NASCAR driver Michael McDowell – a product of Glendale, Ariz. – and former NASA astronaut William Gregory will meet fans and answer questions about the thrills and challenges of their respective fields at “Gears and Galaxies” Night on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Challenger Space Center in Peoria. The family-oriented event runs from 4-8 p.m., with Gregory and McDowell hosting a joint Q&A session for ticketed guests from 6-7 p.m. Valley TV and radio motorsports personality Wally Cahill will serve as emcee for the evening. “Gears and Galaxies” also features the unveiling of a new, on-loan NASA exhibit showing a real Space Shuttle tire, a NASCAR tire, and a replica lunar rover tire, along with items flown in space from Mr. Gregory’s personal collection. Phoenix International Raceway’s Official Pace Car will be on display in the parking lot. Challenger Space Center rounds out the evening with fun family activities including space-themed movies, an Extreme Space Weather demonstration, arts and crafts projects, prize giveaways and more. Among the prizes is a pair of reserved grandstand seats for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race on Feb. 27, 2011, including two pre-race pit passes, courtesy of Phoenix International Raceway. Tickets for “Gears and Galaxies” are available on a first-come, first-served basis at http://www.azchallenger.org/public.nasa.nascar.htm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and include admission to the Q&A session and an autographed photo from both the astronaut and the race car driver. As part of the event, Challenger also has a special ticketing option for NASCAR events at Phoenix International Raceway as part of the Nov. 11-14 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend. To purchase tickets, contact Jonathan Stone at 623-463-5672.(PIR)(10-30-2010)
