The Pocono Raceway Festival Is Back In Stroudsburg: 6-2-10
On Saturday, June 5th, the Sherman Theater presents the second annual Pocono Raceway Festival on Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg, PA. Taking place the day before the Gillette Pro Glide 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA – just minutes down Interstate 80 – this free, all-day long music and racing celebration and festival will have something for everyone in the family.
By combining spectacular show car displays, delicious food vendors, fun games for all ages, and musical performances on three stages, the staff at the Sherman Theater plan to outdo themselves in trying to top last year’s amazing event. Headlining the musical portion of the festival with a rockin’ performance on the main stage will be none other than southern rock legends Molly Hatchet.
The Pocono Raceway Festival highlights all of the great retail, food, and craft attractions downtown Stroudsburg has in store as NASCAR race teams make their way to the Pocono Mountains region for the first Sprint Cup race of the year at Pocono Raceway. This year’s festival will feature numerous vehicles on display including:
By combining spectacular show car displays, delicious food vendors, fun games for all ages, and musical performances on three stages, the staff at the Sherman Theater plan to outdo themselves in trying to top last year’s amazing event. Headlining the musical portion of the festival with a rockin’ performance on the main stage will be none other than southern rock legends Molly Hatchet.
The Pocono Raceway Festival highlights all of the great retail, food, and craft attractions downtown Stroudsburg has in store as NASCAR race teams make their way to the Pocono Mountains region for the first Sprint Cup race of the year at Pocono Raceway. This year’s festival will feature numerous vehicles on display including:
* A GEICO show car display with fun interactive games and prizes
* The FedEx show car and truck along with a FedEx Racing shop
* The Aaron’s Rents show car plus a virtual NASCAR driving simulator
* A first ever look at the new NASCAR Camping World Truck series race truck
* The U.S. Army Special Forces Semi packed with fun games
* The newest and hottest Harleys from Schoch Harley-Davidson Buell
Joining in on the fun will be the Miss Sprint Cup ladies – they’re typically found behind the scenes at NASCAR Sprint Cup events, bringing fans the news, excitement, and information about the series. They’ll be meeting fans and signing autographs near the main stage area. Other attractions at the festival include RC car racing, airbrush tattoos, Chevy Camaro ride and drive events from PA Chevrolet, and pinewood derby racing, just to name a few.
There are still an incredible amount of things to see and do even for festival attendees who aren’t racing fans. There will be nearly two hundred different vendors and storefronts with sidewalk sales and specials. This is in addition to over twenty different food vendors and restaurants that will showcase food ranging from Caribbean jerk chicken to pulled pork to deep fried oreos. In addition, the Monroe County Historical Society will be holding its “Olde Time Fun in the Park” event at the Driebe Freight Station just off Main St. during the day. This great event compliments the Pocono Raceway Festival with historic games along with activities and crafts for children.
Additional entertainment will be presented by some of the best local and touring musicians around and will run throughout the day on the Sherman’s outdoor stages around the downtown area. Performers include classic rockers 7th Stone, jam band favorites MiZ, pop-punk act North of the City, indie darlings Eidleweis, country act Brian Xander, alt-folk group Sonni Shine & The Underwater Sounds, southern rocker Kevin Brennan, acoustic folk singer Sarah Aument, and more.
The Pocono Raceway Festival is an event to benefit the Sherman Theater, including all of the work that the organization accomplishes with local charities like the Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs, Daffodil Express, and others. VIP area packages for the Molly Hatchet show and 2010 Pocono Raceway Festival limited edition commemorative posters are available for purchase – and for more information, call the Sherman Theater at (570)420-2808 or visit the Sherman Theater online at www.shermantheater.com.
