MADISON, Ill. - Gateway International Raceway announced its 2008 NHRA
and NASCAR schedule Thursday. The NHRA O'Reilly Midwest Nationals will
be held May 2-4 with the NASCAR Nationwide Series returning to the
1.25-mile oval Saturday, July 19, an off-week for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, held this year on Sept. 1, has
been moved to the following week in 2008 to Sept. 6 with the green
flag scheduled to drop at 1:30 p.m. GIR Vice President and General Manager
Lenny Batycki said the move was made in accordance with the wishes of
area racing fans.
"We enjoyed having our event on Labor Day weekend," Batycki said, "but
we also know that our fans have certain holiday traditions that they
have observed for years. We don't want to interfere with that; we'd
rather create our own tradition by giving our customers the ability to enjoy
their Labor Day weekend at the lake or at home with the family so
they'll be good and rested for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at
Gateway the following Saturday."
The Truck Series race will provide race fans with a great day of
motorsports, as Sept. 6 is also the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' regular season
finale at Richmond.
"It's a win-win for our fans," Batycki said. "They can come here and
watch great, side-by-side action as the stars of the Truck Series put on
a great show. Then, they have plenty of time to get home to see the
final race before the NASCAR Chase for the Championship on ESPN.
"At the end of the day, we just wanted to do what was in the best
interest of the fans. They spoke and we listened."
Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling
866-35-SPEED or by visiting GatewayRaceway.com.
and NASCAR schedule Thursday. The NHRA O'Reilly Midwest Nationals will
be held May 2-4 with the NASCAR Nationwide Series returning to the
1.25-mile oval Saturday, July 19, an off-week for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, held this year on Sept. 1, has
been moved to the following week in 2008 to Sept. 6 with the green
flag scheduled to drop at 1:30 p.m. GIR Vice President and General Manager
Lenny Batycki said the move was made in accordance with the wishes of
area racing fans.
"We enjoyed having our event on Labor Day weekend," Batycki said, "but
we also know that our fans have certain holiday traditions that they
have observed for years. We don't want to interfere with that; we'd
rather create our own tradition by giving our customers the ability to enjoy
their Labor Day weekend at the lake or at home with the family so
they'll be good and rested for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at
Gateway the following Saturday."
The Truck Series race will provide race fans with a great day of
motorsports, as Sept. 6 is also the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' regular season
finale at Richmond.
"It's a win-win for our fans," Batycki said. "They can come here and
watch great, side-by-side action as the stars of the Truck Series put on
a great show. Then, they have plenty of time to get home to see the
final race before the NASCAR Chase for the Championship on ESPN.
"At the end of the day, we just wanted to do what was in the best
interest of the fans. They spoke and we listened."
Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling
866-35-SPEED or by visiting GatewayRaceway.com.
