MADISON, Ill. (April 29) – Mother’s Day Weekend, to the serious motorsports fan, is often decried as a weekend bereft of a major race. Some motorsports purists might call a NASCAR Busch Series event something less than a major event.
But make no mistake, the Charter Pipeline 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Gateway International Raceway May 10 is a MAJOR event. Here’s why:
DRIVERS: Winston Cup experience? You want Winston Cup experience. There are, at the moment, no less than 11 drivers headed to Gateway with Winston Cup experience. As a group – Kenny and Mike Wallace, Todd Bodine, Mike Bliss, Stacy Compton, David Green, Ron Hornaday Jr., Bobby Hamilton Jr., Randy LaJoie, Hermie Sadler and Kerry Earnhardt have, between them 853 career Winston Cup starts, 65 Top 10 finishes and 10 Bud Poles.
WHO’S NEXT? The lure of the Busch Series is not only its veterans, but the next generation of stars – and they’re here again this year with young talents like Brian Vickers, Chad Blount and Johnny Sauter.
COLLECTIBLE HEAVEN: The Charter Pipeline 250, for the NASCAR collector, will be a gold mine. With no Winston Cup event on the docket, more than 30 major NASCAR merchandise vendor trailers have booked space in the Gateway Expo area. Shop and swap to your heart’s content.
AMBIANCE: The Expo area may be the biggest in Gateway history. In addition to the merchandise area, there will be plenty of new vendors, a climbing wall, bungee swing, simulators, interactive games for young and old, corporate and military displays, clowns, face painters – plenty to do while waiting for the green flag.
(more)
Gateway/Charter Pipeline 250 a true Major/Page 2
PRE-RACE: It will be a full salute to God, Family and Country with flyovers, the Air Force Band of Mid-America, a recruiting ceremony involving several young men and women from throughout the area taking the oath to serve in the Air Force. Col. Darren McDew, the commanding officer at Scott Air Force Base’s 375th Airlift Wing, will lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Air Force Band of The first 30,000 fans on the property will receive American flags to wave during the ceremonies.
NASCAR LIKE IT’S ADVERTISED: The NASCAR Busch Series provides some of the best racing in the world, and they proved it again the last time out as David Green pulled off a thrilling last-lap pass of Johnny Sauter for the victory at Gateway’s sister track, Nashville Superspeedway.
Fans at Gateway were treated to another classic Busch Series finish in 2001 when Kevin Harvick and Jason Keller traded the lead four times in the last 12 laps before Harvick went on to win the race, and eventually the Busch Series title.
WHERE CHAMPIONS ARE MADE: Four of the last five Busch Series champions (Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 1998-99, Harvick in 2001 and Greg Biffle in 2002) had a win at Gateway as part of their championship season.
POST-RACE: If the excitement of the Busch Series isn’t enough, fans will be treated to a free post-race concert by multi-platinum BNA Recording artists Lonestar, the reigning Academy of Country Music Group of the Year.
CENTER STAGE: As the only full race of the weekend, the Charter Pipeline 250 will be center stage on FX – and will get one of its best TV ratings in several years.
PRIME-TIME WEATHER: The May 10th date is the ticket to perfect spring temperatures, and perfect conditions for fans, and racers.
With all that, there’s no excuse not to come to Gateway for this year’s Charter Pipeline 250. Great seats are still available by calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com.
Contact: Pete Wickham, (618) 482-2495
FRIDAY CITGO MEGABUCKS ACTION RAINED OUT;
RACERS NOW HAVE TWO $10,000-TO-WIN DAYS SATURDAY, SUNDAY
MADISON, Ill. (April 25) – Steady mid-day rains forced promoters to scrub Friday’s scheduled card in the Citgo Megabucks presented by DragRaceResults.com Weekend at Gateway International Raceway.
But with good weather forecast for the rest of the weekend, Super Pro racers in the 1/8- mile competition are now looking at back-to-back $10,000-to-win events on Saturday and Sunday. Pro (no delay box) racers will go for $2,000-to-win both days. The Junior Dragster and Citgo Quick 16 ($2,000-to-win) events will still be held on Saturday, with Run-for-the-Money races set for both days as well.
Gates will open at 7 a.m Saturday, with time trials start at 9 a.m., the Run for the Money starting at 1 p.m. and eliminations at 2 p.m.
On Sunday, gates open at 8, with the Run for the Money starting at 9 a.m. and eliminations in the big events going at 1 p.m.
Entry fee remains $150 for one or both days in Super Pro, $75 for the Quick 16, $50 for one or both days in Pro, $20 for Junior Dragsters and $10 daily for the Run for the Money.
