Earnhardt Jr, Schrader purchase race track

NASCAR STARS DALE EARNHARDT, JR., AND KEN SCHRADER USHER IN A NEW ERA AT PADUCAH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

PADUCAH, KY (November 26, 2005) -- NASCAR Nextel Cup racers Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Ken Schrader along with well known Midwestern promoter Bob Sargent are now the proud owners of Paducah International Raceway. The trio recently finalized their purchase of the popular McCracken County, KY, venue that boasts a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval, 1/5-mile race track and a Motocross/TT run with grandstands that accommodate 5,000 spectators.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., boasts a name synonymous with speed. The popular pilot of the #8 Budweiser Chevy in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series is a newcomer to the dirt racing scene but he was fascinated by the mud-slingin', full-throttle excitement that he witnessed at Ken Schrader's I-55 Raceway. In addition to his racing prowess, Earnhardt, Jr., is also co-owner of the NASCAR Busch Series' championship team, Chance2 Motorsports, and founder of JR Motorsports. PIR is his first foray into dirt racing and track ownership. Earnhardt, Jr., is looking forward to this new venture and is excited about the opportunities and growth in the Paducah area and is eager to be involved in the dirt track industry.

NASCAR Nextel Cup veteran Ken Schrader will race anything with wheels from his new ride in the #21 Little Debbie Snacks/U.S. Air Force Ford in NASCAR's premier division to his self-owned rides in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Grand National West Division and ARCA RE/MAX Series. Schrader also owns a dirt late model that he has wheeled in twenty-three states from California to Florida during the 2005 season. In addition to PIR, Schrader is the co-owner of another dirt track -- I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO. Schrader is also enthusiastic about returning to the Paducah area throughout 2006 for various appearances and events at the raceway.

Conveniently located off of I-24 in Paducah, the track hosts the most popular touring sanctions from the AMA motorcycles to various 700+ horsepower super late model series. Paducah International Raceway will also host prominent special events including the Tri-Track Challenge, U.M.P. Summernationals and the track's annual banner event -- "The Wayne Coakley/Bob Memmer Memorial 'World 50'". Racing action will take place at PIR every Friday night during a seven-month season from March through September and will feature U.M.P. Super Late Models, U.M.P. Modifieds, Crate Late Models and Pure Street Stocks. Additional divisions including quads, 4-cylinder hornets and mini-sprints will also compete on a limited schedule.

Exciting changes are in store for Paducah International Raceway and the management and staff of PIR look forward to combining the fan-friendly, grassroots racing excitement of dirt racing with the entertaining atmosphere of NASCAR into a unique experience that fans will only be able to obtain at Paducah International Raceway. Schedules and additional plans will be finalized during the off-season and announcements will be made after the new year.

An informational rules meeting for the upcoming 2006 racing season will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2005, at the American Legion Post #31 from 1pm-4pm. The Legion is located at 425 Legion Drive in Paducah, KY. The meeting will address rules and schedules for participating divisions as well as a question and answer session for competitors.

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