(9-23-2005)
Promotions at Lowe's: Two Lowe's Motor Speedway executives, Jerry Gappens and Dan Farrell, have been promoted to senior vice president positions