Motorsports Venues - Race Fest Revs Up The Irish Hills

BROOKLYN, June 6, 2011: The Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce will officially kick off race season in Southeastern Michigan by hosting the annual Brooklyn-Irish Hills Race Fest presented by Country Market on Thursday, June 16, on the square in downtown Brooklyn, Mich.

The free day-long festival from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. will feature a variety of fun and interactive activities for fans, families and community members, including live music, show cars, an autograph session with ARCA Series drivers, a beer garden, food and tons of giveaways.

There will be plenty of activities for kids, too, inside the Kid Zone sponsored by Columbia Medical Center and MedPlus featuring remote control stock cars, inflatables, face painting and more.

“We’re excited about this year’s Brooklyn-Irish Hills Race Festival presented by Country Market,” Cindy Hubbell, executive director of the Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce said. “MIS has been a wonderful asset to the local community for more than 40 years and this festival is always a great kickoff to the track’s NASCAR season. We really want the community and fans to attend this event and make it something special this summer.”

Local businesses sponsoring the event will include Country Market, Allegiance Family Medicine Dr. Bloomer, Slingshot Transportation, Modern Waste Systems, Irish Hills Collision, Kelsey’s Boutique & Gifts, Mid Michigan DJ’s, DeAngelis Cantina del Vino, Evelyn Bay Coffee House, Columbia Athletic Boosters and more.

Free shuttles will run between some of MIS’ campgrounds and Race Fest, courtesy of Brooklyn Ford and O'Hara Chrysler. The shuttles will run continuously from 12:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. from Brooklyn Trails, Brookfest Acres, Graves Farm, Northwoods/Northfield, Tree Farm and Turn 2 campground. Pick-up/drop-off is at each campground security location.

As a special treat, the transporters for all the teams in the ARCA Racing Series will parade through downtown Brooklyn the day before Race Fest. The parade leaves MIS at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 15 and will wind down Main Street led by the MIS pace car.

For more information about Race Fest, please call Cindy Hubbell, executive director of the Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce, at (517) 592-8907.

MIS has supported the local community in numerous ways and encourages all area residents and guests in town for the races to attend Race Fest.

“We’re hoping to make this festival something that our local community can enjoy before our June NASCAR event weekend,” speedway President Roger Curtis said. “We appreciate the support of the Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce and local businesses and communities that have supported us over the years. Much of our success has been due to the great local support we have received from our hometown of Brooklyn and the surrounding Irish Hills.”

Race Fest jumpstarts NASCAR’s return to Michigan for the June 17-19 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400. Other events during the weekend at MIS include the ARCA Racing Series RainEater Wiper Blades 200 on June 17 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series Alliance Truck Parts 250 on June 18.

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

You can also visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MISpeedway or Tweet with us @MISpeedway.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 on June 19 and NSCS 400 on August 21 are now on sale and as low as $30. 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.