Source
LVMS NASCAR Weekend shows increase in economic impact: 6-2-10
The 2010 NASCAR Weekend once again proved to be a huge economic windfall for the Las Vegas economy. This year’s event, Feb. 26-28, contributed $165,767,400 to the local economy, according to figures released by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
That represents a 7.4-percent increase in economic impact over the 2009 event. According to the LVCVA survey, the 2010 event attracted an estimated 148,000 unique visitors to Las Vegas. These race fans occupied 127,000 room nights. The 2010 event also saw more out-of-town guests visit Las Vegas for the NASCAR event than each of the past four years.
The race weekend included the Shelby American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and GRI was there! The Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, zMAX Pole Day and two nights of dirt-track racing for USAC and the World of Outlaws.
Source
That represents a 7.4-percent increase in economic impact over the 2009 event. According to the LVCVA survey, the 2010 event attracted an estimated 148,000 unique visitors to Las Vegas. These race fans occupied 127,000 room nights. The 2010 event also saw more out-of-town guests visit Las Vegas for the NASCAR event than each of the past four years.
The race weekend included the Shelby American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and GRI was there! The Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, zMAX Pole Day and two nights of dirt-track racing for USAC and the World of Outlaws.
Source
Colorado Sports Complex to include racetrack: 6-2-10
On 1100 acres in rural Adams County, in what is technically still Aurora, developer Bill Schuck plans to build the largest sports project in Colorado history. Shuck says he envisions an oval, a road course, a drag racing facility, indoor and outdoor karting facilities and a concert pavilion as part of the Colorado Motorplex. "We are confident that we will be seeing racing in the Front Range of Colorado in the very near future," said Schuck in an interview in his Colorado Springs office surrounded by previously unseen graphic images of the Motorplex. "
This is going to happen. The question is not if, but when and our plan is to have a track in place for the public to attend in 2013."
Earlier efforts to bring NASCAR or Indy racing to Colorado have been vexed by challenges to finding a suitable location for a track. A site in Commerce City was rejected in part because it was too close to residences and earlier efforts in Aurora were turned down for fear the taxpayers would have to support it. At Schuck's Transport development, bordered by Front Range Airport and I-70, there are no nearby homes, easy access into and out of the development, the property is already zoned for a track and no tax dollars needed to build the project. Schuck says the oval alone will cost "several hundred million" dollars to construct. "This economy is very, very difficult," he said. "Fortunately, we're working on a concept that's very unique.
This is not just another real estate deal. We have spoken with (NASCAR team) owners. We have spoken with drivers. We have spoken with numerous investors, all of whom have expressed an interest in becoming part of this facility. Colorado needs a motor sports facility." Schuck says he has not received any guarantee from major league racing that they will come if he builds the oval and yet, he says the reaction he's received in the process of putting the plans together has been overwhelmingly positive.
He cites previous efforts by the sport to gain access to the two million people who live in the metro area. He expects to break ground next year, creating numerous jobs and what he calls an economic boom for Aurora and the state of Colorado in the process.
Source
This is going to happen. The question is not if, but when and our plan is to have a track in place for the public to attend in 2013."
Earlier efforts to bring NASCAR or Indy racing to Colorado have been vexed by challenges to finding a suitable location for a track. A site in Commerce City was rejected in part because it was too close to residences and earlier efforts in Aurora were turned down for fear the taxpayers would have to support it. At Schuck's Transport development, bordered by Front Range Airport and I-70, there are no nearby homes, easy access into and out of the development, the property is already zoned for a track and no tax dollars needed to build the project. Schuck says the oval alone will cost "several hundred million" dollars to construct. "This economy is very, very difficult," he said. "Fortunately, we're working on a concept that's very unique.
This is not just another real estate deal. We have spoken with (NASCAR team) owners. We have spoken with drivers. We have spoken with numerous investors, all of whom have expressed an interest in becoming part of this facility. Colorado needs a motor sports facility." Schuck says he has not received any guarantee from major league racing that they will come if he builds the oval and yet, he says the reaction he's received in the process of putting the plans together has been overwhelmingly positive.
