IRL: Texas Indy Racing League Experience at Bass Pro Shops

INDY RACING LEAGUE EXPERIENCE MAKES PIT STOP AT BASS PRO SHOPS

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (October 5, 1999) - Race fans will have the chance to meet professional race drivers and win great prizes at the Pep Boys Indy Racing League Experience Oct. 9-14 at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Grapevine.

The IRL Experience marks the official kick off to race week at Texas Motor Speedway which includes the Oct. 15 Bluebonnet 300 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and the Oct. 17 Mall.com 500 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Championship event. The weekend activities at Bass Pro Shops include special appearances by IRL driver John Hollansworth Jr. and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers David Starr, B.A. Wilson, Randy Renfro and Eric Norris.

Fans will have the chance to meet and greet the drivers and win tickets to the Bluebonnet 300 and the Mall.com 500 as well as prizes from NASCAR.

The IRL Experience is a traveling version of the famous FanFest that debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway five years ago. Fans will get the opportunity to feel the speed of a race car through a twelve person motion simulator, view highlights of Indy Racing League events and walk through a sponsor exhibit tent with interactive racing displays.

This is the first event of its kind at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine since its opening in March 1999.

"We are excited to bring the IRL Experience to motorsports fans in the metroplex," said Bass Pro Shops spokesperson Rachel Rickman. "Racing is a very popular with many of our customers - this event gives us the opportunity to give something special back to all of our visitors."

There is no charge or purchase required for any part of the activities or exhibits. The IRL Experience will be open 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. on Oct. 9-13 and 10:00 a.m.-noon on Oct. 14.

Driver appearances will be from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 9, IRL Rookie-of-the-Year contender John Hollansworth, Jr. will meet fans and talk about his hopes for the Mall.com 500 Championship race on Sunday, Oct. 17.

On Saturday and Sunday, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers B.A. Wilson, Randy Renfro will be in attendance. On Sunday, series regular and local resident, David Starr will appear with Eric Norris, son of Chuck Norris. The younger Norris announced just today that he will drive in the Bluebonnet 300.