MADISON, Ill. - There are few environments in sports that can top baseball season in the St. Louis area. Additionally, there is little that defines the St. Louis Cardinals and its fans more than their rivalry with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs-Cards rivalry goes back decades and the fans of both teams are among the most loyal in baseball.
On Tuesday, May 20th, those fans are invited to Gateway International Raceway for a night of racing and settling old scores for the second of GIR's 2008 Rivalry Night series: Cubs Fans vs. Cards Fans. Loyalists of the Red Birds and the Small Bears can race their personal cars against one another in an eighth-mile shootout to not only determine bragging rights, but to win coveted tickets to see their favorite team at Busch Stadium in July.
"There is nothing more fun in sports than to see a great rivalry," GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki said. "What better rivalry is there than Cubs and Cardinals? We expect to see a lot of Cardinal Red and Cubby Blue in the stands here Tuesday night and a homerun or two out on the dragstrip."
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to start the event is John Mabry, a ballplayer who has seen this rivalry from both sides, having played for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. Mabry, drafted by the Cards in 1991, said he enjoyed playing with both clubs immensely.
"The Cards went to the World Series and the Cubs didn't do so hot, but the city and the fans were great," he said. "I enjoyed playing in that atmosphere where it's like, 'Let's just take off work, catch a ballgame, and go have a big time.' It's really neat to be a part of that."
Mabry went on to say the Cards-Cubs rivalry is great because of the generational aspect of it. "It goes from grandfathers to fathers to sons," he said. "Plus, the close proximity of the ballparks in the two states help create a big rivalry. Both fans genuinely have fun watching the game and appreciate good play."
In addition to earning the honor of being the fastest Cards or Cubs fan, the event winner will receive a trophy as well as two tickets for the Cubs-Cards game at Busch Stadium on Friday, July 4th. Two tickets to the July 6th game at Busch will also be awarded to the fan who comes to Gateway displaying the most team spirit.
Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing kicking off at 6 p.m. The race format is dial-in handicapped bracket and a class for beginners will be taught by ESPN Racing Analyst Bret Kepner at 5:15 p.m. For event guidelines, visit GatewayRaceway.com.
On Tuesday, May 20th, those fans are invited to Gateway International Raceway for a night of racing and settling old scores for the second of GIR's 2008 Rivalry Night series: Cubs Fans vs. Cards Fans. Loyalists of the Red Birds and the Small Bears can race their personal cars against one another in an eighth-mile shootout to not only determine bragging rights, but to win coveted tickets to see their favorite team at Busch Stadium in July.
"There is nothing more fun in sports than to see a great rivalry," GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki said. "What better rivalry is there than Cubs and Cardinals? We expect to see a lot of Cardinal Red and Cubby Blue in the stands here Tuesday night and a homerun or two out on the dragstrip."
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to start the event is John Mabry, a ballplayer who has seen this rivalry from both sides, having played for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. Mabry, drafted by the Cards in 1991, said he enjoyed playing with both clubs immensely.
"The Cards went to the World Series and the Cubs didn't do so hot, but the city and the fans were great," he said. "I enjoyed playing in that atmosphere where it's like, 'Let's just take off work, catch a ballgame, and go have a big time.' It's really neat to be a part of that."
Mabry went on to say the Cards-Cubs rivalry is great because of the generational aspect of it. "It goes from grandfathers to fathers to sons," he said. "Plus, the close proximity of the ballparks in the two states help create a big rivalry. Both fans genuinely have fun watching the game and appreciate good play."
In addition to earning the honor of being the fastest Cards or Cubs fan, the event winner will receive a trophy as well as two tickets for the Cubs-Cards game at Busch Stadium on Friday, July 4th. Two tickets to the July 6th game at Busch will also be awarded to the fan who comes to Gateway displaying the most team spirit.
Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing kicking off at 6 p.m. The race format is dial-in handicapped bracket and a class for beginners will be taught by ESPN Racing Analyst Bret Kepner at 5:15 p.m. For event guidelines, visit GatewayRaceway.com.
