(Military to be honored as well as a birthday tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt)
Madison, IL. - Gateway International Raceway will kick off its 10th Anniversary major event schedule next Saturday, April 29 with the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for Charter Qualifying at 4:00PM and an incredible pre-race show including a special tribute to the 124 fallen soldiers from Missouri and Illinois that have lost their lives in the war in Iraq. Following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Race will be a concert by Charlie Daniels and a spectacular fireworks show to be highlighted by a tribute to NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt on what would have been his 55th birthday.
Racing and the military go hand in hand. Once again, Gateway has put together a special salute to the men and women who have and continue to risk their lives for our freedom. Soldiers from the Illinois and Missouri area who have returned from the current Operation Iraqi Freedom will be on-hand to march and honor their fallen brothers and sisters. Several of the family members of the 124 men and women who have lost their lives have accepted an invitation to attend the event as guests of Gateway. In addition, the Green Beret will present a special parachute jump to honor our country. A dramatic fly-over featuring two F-15's from the Missouri Air National Guard will conclude the pre-race ceremonies in an exhilarating manner.
Immediately following the race, Gateway will honor the memory of the late Dale Earnhardt - The Intimidator" - who would have celebrated his 55th birthday on April 29.
The salute, for arguably the greatest driver in NASCAR history, will include incredible fireworks set to music and memorable audio clips from his illustrious career. The Gateway firework shows are widely considered to be among the best in all of motorsports.
To make the event even more memorable, fans will be allowed on to the racetrack after the Dodge Ram Tough 200 for a post-race concert with the legendary Charlie Daniels Band presented by T.R. Hughes Homebuilders. Gates for the Dodge Ram Tough 200 open on Saturday at 9 AM with race practice from 9 AM to Noon. Qualifying is at 4:00PM. The pre-race show will begin at 6:30PM and the Green Flag will fly at 7:15PM.
Oval season tickets are still available for just $125 for adults and $65 for children 12 and under. Individual race tickets are also on sale for the entire 2006 major event schedule. They can be purchased by calling (866) 35-SPEED during normal business hours from 8 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Friday, or by logging onto www.gatewayraceway.com.
Gateway International Raceway is owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD), a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate tracks in three states, and present more than 500 motorsports events each year. This includes 15 major, national events which operate under the auspices of three of the premier sanctioning bodies in the U.S. - NASCAR, NHRA, and IRL. Dover Motorsports, Inc. also owns and operates Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tenn., and Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tenn.
Madison, IL. - Gateway International Raceway will kick off its 10th Anniversary major event schedule next Saturday, April 29 with the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for Charter Qualifying at 4:00PM and an incredible pre-race show including a special tribute to the 124 fallen soldiers from Missouri and Illinois that have lost their lives in the war in Iraq. Following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Race will be a concert by Charlie Daniels and a spectacular fireworks show to be highlighted by a tribute to NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt on what would have been his 55th birthday.
Racing and the military go hand in hand. Once again, Gateway has put together a special salute to the men and women who have and continue to risk their lives for our freedom. Soldiers from the Illinois and Missouri area who have returned from the current Operation Iraqi Freedom will be on-hand to march and honor their fallen brothers and sisters. Several of the family members of the 124 men and women who have lost their lives have accepted an invitation to attend the event as guests of Gateway. In addition, the Green Beret will present a special parachute jump to honor our country. A dramatic fly-over featuring two F-15's from the Missouri Air National Guard will conclude the pre-race ceremonies in an exhilarating manner.
Immediately following the race, Gateway will honor the memory of the late Dale Earnhardt - The Intimidator" - who would have celebrated his 55th birthday on April 29.
The salute, for arguably the greatest driver in NASCAR history, will include incredible fireworks set to music and memorable audio clips from his illustrious career. The Gateway firework shows are widely considered to be among the best in all of motorsports.
To make the event even more memorable, fans will be allowed on to the racetrack after the Dodge Ram Tough 200 for a post-race concert with the legendary Charlie Daniels Band presented by T.R. Hughes Homebuilders. Gates for the Dodge Ram Tough 200 open on Saturday at 9 AM with race practice from 9 AM to Noon. Qualifying is at 4:00PM. The pre-race show will begin at 6:30PM and the Green Flag will fly at 7:15PM.
Oval season tickets are still available for just $125 for adults and $65 for children 12 and under. Individual race tickets are also on sale for the entire 2006 major event schedule. They can be purchased by calling (866) 35-SPEED during normal business hours from 8 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Friday, or by logging onto www.gatewayraceway.com.
Gateway International Raceway is owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD), a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate tracks in three states, and present more than 500 motorsports events each year. This includes 15 major, national events which operate under the auspices of three of the premier sanctioning bodies in the U.S. - NASCAR, NHRA, and IRL. Dover Motorsports, Inc. also owns and operates Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tenn., and Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tenn.