He cites previous efforts by the sport to gain access to the two million people who live in the metro area. He expects to break ground next year, creating numerous jobs and what he calls an economic boom for Aurora and the state of Colorado in the process.
Source
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, police at impasse - 5-12-2010
Even after the governor assembled a committee to deal with New Hampshire Motor Speedway's concerns about the cost of police and fire coverage at the track, the speedway and Loudon police Chief Bob Fiske are about $100,000 apart on the cost of covering next month's NASCAR race weekend. Fiske said he will present the Loudon selectmen tonight [Tuesday, May 11th] with a memorandum of understanding, to be signed by Jerry Gappens, the speedway's executive vice president, stating that the town of Loudon will be paid $174,500 for police and fire coverage, the same cost as the September 2009 race weekend. But Gappens says track owner Bruton Smith believes adequate coverage can be provided for $75,000.
The Loudon track is the only one of eight speedways owned by Smith's company, Speedway Motorsports, that pays for police and fire coverage, Gappens said. Gappens said he considers Fiske's request that he sign a memorandum of understanding to be "an insult" to the relationship forged between town and speedway. "It makes me feel like they feel that we're not trustworthy and we're thieves," he said. "That concerns me." Fiske has said that in order to provide the same level of coverage at the track as in September, $174,500 - $134,000 of that for police coverage - is as low as he can go. That figure is already down significantly from the $263,000 the track paid for police and fire coverage in June 2009, and the selectmen are "totally supportive" of maintaining the same level of manpower, he said. Fiske said he collects about 80 officers from Loudon and towns across the state who make $43 per hour to work the race weekend.
He said he knows asking Gappens to sign the memo "puts a bad taste in people's mouths," but he "can't stand" to leave the town holding the rest of the bill in order to provide adequate coverage. At the company's other speedway locations, Gappens said state and local officials provide coverage for no charge in recognition of the boon to the local economy. Source
The Loudon track is the only one of eight speedways owned by Smith's company, Speedway Motorsports, that pays for police and fire coverage, Gappens said. Gappens said he considers Fiske's request that he sign a memorandum of understanding to be "an insult" to the relationship forged between town and speedway. "It makes me feel like they feel that we're not trustworthy and we're thieves," he said. "That concerns me." Fiske has said that in order to provide the same level of coverage at the track as in September, $174,500 - $134,000 of that for police coverage - is as low as he can go. That figure is already down significantly from the $263,000 the track paid for police and fire coverage in June 2009, and the selectmen are "totally supportive" of maintaining the same level of manpower, he said. Fiske said he collects about 80 officers from Loudon and towns across the state who make $43 per hour to work the race weekend.
He said he knows asking Gappens to sign the memo "puts a bad taste in people's mouths," but he "can't stand" to leave the town holding the rest of the bill in order to provide adequate coverage. At the company's other speedway locations, Gappens said state and local officials provide coverage for no charge in recognition of the boon to the local economy. Source
Daytona repaving gives Goodyear tight timeline - 5-9-2010
Daytona International Speedway is repaving the 2.5-mile super-speedway for the first time since 1978. While work will begin following the Coke Zero 400 in July, track officials don't expect the asphalt to be ready for testing until Jan.
1. That's more than a month before NASCAR teams return for Speedweeks and it may not leave Goodyear ample time to perfect a tire for the Daytona 500. NASCAR officials informed Goodyear of an open Daytona test scheduled for mid-January (rumored to be Jan. 15th but denied by top brass from the sanctioning body). Goodyear traditionally begins manufacturing tires in October for Speedweeks with the usual run of 6,000 units. With a test involved, as is anticipated given a completely green and unknown track surface, Goodyear would likely up the tire inventory to 8,000 tires for all the Daytona events - the Budweiser Shootout, Gatorade Duels, Camping World Truck race,
Nationwide Series race and the 500 (and practices for all those events). Originally, Stu Grant of Goodyear had hoped to start the testing process no later than Nov. 1, using the current Daytona tires as the control tires and build a data base. Should Goodyear not have time for a tire test prior to January, the Daytona open test sessions would become the tire test. Lane Contruction recently repaved Talladega using the same asphalt compound for Daytona, so Grant says Goodyear would now use the Talladega tire as the control tire.
