Sears Point ALMS event could have high ratings

CBS Anchor Says Earnhardt Visit Could Produce Highest TV Rating Ever For American Le Mans Series

Braselton, GA - For the first time in its existence, the American Le Mans Series will add NASCAR Star Dale Earnhardt Jr. to its list of sports car racing talent for Sunday's Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Earnhardt, one of the most popular drivers in racing history, will pilot the Factory Corvette Team's No. 8 Chevrolet Corvette C5-R along with co-driver Boris Said.

Ralph Sheheen will anchor CBS' Infineon Grand Prix coverage beginning at 3 p.m. (EST) Sunday, July 18, and will be joined by former sports car racer Bill Adam for analysis. Calvin Fish and Brian Till will cover the action from the pits as well and Tracy Wolfson will be a feature reporter.

"It has the potential to be one of the highest rated American Le Mans Series broadcasts of all time," Sheheen said. "Dale Jr. has one of the biggest fan bases in sports and has already had tremendous success with NASCAR. I think it is a great indication of where the American Le Mans Series is and is headed when a driver like Dale Jr. has an opening in his schedule and wants to compete against some of the best sports car racers in the world to see how his skills stack up. A lot of people are fired up about this and we at CBS are thrilled to get to televise this race."

Suzanne Smith of CBS Sports will be Coordinating Producer for the telecast, produced by Wheeler TV of Charlotte, N.C. Jim Roller will be Producer and Billy McCoy will direct the telecast.

The Infineon Grand Prix will be televised live in Europe by MotorsTV beginning at 19:00 (UK time). The American Le Mans Series Radio Web will also have a live radio broadcast that can be heard online at www.americanlemans.com.

RACE INFORMATION

Track: Infineon Raceway
Track Location: Sonoma, Calif.
Local Start Time: 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Television: CBS Sports 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. (ET)
Track Length: 2.53 Mile, 12 turn road course
Race Length: 2 hours, 45 minutes

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