<B>Mopar and Eldora Speedway Prepare to Make Sprint Car Racing History</b>
CENTER LINE, Mich. - In less than three weeks the Mopar Million Sprint at
Eldora will commence, bringing the start of one of the most anticipated events in
sprint car racing history. The event is one-of-a-kind, with an unprecedented
$1 million purse, international interest, and some of the most prestigious
names in the sport. While some controversy has surrounded the event, all of that
drama can only lead to one conclusion: the Mopar Million Sprint at Eldora will
make its mark on sprint car racing history, providing competitors and fans
alike with the high-intensity entertainment that the sport of open wheel racing
is famous for.
Sponsoring the historical event is a season highlight for Mopar, a division
of DaimlerChysler. In addition to being the title sponsor of the largest race
of the year, Team Mopar will also have three competitors participating in the
event. USAC National Sprint Car Series points leader J.J. Yeley, Cory Kruseman
and Jay Drake will compete under the Mopar banner. Additional teams among the
150 entrants may also utilize stout Mopar V-8s for the event. The prestige of
having a high profile marketing partner is not lost on Eldora Speedway owner
Earl Baltes.
"The people at Mopar have made quite an impact in racing in recent years,"
Baltes said. "We're very proud that they have chosen Eldora Speedway as a
marketing partner."
When the idea of the Mopar Million Sprint at Eldora was introduced, Baltes
spent a lot of time listening - to race fans, that is. After much discussion and
several fan-based inquires, Baltes announced at the 2003 O'Reilly Chili Bowl
Midget Nationals that the race would be a non-winged event, with the entry
list capped at 150 entrants. The conception of the Mopar Million has commenced,
and the anticipation and excitement of the approaching event is evident to
Baltes.
"Everyone here [at Eldora Speedway] is really looking forward to the Mopar
Million Sprint at Eldora," Baltes said. "The event has been in the works for a
long time, and we spent a lot of time asking the fans what they wanted. They
responded, and now this race is for them. The Mopar Million complements our
other major events we've hosted through the years, and we're just proud to have
the support of the teams and fans to be able to offer a race of this magnitude."
The unique format for the event, which will pay out $800,000 in prize money
to the participants of the "A" main, is relatively familiar to the Eldora
Speedway staff. Baltes has been surprised at the number of entries for the event,
having turned away several after the field had been set.
"To be honest, we never thought we would reach our cut-off limit of 150
teams, but that has happened and we've even had to return some entries," Baltes
said. "This tells us that the interest among the racers is there. We would love
to have everyone that wanted to compete be on hand, but there are limitations
to everything and we just feel that 150 sprint cars is about all that we can
handle comfortably."
Fan response to the Mopar Million Sprint at Eldora has been outstanding
leading up to the running of the event. Baltes expects a standing-room-only
audience for the two-day event, with some fans even traveling across oceans to attend
the historical event.
"As for the fans, the feedback has been pretty positive," Baltes said. "So
far, we've sold reserved seats to fans from 47 states, Canada, England and
Australia. I guess they really want to see non-winged sprint car racing."
For more information regarding the Mopar Million, Eldora Speedway and tickets
for the event, please visit www.eldoraspeedway.com. Reserved seating can be
purchased in advance by calling 937-338-3815.
Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment
supplier of parts for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® vehicles.
CENTER LINE, Mich. - In less than three weeks the Mopar Million Sprint at
Eldora will commence, bringing the start of one of the most anticipated events in
sprint car racing history. The event is one-of-a-kind, with an unprecedented
$1 million purse, international interest, and some of the most prestigious
names in the sport. While some controversy has surrounded the event, all of that
drama can only lead to one conclusion: the Mopar Million Sprint at Eldora will
make its mark on sprint car racing history, providing competitors and fans
alike with the high-intensity entertainment that the sport of open wheel racing
is famous for.
Sponsoring the historical event is a season highlight for Mopar, a division
of DaimlerChysler. In addition to being the title sponsor of the largest race
of the year, Team Mopar will also have three competitors participating in the
event. USAC National Sprint Car Series points leader J.J. Yeley, Cory Kruseman
and Jay Drake will compete under the Mopar banner. Additional teams among the
150 entrants may also utilize stout Mopar V-8s for the event. The prestige of
having a high profile marketing partner is not lost on Eldora Speedway owner
Earl Baltes.
"The people at Mopar have made quite an impact in racing in recent years,"
Baltes said. "We're very proud that they have chosen Eldora Speedway as a
marketing partner."
When the idea of the Mopar Million Sprint at Eldora was introduced, Baltes
spent a lot of time listening - to race fans, that is. After much discussion and
several fan-based inquires, Baltes announced at the 2003 O'Reilly Chili Bowl
Midget Nationals that the race would be a non-winged event, with the entry
list capped at 150 entrants. The conception of the Mopar Million has commenced,
and the anticipation and excitement of the approaching event is evident to
Baltes.
"Everyone here [at Eldora Speedway] is really looking forward to the Mopar
Million Sprint at Eldora," Baltes said. "The event has been in the works for a
long time, and we spent a lot of time asking the fans what they wanted. They
responded, and now this race is for them. The Mopar Million complements our
other major events we've hosted through the years, and we're just proud to have
the support of the teams and fans to be able to offer a race of this magnitude."
The unique format for the event, which will pay out $800,000 in prize money
to the participants of the "A" main, is relatively familiar to the Eldora
Speedway staff. Baltes has been surprised at the number of entries for the event,
having turned away several after the field had been set.
"To be honest, we never thought we would reach our cut-off limit of 150
teams, but that has happened and we've even had to return some entries," Baltes
said. "This tells us that the interest among the racers is there. We would love
to have everyone that wanted to compete be on hand, but there are limitations
to everything and we just feel that 150 sprint cars is about all that we can
handle comfortably."
Fan response to the Mopar Million Sprint at Eldora has been outstanding
leading up to the running of the event. Baltes expects a standing-room-only
audience for the two-day event, with some fans even traveling across oceans to attend
the historical event.
"As for the fans, the feedback has been pretty positive," Baltes said. "So
far, we've sold reserved seats to fans from 47 states, Canada, England and
Australia. I guess they really want to see non-winged sprint car racing."
For more information regarding the Mopar Million, Eldora Speedway and tickets
for the event, please visit www.eldoraspeedway.com. Reserved seating can be
purchased in advance by calling 937-338-3815.
Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment
supplier of parts for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® vehicles.