Goodyear has received pavement samples from Lane but if testing is not an option, the tires will have to be developed by engineers in the lab instead of on the track. The selection process begins with a control tire and usually requires four to six weeks to assemble the materials, then build and cure the tires. Even if Goodyear could test a tire on Jan. 1, teams would not have track-tested tires for a full Cup Series test on Jan. 15. Although it would be a push, teams could have the new tires for the opening day of Speedweeks on Feb. 9. Source
1. That's more than a month before NASCAR teams return for Speedweeks and it may not leave Goodyear ample time to perfect a tire for the Daytona 500. NASCAR officials informed Goodyear of an open Daytona test scheduled for mid-January (rumored to be Jan. 15th but denied by top brass from the sanctioning body). Goodyear traditionally begins manufacturing tires in October for Speedweeks with the usual run of 6,000 units. With a test involved, as is anticipated given a completely green and unknown track surface, Goodyear would likely up the tire inventory to 8,000 tires for all the Daytona events - the Budweiser Shootout, Gatorade Duels, Camping World Truck race,
Nationwide Series race and the 500 (and practices for all those events). Originally, Stu Grant of Goodyear had hoped to start the testing process no later than Nov. 1, using the current Daytona tires as the control tires and build a data base. Should Goodyear not have time for a tire test prior to January, the Daytona open test sessions would become the tire test. Lane Contruction recently repaved Talladega using the same asphalt compound for Daytona, so Grant says Goodyear would now use the Talladega tire as the control tire.
Goodyear has received pavement samples from Lane but if testing is not an option, the tires will have to be developed by engineers in the lab instead of on the track. The selection process begins with a control tire and usually requires four to six weeks to assemble the materials, then build and cure the tires. Even if Goodyear could test a tire on Jan. 1, teams would not have track-tested tires for a full Cup Series test on Jan. 15. Although it would be a push, teams could have the new tires for the opening day of Speedweeks on Feb. 9. Source
Records & Prices Fall at Talladega Superspeedway - 5-9-2010
Talladega Superspeedway shattered NASCAR records during the Aaron's Dream Weekend and now they are shattering prices too. To commemorate the NASCAR record 88 lead changes set in the Aaron's 499, Talladega Superspeedway has lowered ticket prices in the Gadsden and Lincoln Towers from $120 to $88 for the Oct. 31 AMP Energy 500.
Race fans that purchase or renew their tickets in these areas will also be entered into a drawing for 88 autographed Dale Earnhardt Jr. hero cards. NASCAR action returns with the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and Race Number Seven in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the AMP Energy 500, Oct. 29 - 31. To experience it all, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA
Race fans that purchase or renew their tickets in these areas will also be entered into a drawing for 88 autographed Dale Earnhardt Jr. hero cards. NASCAR action returns with the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and Race Number Seven in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the AMP Energy 500, Oct. 29 - 31. To experience it all, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA
Daytona repaving gives Goodyear tight timeline - 5-6-2010
No Cup race at Kentucky in 2011? Even though it appears that the Kentucky Speedway founders' antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR is coming to a close, track owner Speedway Motorsports Inc. reported that a 2011 Sprint Cup date at the track "may not be feasible" because of a variety of factors, including capital improvements necessary for the facility. SMI Chairman Bruton Smith has been adamant about moving a date to Kentucky as soon as possible. But a filing Wednesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission noted that 2011 might be too soon, although those filings must cover all possible scenarios and can, at times, be cautious in nature.
