Watkins Glen Int'l news 2009-08-05

FANS HAVE UNPRECIDENTED ACCESS DURING THE HELUVA GOOD! SOUR CREAM DIPS AT THE GLEN WEEKEND
Don't Miss Autograph Sessions, Q&A Sessions and Meet & Greets With the Stars of NASCAR and Grand-Am

Watkins Glen, NY (August 5, 2009) -- During the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen Weekend, August 6-9, fans will have unprecedented access to their favorite drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. In addition to countless appearances around Watkins Glen International, drivers will also venture out into the surrounding community to meet their fans.

On Thursday, August 6, Bobby Labonte will have a free meet and greet with his fans in the Winners Lounge at Tioga Downs Casino. Labonte will be at the casino in Nichols, NY, to meet his fans from 5:00 PM -- 7:00 PM. Meanwhile, Joey Logano and Greg Zipadelli will be signing autographs for fans at the Painted Post Home Depot. The driver/crew chief duo will be available at 5:00 PM -- 7:00 PM to sign autographs for the first 700 fans with wristbands. Wristbands will begin being handed out at 4:00 PM at the Home Depot store on Silverback Lane. Reed Sorenson will be in Corning, NY, to sign autographs for fans at the Corning, NY McDonald's. Sorenson is expected to sign autographs for the first 200 guests. Kurt Busch will also be in Corning, NY as a part of Race Fever. Busch will make an appearance during the festival to meet fans and sign autographs. Race Fever will take place along Bridge Street from 5:00 PM -- 9:00 PM.

On Friday, August 7, the afternoon will kick off with an all-driver autograph session for the stars of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. The autograph session will take place from 2:00 PM -- 3:00 PM in the Grand-Am paddock at the track. Later, Ryan Miller will make an appearance at The Pyramid at Watkins Glen International. Miller is the goaltender for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, and will give the command to start engines as a part of his Grand Marshal duties for the Crown Royal 200 on Friday night. Miller will sign autographs for the fans that attend his appearance from 5:00 PM -- 6:00 PM. Miller will also be promoting his charitable endeavor, The Steadfast Foundation, through the sale of limited edition Steadfast Foundation/WGI hats. The hats will be sold exclusively at his autograph session, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Steadfast Foundation. Kasey Kahne will make an appearance at the Horseheads, NY McDonalds at 6:00 PM -- 7:30 PM. He is expected to sign autographs for the first 200 guests.

Renowned NASCAR Artist, Sam Bass, will make several appearances throughout the day on Saturday, August 8 at the race track. Bass is expected to make three appearances at the Zippo Display along the Fan Midway. Appearances are scheduled at 8:00 AM -- 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM -- 11:00 AM, and 1:00 PM -- 2:00 PM. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Reed Sorenson will make two appearances at the McDonald's Family Zone at the track. Sorenson is expected to sign autographs for the first 75 fans at each session. The appearances are schedule for 11:00 AM -- 11:25 AM and 2:00 PM -- 2:30 PM.

Leading up to the green flag for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen on Sunday morning, August 9, drivers and NASCAR personalities will again be available for autographs and question and answer sessions. Sam Bass will hold one last autograph session at The Pyramid from 10:00 AM -- 11:00 AM. In addition, the McDonalds Family Zone will feature question and answer sessions with two members of the McDonald's racing family. Kasey Kahne will field questions from the fans at 11:20 AM -- 11:35 AM, and then NASCAR legend, Richard Petty, will answer questions from 12:45 PM -- 1:00 PM.

Don't miss the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series as they take on the twisted turns of Watkins Glen International in their final road-course race of the season, August 6 - 9. The DP and GT classes of the Rolex Sports Car Series return to The Glen to compete in the Crown Royal 200 on Friday night, followed by the Zippo 200 with the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Saturday afternoon. The weekend will culminate with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing in the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen on Sunday afternoon. Sunday only tickets begin at just $55, with weekend tickets beginning at $80. For tickets and information, please contact the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official Watkins Glen International website at www.TheGlen.com. Tickets, gift certificates and track merchandise can be all purchased at The Shop located at 2 North Franklin Street in downtown Watkins Glen-Open Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-4, Closed Sunday; 607-535-2338.

-credit: wgi