<b>GATEWAY, MISSOURI-ILLINOIS DODGE DEALERS RENEW SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE FOR NASCAR TRUCK RACE, DRAG STRIP THROUGH 2005</b>
MADISON, Ill. (Feb. 26) – The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers, one of the longest running sponsorships in the history of Gateway International Raceway, will continue through 2005, it was announced today.
Under the new three-year agreement, the 46-dealer group will remain the title sponsor of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 NASCAR Truck Series race. That event goes under the lights this year on July 18-19.
Dodge will also remain the official vehicle of the track, and a major sponsor of the Gateway drag strip. They are also a major backer of one of Gateway’s longest-running drag race events, Monster Mopar Weekend in September.
In addition, the new Dodge Viper SVT will be Gateway’s official pace car for its oval track events in 2003.
Dodge was one of several major sponsors who signed five-year deals after Gateway first opened in 1997. This is the first of several renewals expected from that core group of sponsors that have supported the new Gateway.
“We’re delighted to continue our oldest, and we believe strongest partnership with this new agreement with the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers, and are grateful for their continued support,” Gateway Vice President and General Manager Matt Strelo said.
“We have worked hard in the past year to put real value, and provide real results, for our partners at Dodge. Those efforts provided some of our biggest success stories in 2002 – with a huge increase in paid attendance for the Ram Tough 200, and a big jump in Dodge truck sales through a Test Drive program we fashioned as part of their sponsorship,” Strelo said. “It is that kind of partnership we are working to build with all of our corporate sponsors.”
Vince Capatosta, president of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers said his group is looking forward to the continued association with Gateway.
“We’re excited that this relationship is continuing with our friends at Gateway,” Capatosta said. “We’re particularly proud of the fact that we will showcase the new Hemi Ram Pickup during the Ram Tough 200, and that the all-new 500-horsepower Viper SVT will be the Official Pace Car at Gateway International Raceway during the 2003 season.”
Gateway International Raceway offers one of the most diverse schedules of major motorsports in the world on its 1.25-mile oval, quarter-mile drag strip and 1.6-mile road course. Headlining those events are the Ram Tough 200, the Gateway 250 NASCAR Busch Series race (May 9-10), the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals drag race (June 27-30) and the Gateway Indy 250 for the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series (Aug. 9-10).
Money-saving season ticket plans for the oval and drag strip, and individual event tickets are available by calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com.
MADISON, Ill. (Feb. 26) – The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers, one of the longest running sponsorships in the history of Gateway International Raceway, will continue through 2005, it was announced today.
Under the new three-year agreement, the 46-dealer group will remain the title sponsor of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 NASCAR Truck Series race. That event goes under the lights this year on July 18-19.
Dodge will also remain the official vehicle of the track, and a major sponsor of the Gateway drag strip. They are also a major backer of one of Gateway’s longest-running drag race events, Monster Mopar Weekend in September.
In addition, the new Dodge Viper SVT will be Gateway’s official pace car for its oval track events in 2003.
Dodge was one of several major sponsors who signed five-year deals after Gateway first opened in 1997. This is the first of several renewals expected from that core group of sponsors that have supported the new Gateway.
“We’re delighted to continue our oldest, and we believe strongest partnership with this new agreement with the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers, and are grateful for their continued support,” Gateway Vice President and General Manager Matt Strelo said.
“We have worked hard in the past year to put real value, and provide real results, for our partners at Dodge. Those efforts provided some of our biggest success stories in 2002 – with a huge increase in paid attendance for the Ram Tough 200, and a big jump in Dodge truck sales through a Test Drive program we fashioned as part of their sponsorship,” Strelo said. “It is that kind of partnership we are working to build with all of our corporate sponsors.”
Vince Capatosta, president of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers said his group is looking forward to the continued association with Gateway.
“We’re excited that this relationship is continuing with our friends at Gateway,” Capatosta said. “We’re particularly proud of the fact that we will showcase the new Hemi Ram Pickup during the Ram Tough 200, and that the all-new 500-horsepower Viper SVT will be the Official Pace Car at Gateway International Raceway during the 2003 season.”
Gateway International Raceway offers one of the most diverse schedules of major motorsports in the world on its 1.25-mile oval, quarter-mile drag strip and 1.6-mile road course. Headlining those events are the Ram Tough 200, the Gateway 250 NASCAR Busch Series race (May 9-10), the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals drag race (June 27-30) and the Gateway Indy 250 for the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series (Aug. 9-10).
Money-saving season ticket plans for the oval and drag strip, and individual event tickets are available by calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com.
