SPECIAL EVENT (VARIOUS LOCATIONS)- PINKS All Out 2008 Schedule
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Nine marketplaces will host events in 2008, starting with San Antonio Raceway on March 8 and wrapping up in 'Wine Country' at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., Sept. 6. April 19 is the re-scheduled date for Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway, which is currently undergoing track renovations, while Southwestern International Raceway is hosting the first shoot of Season Two this weekend in Tucson, Ariz.
Only Gateway International Raceway (June 28) just outside St. Louis and Gainesville Raceway have hosted an original PINKS shoot since the brand's premiere in July of 2005. This will also be PINKS inaugural visits to the states of Louisiana, Georgia, Ohio, New Jersey, Colorado and California.
"We are excited about the direction we are headed with our PINKS All Out events," said Hunter Nickell, President of SPEED. "Not only are we shooting a television show, but we're also focusing our efforts on providing the audience with a festive and fun day at the local drag strip.
"Ever since the first PINKS All Out at the Texas Motorplex during Labor Day weekend in 2006, we have seen an astounding increase in spectator attendance at these shoots," Nickell continued. "For 2008, we wanted PINKS competitors, fans and sponsors to have an opportunity to mark their calendars early. Next year's schedule will once again introduce PINKS to an ever-widening audience, pinpointing unique marketplaces and exposing new fans."
For each shoot in 2008, PINKS All Out will invite up to 450 grass roots drag racers to qualify for a shot at the final PINKS All Out 16, where competitors race for the lion's share of an $18,000 overall purse ($10,000 to win) and a new NAPA tool chest. Hosted by creator and executive producer Rich Christensen and produced by Pullin Television out of Los Angeles, the television show rigors its on-air technical advisors (brothers Nate and Adam Pritchett) to select a field of 16 cars based upon a subjective elapsed-time grouping determined through two time-trial sessions. Prior to each Saturday shoot, racers will have the opportunity pre-register their race cars and take part in a Friday test n' tune.
The PINKS All Out at-track experience offers a variety of exhibitions and competitions, providing on-track activities throughout the Saturday shoot. In addition, a midway area provides local vendors, manufacturers, supporters and local groups to elevate its involvement and showcase their wares or talents, offering a variety of entertainment reminiscent of a 'county fair.'
"We started out producing a television program and in very short order we've found ourselves in the event business, attracting upwards of 400 cars and drawing crowds sometimes in excess of 25,000 spectators, many of whom have never before attended a drag racing event," said Robert Ecker, SPEED VP of Programming and one of the show's Executive Producers. "As such, we are working very closely with each of these tracks to forge a partnership that will provide the best possible entertainment experience for fans, for competitors, for sponsors and for the viewers at home. It's been a blast so far and we're only getting started."
2008 PINKS All Out Schedule*
(Pre-Registration & Test n' Tune Held Friday Prior to Every Shoot)
March 8 San Antonio Raceway (San Antonio, Texas)
March 29 Red River Raceway (Shreveport, La.)
April 19 Gainesville Raceway (Gainesville, Fla.)
May 10 Atlanta Dragway (Atlanta, Ga.)
June 7 Summit Motorsports Park (Norwalk, Ohio)
June 28 Gateway International Raceway (St. Louis, Mo.)
July 26 Old Bridge Township Raceway Park (Englishtown, N.J.)
Aug. 9 Bandimere Speedway (Denver, Colo.)
Sept. 6 Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.)
*Dates & Locations Subject to Change; Rain Dates Scheduled for the Following Sunday
What they are saying...
Don Robertson, Gainesville Raceway President & General Manager
"We are very excited about working with the PINKS program again, and look forward to being able to share the shooting of the new PINKS All Out format with all the great fans in our area. We've had lots of interest from racers and fans alike since the possibility of shooting more episodes was first mentioned. Racers from all over the country tell us they want the chance to run at our championship facility and try to make the final cut for the show. The many improvements we've made at the track in the last year have added a host of upgrades for the fans, and we expect the crowd will come from all over the southeast to enjoy a wonderful experience."
Ray Wilkings, Atlanta Dragway General Manager
Since the debut of the first PINKS All Out show, I have been asked constantly by racers and fans about the possibility of hosting the show at Atlanta Dragway. When I finally was able to share the possibility of actually having the show here, the reaction was tremendous. We have had racers travel to other venues that have hosted the shooting hoping to be chosen for their moment of fame. The Atlanta market enjoys fast cars and great entertainment, so we are all excited about the opportunity of welcoming PINKS All Out to Atlanta. I'm confident that racers and race fans from all over the Southeast will be here...so bring it on!"
Bill Bader, Jr., Summit Motorsports Park President & General Manager
"PINKS All Out is one of the most innovative entertainment packages on television today! Furthermore, the opportunity to attract such a large live audience for a 'made-for-television' event makes PINKS All Out one of the most dynamic and exciting events on our 2008 schedule. Our immediate marketing area: Northern Ohio, Southeast Michigan and Western Pennsylvania, will receive the news with tremendous excitement!"
Ed Krawiec, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park Track Manager
"Raceway Park is really excited about hosting a PINKS All Out. With the history and reputation that Englishtown and PINKS All Out have, we feel it will be the perfect chemistry for a very exciting show. Our racers have proved in past shows to be a hit with the TV audience and now to have 400+ of them in one place, things will sure heat up on and off the track."
Jeff Sipes, Bandimere Speedway Event Coordinator/Media Relations
"As Bandimere Speedway celebrates our 50th Anniversary season on 'Thunder Mountain', PINKS All Out is a fantastic addition to our action-packed 2008 schedule. We are sure that motorsports fans from all across the region will converge on this historic quarter-mile track in August to be a part of the PINKS television phenomenon - trying to race their way to the $10,000 reward, or to witness the speed, passion and excitement of drag racing in Colorado, PINKS-style."
Steve Page, Infineon Raceway President & General Manager
"PINKS All Out is a terrific concept, not only as a television program, but also as a track event for the regional drag racing community. We're delighted that SPEED has selected Infineon Raceway to anchor the PINKS schedule in 2008."
PINKS All Out can be seen on SPEED every Thursday night at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. Pacific only on SPEED. For more information on contestant entry or to purchase spectator tickets, please log onto www.SPEEDtv.com or check the aforementioned facilities'websites.
