California Speedway "Fontana race week" preview

Fans are the Real Winners during Fontana Race Week

FONTANA, Calif. (February 2, 2005) --- As NASCAR Accelerates into the 2005 season, Southern California race fans will benefit in several ways during Fontana Race Week. The atmospheric event is centered around the Auto Club 500 weekend at California Speedway and will feature Fontana RaceFest, Monte Carlo Night and Hot Rod Cruise, and will give fans a taste of NASCAR.

"With the Auto Club 500 being at California Speedway the second week of the season," California Speedway President Bill Miller said, "fans will be able to get their season started at the track and be part of great racing action and fan-friendly activities during Fontana Race Week.

"Drivers, Speedway partners, team sponsors and the City of Fontana have rallied together to make this an incredible week for NASCAR fans," Miller said.

Not even a week after the season-opening Daytona 500, race fans will be treated to what is likely to be the largest free sports related fan event in California - the Fontana RaceFest on Thursday, February 24 from 4-9 p.m. The City of Fontana will close Sierra Avenue at Arrow Highway and Upland Avenue with the four blocks surrounding the Civic Center Campus and A.B. Miller Park creating a fun, festive atmosphere.

A variety of driver autograph sessions will take place with some of the sport's biggest names, including seven-time NASCAR Champion Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Jeremy Mayfield, Rusty Wallace, Brian Vickers, Sterling Marlin, Dave Blaney, Jeff Green, Kyle Petty, Kerry Earnhardt and David Green.

The RaceFest, which is being presented by Pepsi, will also have show cars, displays and simulators aplenty, including Pepsi, Kellog's, Coke, Jack Daniels, Hershey, Sara Lee, Smirnoff Ice, Georgia Pacific and Kleenex. Other points of interest will be the Weiner Mobile, the Dale Earnhardt Experience, Slice beverage's giant slide, Miller Lite Girls and radio stations KGGI 99.1 FM and KISS 102.7 FM.

A free shuttle will be available to guests from California Speedway to the RaceFest.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will take to California Speedway on Friday, February 25 for the American Racing Wheels 200. Joining the truck race on the evening slate will be the Inaugural Monte Carlo Night. Guests can enjoy the truck race as well as casino style entertainment, including black jack, roulette, poker and a dominoes tournament. Driver appearances, including three-time California Speedway winner Jeff Gordon, will take place. Tons of prizes, from NEXTEL phones, driver autographed memorabilia and gift baskets, will highlight the evening event.

Raising money for charity, the Monte Carlo Night is presented by the Fontana Chamber of Commerce and will make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and Inland Empire and the Chamber's Best B.E.T. (Business and Education Together) program, a fund established to assist teachers in purchasing much needed classroom supplies. Guests will need to purchase an American Racing Wheels 200 ticket ($30) as well as entry into the Monte Carlo Night ($20 donation for chamber members and $25 for non-chamber memers).

On Saturday, February 26, guests can enjoy NASCAR Busch and NEXTEL Cup Series qualifying as well as the Busch Series Stater Bros. 300. A Hot Rod Cruise in the infield will showcase some of the area's most brilliant cars as they display their machines all day and take a parade lap around the 2-mile, D-shaped oval in the afternoon. After Saturday's race, the Miller Lite Rock 'n Racing Concert will allow all ticketed guests entry into the infield for the musical performance and a spectacular fireworks show. Saturday's race tickets are $40 and $50.

The Race Week will culminate at California Speedway on Sunday, February 27 when the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competes in a 250-lap, 500-mile race - the Auto Club 500. The race is sure to help shape the appearance of the 2005 "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup" as all but two of the past race winners at the superspeedway have gone on to be part of the final top-10 in the standings (Jeremy Mayfield competed in 32 of 34 races in 2000 and finished 24th in the points while Kurt Busch finished 11th after his win in 2003). Tickets are available for $65 and $105.

For California Speedway ticket and event information, call 800-944-RACE [7223] or go to www.californiaspeedway.com. For additional information on Fontana Race Week, please visit www.fontana.org. - Auto Club 500 -

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