Adult spectator/crew admission is $15 per day. Children 10-under are free with a paid adult.
But make no mistake, the Charter Pipeline 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Gateway International Raceway May 10 is a MAJOR event. Here’s why:
DRIVERS: Winston Cup experience? You want Winston Cup experience. There are, at the moment, no less than 11 drivers headed to Gateway with Winston Cup experience. As a group – Kenny and Mike Wallace, Todd Bodine, Mike Bliss, Stacy Compton, David Green, Ron Hornaday Jr., Bobby Hamilton Jr., Randy LaJoie, Hermie Sadler and Kerry Earnhardt have, between them 853 career Winston Cup starts, 65 Top 10 finishes and 10 Bud Poles.
WHO’S NEXT? The lure of the Busch Series is not only its veterans, but the next generation of stars – and they’re here again this year with young talents like Brian Vickers, Chad Blount and Johnny Sauter.
COLLECTIBLE HEAVEN: The Charter Pipeline 250, for the NASCAR collector, will be a gold mine. With no Winston Cup event on the docket, more than 30 major NASCAR merchandise vendor trailers have booked space in the Gateway Expo area. Shop and swap to your heart’s content.
AMBIANCE: The Expo area may be the biggest in Gateway history. In addition to the merchandise area, there will be plenty of new vendors, a climbing wall, bungee swing, simulators, interactive games for young and old, corporate and military displays, clowns, face painters – plenty to do while waiting for the green flag.
(more)
Gateway/Charter Pipeline 250 a true Major/Page 2
PRE-RACE: It will be a full salute to God, Family and Country with flyovers, the Air Force Band of Mid-America, a recruiting ceremony involving several young men and women from throughout the area taking the oath to serve in the Air Force. Col. Darren McDew, the commanding officer at Scott Air Force Base’s 375th Airlift Wing, will lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Air Force Band of The first 30,000 fans on the property will receive American flags to wave during the ceremonies.
NASCAR LIKE IT’S ADVERTISED: The NASCAR Busch Series provides some of the best racing in the world, and they proved it again the last time out as David Green pulled off a thrilling last-lap pass of Johnny Sauter for the victory at Gateway’s sister track, Nashville Superspeedway.
Fans at Gateway were treated to another classic Busch Series finish in 2001 when Kevin Harvick and Jason Keller traded the lead four times in the last 12 laps before Harvick went on to win the race, and eventually the Busch Series title.
WHERE CHAMPIONS ARE MADE: Four of the last five Busch Series champions (Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 1998-99, Harvick in 2001 and Greg Biffle in 2002) had a win at Gateway as part of their championship season.
POST-RACE: If the excitement of the Busch Series isn’t enough, fans will be treated to a free post-race concert by multi-platinum BNA Recording artists Lonestar, the reigning Academy of Country Music Group of the Year.
CENTER STAGE: As the only full race of the weekend, the Charter Pipeline 250 will be center stage on FX – and will get one of its best TV ratings in several years.
PRIME-TIME WEATHER: The May 10th date is the ticket to perfect spring temperatures, and perfect conditions for fans, and racers.
With all that, there’s no excuse not to come to Gateway for this year’s Charter Pipeline 250. Great seats are still available by calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com.
Contact: Pete Wickham, (618) 482-2495
FRIDAY CITGO MEGABUCKS ACTION RAINED OUT;
RACERS NOW HAVE TWO $10,000-TO-WIN DAYS SATURDAY, SUNDAY
MADISON, Ill. (April 25) – Steady mid-day rains forced promoters to scrub Friday’s scheduled card in the Citgo Megabucks presented by DragRaceResults.com Weekend at Gateway International Raceway.
But with good weather forecast for the rest of the weekend, Super Pro racers in the 1/8- mile competition are now looking at back-to-back $10,000-to-win events on Saturday and Sunday. Pro (no delay box) racers will go for $2,000-to-win both days. The Junior Dragster and Citgo Quick 16 ($2,000-to-win) events will still be held on Saturday, with Run-for-the-Money races set for both days as well.
Gates will open at 7 a.m Saturday, with time trials start at 9 a.m., the Run for the Money starting at 1 p.m. and eliminations at 2 p.m.
On Sunday, gates open at 8, with the Run for the Money starting at 9 a.m. and eliminations in the big events going at 1 p.m.
Entry fee remains $150 for one or both days in Super Pro, $75 for the Quick 16, $50 for one or both days in Pro, $20 for Junior Dragsters and $10 daily for the Run for the Money.
Adult spectator/crew admission is $15 per day. Children 10-under are free with a paid adult.
