NASCAR ANNOUNCES 2002 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 21, 2001) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has announced a 23-race schedule for the 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. For the first time in its eight-year history, the series will begin and end in the state of Florida and in combination with NASCAR’s other two national touring series – the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division.

The season begins with the third running of the Daytona 250, Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway. The season finale is set for Nov. 15 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Three other facilities will host NASCAR national touring series weekend tripleheaders kicked off by a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event: Dover Downs International Speedway on May 31, Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 5 and Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 8.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series also will be paired with the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at Darlington Raceway on March 15 and at New Hampshire International Speedway on July 20. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will join the NASCAR Busch Series at The Milwaukee Mile on June 29 and Indianapolis Raceway Park on Aug. 2.

One track, Texas Motor Speedway, will host two races in 2002, on June 7 and Sept. 13. Michigan International Speedway, host to events in 1999 and 2000, returns to the schedule with a July 27 race.

Seventeen events will be held on tracks of one mile or greater in length while six races are set for short tracks ranging in size, from quarter-miles to three-quarters-mile ovals.

Superspeedway events in addition to those previously listed include California Speedway (Nov. 2); Chicago Motor Speedway (Aug. 25); Kansas Speedway (July 6); Kentucky Motor Speedway (July 13); Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Oct. 13); Nashville Superspeedway (Aug. 10); Pikes Peak International Raceway (May 19); and Gateway International Raceway (May 5).

Additional short track events include Martinsville Speedway (April 13); Memphis Motorsports Park (June 22); and Big Daddy’s South Boston Speedway (Sept. 21).

Cable networks ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise all 23 events nationally. The affiliates of MRN Radio also will broadcast the full 2002 schedule.