Motorsports Venues - ALL ACCESS Features Autograph Session With NASCAR Stars

BROOKLYN, July 29, 2011: Proving once again Michigan International Speedway and NASCAR are the leaders in recognizing its fans, speedway officials have announced a new element to the track’s popular and ever-growing Fan Appreciation Program.

“MIS ALL ACCESS” on Friday, Aug. 19 ensures fans get unprecedented access to the sport of NASCAR – and its stars. Some of the superstars of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series will participate in an autograph session starting at 5 p.m.

Participating drivers include Dale Earnhardt Jr., five-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Michigan’s own Brad Keselowski, former series champion Matt Kenseth, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland and former MIS winner Brian Vickers will participate in the autograph session.

“I’m excited to participate in Race Fest at Michigan,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The track has great race fans and this is a fun opportunity to meet many of them.”

Participation in the autograph session will be via the track’s Fan Appreciation Program’s random draw. Fans are invited to participate in the autograph session by receiving a Golden Ticket. Those 750 fans who receive Golden Tickets may redeem them at the track’s Fan Appreciation booth in the New Holland Fan Plaza starting at 9 a.m. Friday for wristbands.

Each fan who redeems a Golden Ticket will receive a wristband in one of five colors – with each wristband color corresponding to drivers who have been paired at random. So fans will get two autographs each.

Once a fan gets their two autographs, they are invited to tour the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage until it closes at 6 p.m., enough time to see the exclusive inner workings of the teams, crews and drivers at work prepping their stock cars for the Aug. 21 Pure Michigan 400. The NASCAR Sprint Cup garage will be open weather permitting.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our guests to meet their favorite drivers and spend some time truly experiencing NASCAR up-close,” track President Roger Curtis said. “NASCAR and its drivers have long been the most accessible sport and the most accessible athletes; that’s part of the reason NASCAR is so popular with its fans. And we’re thrilled to bring this new exciting opportunity to engage with drivers to our guests.”

Fans will receive a detail packet with all the autograph session information when they pick up their wristbands.

Driver participation and number of autographs is subject to change and without notice. Neither NASCAR, Inc., nor any of its affiliates are sponsors of this promotion.

Other activities during MIS ALL ACCESS include pace car rides and other activities for the fans. NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer told MIS race fans during an appearance in Grand Rapids, Mich., he would drive some fans around the track during the event.

“I can’t wait,” Bowyer said. “The fans at MIS are awesome; they really love racing here and they go all out to show how loyal and passionate they are about NASCAR. And it shows how much MIS cares about its ticketholders.”

The track’s Fan Appreciation Program has been recognizing and awarding loyal guests at MIS for the past three years with prizes, experiences and cool upgrades like pit passes, access to pre-race ceremonies and seat upgrades. The racetrack is the only track that gives fans the chance to award a unique driver trophy to the winner of the NASCAR sprint Cup race. Loyalty means something at MIS.

Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is the Great Escape, a venerable NASCAR national park where fans can get away and enjoy the very best in racing and camaraderie. It’s the love of racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike.

Keep up with Michigan International Speedway via Twitter @MISpeedway or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MISpeedway. Join our Mobile Fan Club by texting MISCLUB on a Sprint Handheld or other mobile device to 69050 on a Sprint Smartphone or other mobile device. Standard text message rates may apply.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for the Pure Michigan 400 on Aug. 21 are as low as $30 while supplies last. Visit MISpeedway.com or call the MIS ticket hotline at 800-354-1010 today to take advantage of great pricing for 2011 events at MIS. The ticket office is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

As always, parking is free at MIS – and the track allows coolers through the gates