Chad Little scheduled to kickoff summer shootout series

CONCORD, N.C. (June 12, 2000) - A clear sign that summer has entered the Carolinas, the annual Tuesday night NASCAR Grudge Match is set to kickoff at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday, June 13. Chad Little, driver of the No. 97 John Deere Ford in the Winston Cup Series, is scheduled to compete against fellow NASCAR Winston Cup driver Steve Park in the first Wendy's Summer Shootout Series of 2000.

The three two-lap races around the speedway's frontstretch .25-mile oval, is one highlight in a night of Legends Cars competition. The 10-week series is set to begin tomorrow and will run every Tuesday night through August 15. Each week two NASCAR competitors will strap into a Winston Cup convertible for six laps between Legends Cars and Bandoleros racing.

Tuesday's activities will be broadcast live on FOX Sports South with an 8:00 p.m. EDT start time and will run until 10:00 p.m. Commentating this year's event from the booth will be TNN regulars Ralph Sheheen and Steve Byrnes. Performance Racing Network (PRN) reporter Doug Rice will be down in the pits as the drivers bump and grind in the best two-out-of-three series. Both drivers will also be miked, so besides talking to the commentators, the drivers will be able to interact with one another between races making it a fan-friendly event.

"I competed in the Summer Shootout event last year and had such a blast that I couldn't turn it down this year," Little said. "I've actually participated the past couple of years, and it's always a great show. There's no pressure involved in the race and I think that that not only makes it fun for the drivers, but it also makes it fun for the fans.

"It's one of the few times that we're able to race without any added pressures, and that makes it a unique experience for all those involved. I'm sure this year will be no different, and it will also be the first time that I'll be paired against Steve (Park). As long as you don't wreck one of Humpy's (Wheeler) cars you walk away from the evening wanting to do it all over again."