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Charlotte Motor Speedway news 2011-11-02

NASCAR Drivers Invest Time and Money in Dirt Track Racing's Premier Divisions CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 2, 2010) - NASCAR competitors Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart are among the Sprint Cup Series drivers who have devoted ...

NASCAR Drivers Invest Time and Money in Dirt Track Racing's Premier Divisions

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 2, 2010) - NASCAR competitors Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart are among the Sprint Cup Series drivers who have devoted time and money into the grassroots of motorsports through ownership of short-track racing teams. Each star will have drivers entered in the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks Thursday through Saturday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The World Finals brings together dirt racing's three premier divisions, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds, for three nights of on-track action that crowns their respective champions.

NASCAR Drivers Invest in Roots of Motorsports
Bowyer, Kahne, Labonte and Stewart are just a few of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who started their careers competing on dirt and asphalt tracks around the country and now have become short-track race team owners. Each driver will have a vested interest in the outcome of the World Finals this weekend as all will be fielding cars for the gigantic three-day event. Tony Stewart Racing will have three entries in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser; four-time consecutive series champion Donny Schatz, who is currently second in the points standings, 96 markers behind leader Jason Meyers; and Jessica Zemken.

Kasey Kahne Racing will field sprint car entries for four drivers in the World Finals: Cody Darrah, Paul McMahan, Joey Saldana, who currently sits fourth in the points and Brad Sweet.

Clint Bowyer Racing and Bobby Labonte Motorsports field dirt late models for Dale McDowell and Earl Pearson Jr., respectively, and both teams are scheduled to compete this week at The Dirt Track.

Also scheduled to participate in World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series competition is Brooke Tatnell, driving an entry owned by legendary NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham and Dale Blaney, brother of NASCAR driver Dave Blaney. In World of Outlaws Late Model Series competition, former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ken Schrader and Austin Dillon, grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress and current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver are scheduled to compete.

Females in the Field for both World of Outlaws Series Races at The Dirt Track
Two women are scheduled to compete side-by-side with the big boys of the World of Outlaws Series during the World Finals this weekend. Tony Stewart Racing driver and New York native Jessica Zemken, is set to compete in a World of Outlaws sprint car for the event. Zemken has competed in a variety of 410 and 360 sprint car races, including stints with the World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions.

Driver Jill George is scheduled to participate in World of Outlaws Late Model Series competition at The Dirt Track. George, a former all-state athlete at the University of Northern Iowa and a Golden Gloves boxer, makes her living as a chiropractor and was the first female to enter the prestigious Knoxville Late Model Nationals, running against NASCAR drivers including Stewart and Schrader. This year George has become the first female to attempt to run the full World of Outlaws Late Model Series schedule.

International Crowd to Descend on The Dirt Track for World Finals Race fans from as far away as Australia and New Zealand will converge on the lightning-fast four-tenths-mile clay oval to watch their favorite drivers vying for a chance to visit Victory Lane. Thousands of fans from 48 states, eight Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom will also be in attendance to witness "The Greatest Show on Dirt." Representatives from each state, province and country will waive their respective flags during a special ceremony as part of pre-race festivities on Saturday.

Are you Fluent in French?
With an international crowd expected for the World Finals this weekend at The Dirt Track, speedway officials will bring in French translators to accommodate the many French Canadians on property. Nearly 2,000 tickets have been sold to fans in Quebec and nearly 10 competitors will be traveling from the French-Canadian province to compete in the season-ending event. A safety worker fluent in French will be stationed in the infield, in addition to a translator in the grandstand and pit area who will be available for those who may need assistance.

Big-Block Modifieds Make History Ending Their Season This Week in Charlotte
Big-Block Modified fans will witness history as their series champion will be crowned during the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. For the first time in 34 years the Super DIRTcar Series will end their season outside of New York State, and alongside the World of Outlaws sprint cars and late models. Three straight days of trackside activity for the Super DIRTcar Series leads off Thursday with qualifying heats, then continues Friday and Saturday with back-to-back 40-lap main events each paying $6,000 to win. Valuable points are on the line towards the overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Championship, with the newest champion crowned on Saturday night.

Big-Block driver and rising star Matt Sheppard is among the drivers scheduled to compete at the four-tenths-mile clay oval. Sheppard is the current points leader, 74 markers ahead of Jimmy Phelps. Both Sheppard and Phelps are in search of their first-ever overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block title.

Tight Points Battle in World of Outlaws Late Model Series
Heading into the World Finals this weekend a tight points battle separates the top three contenders in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Josh Richards, 2009 series champion, leads title contenders Darrell Lanigan by just 22 points and Tim McCreadie by 94 markers. While it may appear that Richards has the clear advantage over Lanigan and MCreadie, all three drivers have had quite a bit of success this season. Richards has eight wins, 26 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes in World of Outlaws competition, while Lanigan has seven wins, 27 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes, compared to McCreadie's four wins, 21 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes. There's no doubt that all three drivers will be giving it their all with the $100,000 champion's prize riding on the results of the World Finals.

A record amount of sprint cars, late models and Big-Block Modifieds are anticipated for the largest event of the year at The Dirt Track.

Three-day ticket packages are $69 for adults and $24 for kids 12 and under. Single-day tickets start at just $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. For more information or to purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or go online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

-source: cms

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