Outlaws highlight diverse 2001 Portland Speedway schedule

The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series will return to the Rose City for the second annual Baxter Auto Parts/Auto Value Classic Friday and Saturday, August 24 & 25. The "Outlaws" gave the track high praise during the inaugural running of the event saying it was "smooth" and very "racey". Tickets for this marquee event are only available by calling 1-800-825-4832. Over the winter months, speedway constructions crews have continued to massage the half-mile clay oval track into one of the best in the country.

The World of Outlaws will showcase a 15-event special events calendar that will also include the hy-per-lube Northern Sprint Tour 360 sprint car series, USAC Western States Midgets, Outlaw Late Models, Factory Stock Car Enduros, and Flat Track Motorcycles all competing on the half-mile clay surface.

The 2001 season will mark the first time the speedway has featured a weekly dirt racing format in more than fifty years. This new format, called NASCAR Friday "Bud Bowl", will be contested on a new third-mile clay oval that replaces the old asphalt quarter-mile track. This new configuration will bring the action closer to the fans and provide for three-wide racing-action on all corners where old rivalries will be renewed on dirt. The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series line-up of 20 Friday "Bud Bowl" events will be paced by the Grand American Modifieds, full-bodied Sportsman, Street Stocks, and the ever-popular "Bumpin" Bombers. Joining these divisions on alternating Friday nights will be the Figure 8 cars, and a brand new all-women's division called WAR!, for Women's Auto Racing.

Ticket prices for Friday "Bud Bowl" have been rolled back to $10 for adults, $5 for juniors (11-17), and kids 10 and under are free. A complete 2001 schedule and information about Portland Speedway-"The Dirt Track" is available by logging on to Portland Speedway's official website, www.portlandspeedway.com

-Portland Speedway