Bill Brooks, SMI's chief financial officer, said Wednesday during a conference call with financial analysts that among the factors that would dictate when realignment would occur are "particularly costs of any capital expenditure to upgrade or expand our facility at Kentucky [and] the lead time to do it." Brooks did not say what capital improvements will be necessary, but Smith has talked about expanding the grandstand capacity. Kentucky has only 69,000 seats - 30,000 fewer than New Hampshire and 32,000 fewer than Atlanta - and likely would need to increase seating for a Sprint Cup event.
According to the SEC filing, other factors being considered over whether to move a race to Kentucky are the popularity and profitability of various races, alternative uses of tracks and revenues for such tracks in the event a race is moved, any existing or potential government tax incentives, changing economic conditions at the individual tracks and in the economy as a whole. Source
Bill Brooks, SMI's chief financial officer, said Wednesday during a conference call with financial analysts that among the factors that would dictate when realignment would occur are "particularly costs of any capital expenditure to upgrade or expand our facility at Kentucky [and] the lead time to do it." Brooks did not say what capital improvements will be necessary, but Smith has talked about expanding the grandstand capacity. Kentucky has only 69,000 seats - 30,000 fewer than New Hampshire and 32,000 fewer than Atlanta - and likely would need to increase seating for a Sprint Cup event.
According to the SEC filing, other factors being considered over whether to move a race to Kentucky are the popularity and profitability of various races, alternative uses of tracks and revenues for such tracks in the event a race is moved, any existing or potential government tax incentives, changing economic conditions at the individual tracks and in the economy as a whole. Source
Groundbreaking for casino at Kansas Speedway - 5-3-2010
Kansas Entertainment, LLC, commenced construction of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway as Company representatives and local officials recently conducted a groundbreaking ceremony at Turn 2, the track-side site of the new facility.
Kansas Entertainment is a 50/50 joint venture of Penn Hollywood Kansas, Inc, a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming, Inc.and Kansas Speedway Development Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation. The following company representatives and local officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony:
· Tim Wilmott, President and Chief Operating Officer of Penn National Gaming;
· Troy Findley, Lieutenant Governor of Kansas;
· William Falstad, Commissioner of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission;
· Ed Van Petten, Kansas Lottery Executive Director;
· Jeff Boerger, President of Kansas Speedway Development Corporation; and,
· Joe Reardon, Mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.
The first phase of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway includes a state-of-the-art casino and is expected to open in early 2012 with 2,300 slot machines, 61 gaming tables and 25 poker tables on a 100,000 square-foot gaming floor. Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will also feature 28,000 square-feet of other amenities including restaurants, clubs and night-life attractions. The addition of the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is estimated to bring nearly 440,000 tourists per year and created 1,050 full time positions; elevating the state to a first-class, year-round tourist destination.(Kansas Speedway)
Kansas Entertainment is a 50/50 joint venture of Penn Hollywood Kansas, Inc, a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming, Inc.and Kansas Speedway Development Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation. The following company representatives and local officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony:
· Tim Wilmott, President and Chief Operating Officer of Penn National Gaming;
· Troy Findley, Lieutenant Governor of Kansas;
· William Falstad, Commissioner of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission;
· Ed Van Petten, Kansas Lottery Executive Director;
· Jeff Boerger, President of Kansas Speedway Development Corporation; and,
· Joe Reardon, Mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.
The first phase of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway includes a state-of-the-art casino and is expected to open in early 2012 with 2,300 slot machines, 61 gaming tables and 25 poker tables on a 100,000 square-foot gaming floor. Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will also feature 28,000 square-feet of other amenities including restaurants, clubs and night-life attractions. The addition of the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is estimated to bring nearly 440,000 tourists per year and created 1,050 full time positions; elevating the state to a first-class, year-round tourist destination.(Kansas Speedway)
GRIP Audio - 2010 Indy 500
Listen to Jim Nabors sing "Back Home Again In Indiana", military taps, flyover, Jewel sing the National Anthem, the green flag start to the finish, great stuff, turn it up!
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