MADISON, Ill. - The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers have been named as the title sponsor for the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway and will now be called the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. The 50-dealer organization moves to the Nationwide event after a successful decade of sponsoring GIR's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races.
"The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers are excited about Nationwide becoming the official sponsor of the series and the increased number of Dodge teams that will be participating this year," said Vince Capatosta, the president of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers. "As in the past years, the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers are continuing their support of Gateway International Raceway in bringing racing to our community."
The announcement was made today at the St. Louis Auto Show by NASCAR star and SPEED Channel analyst Kenny Wallace, who chose his native St. Louis to disclose his own plans for 2008, announcing he will drive a Fitz Motorsports Dodge in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008 as a teammate to 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Mike Bliss.
"I'm looking forward to coming back to St. Louis to race in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250," Wallace said. "This is a really exciting time, announcing that the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers are sponsoring the (NASCAR Nationwide Series) race in St. Louis. I'm real proud of my town and I'm real proud of the track."
Lenny Batycki, the vice president and general manager of Gateway International Raceway, said the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers have been a strong partner to Gateway International Raceway over the years and they are honored to have them as the title sponsor for their NASCAR Nationwide event.
"The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 will be a great event in which to introduce the NASCAR Nationwide Series to the St. Louis area," Batycki said. "The combination of a new race sponsor with a new series sponsor equals a lot of change, but it's change for the positive. Both Nationwide and the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers are committed to providing the best possible event to our fans and our sport and we welcome them both to Gateway."
The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 will feature a wide range of drivers headlined by defending series champion and 2006 GIR winner Carl Edwards. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars Clint Bowyer, David Ragan, and David Reutimann will also compete, as will some of the stars of the future such as 2007 GIR ARCA winner Bryan Clauson, Brad Coleman, Landon Cassill, and 2007 Camping World East Series champion Joey Logano.
"Looking at the drivers we're going to see at Gateway on July 19, to say it's going to be one of the most competitive fields in the track's history isn't a hard prediction to make," Batycki said. "We're thrilled to see Kenny Wallace not only coming home, but flying the Dodge banner as well and having the defending champion, Carl Edwards, in the field along with Cup stars like Clint Bowyer and those young guys like Clauson and Logano...We're excited about this event and wish it were next!"
To be a part of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway, call 866-35-SPEED or visit GatewayRaceway.com.
"The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers are excited about Nationwide becoming the official sponsor of the series and the increased number of Dodge teams that will be participating this year," said Vince Capatosta, the president of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers. "As in the past years, the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers are continuing their support of Gateway International Raceway in bringing racing to our community."
The announcement was made today at the St. Louis Auto Show by NASCAR star and SPEED Channel analyst Kenny Wallace, who chose his native St. Louis to disclose his own plans for 2008, announcing he will drive a Fitz Motorsports Dodge in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008 as a teammate to 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Mike Bliss.
"I'm looking forward to coming back to St. Louis to race in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250," Wallace said. "This is a really exciting time, announcing that the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers are sponsoring the (NASCAR Nationwide Series) race in St. Louis. I'm real proud of my town and I'm real proud of the track."
Lenny Batycki, the vice president and general manager of Gateway International Raceway, said the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers have been a strong partner to Gateway International Raceway over the years and they are honored to have them as the title sponsor for their NASCAR Nationwide event.
"The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 will be a great event in which to introduce the NASCAR Nationwide Series to the St. Louis area," Batycki said. "The combination of a new race sponsor with a new series sponsor equals a lot of change, but it's change for the positive. Both Nationwide and the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers are committed to providing the best possible event to our fans and our sport and we welcome them both to Gateway."
The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 will feature a wide range of drivers headlined by defending series champion and 2006 GIR winner Carl Edwards. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars Clint Bowyer, David Ragan, and David Reutimann will also compete, as will some of the stars of the future such as 2007 GIR ARCA winner Bryan Clauson, Brad Coleman, Landon Cassill, and 2007 Camping World East Series champion Joey Logano.
"Looking at the drivers we're going to see at Gateway on July 19, to say it's going to be one of the most competitive fields in the track's history isn't a hard prediction to make," Batycki said. "We're thrilled to see Kenny Wallace not only coming home, but flying the Dodge banner as well and having the defending champion, Carl Edwards, in the field along with Cup stars like Clint Bowyer and those young guys like Clauson and Logano...We're excited about this event and wish it were next!"
To be a part of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway, call 866-35-SPEED or visit GatewayRaceway.com.
