IMS Press Release: NASCAR and IMS Events Announce 1997 SuperTruck Season Opener at Walt Disney World Speedway
07/22/96
For Immediate Release Lake Buena Vista, FL (July 18, 1996) The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing's successful full-size American pick up truck racing division, will open its third season of action in 1997 at the Walt Disney World Speedway near Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 19. The announcement was made today at the Walt Disney World Speedway by NASCAR, IMS Events, Walt Disney World Sports and Chevrolet Motor Division officials. "As the leader in motorsports racing and entertainment, we are delighted to join with Disney, IMS Events and Chevrolet to bring NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series action to central Florida," said Dennis Huth, vice president of administration for NASCAR. "It's always exciting for us to bring the speed and exhilaration of NASCAR racing to new venues." The race's title sponsor will be Chevrolet Truck. The event will be run over a three day period with practice on Friday (Jan. 17), practice and qualifying on Saturday (Jan. 18), and the 200-mile race on Sunday with a minimum of $450,000 in estimated posted awards at stake. "This race will be a great way to start a new year, at the nation's family entertainment capital, with the number one truck racing series and the most dependable longest lasting pickup trucks -- what a weekend and race day January 17-19 will be," said Glenn Tayler, manager of Chevrolet motorsports marketing. The Walt Disney World Speedway is a one-mile tri-oval built by IMS Events in 1995 near the entry way to the Magic Kingdom theme park in the famed central Florida resort. "For Walt Disney World, this event is like three trips to victory lane on one afternoon," said Phil Lengyel, senior vice president of Walt Disney World Sports. "First, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is an exciting, innovative motorsports product that's destined to grow in popularity. Second, this is an opportunity for Disney Sports to forge a relationship with NASCAR that puts us in the company of one of motorsports' truly great organizations. Further, this is an opportunity to extend our relationship with another of racing's elite organizations, our friends at Indianapolis." The race promoter is IMS Events, an affiliated company of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and operator of motorsports events at the Walt Disney World Speedway. IMS Events also promotes the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, an Indy Racing League event scheduled Saturday, Jan. 25, the weekend following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events. "This is a practical extension of our motorsports commitment to Walt Disney World," said Bill Donaldson, president of IMS Events. "We are pleased to bring together a group of good business partners -- NASCAR, Disney, Chevrolet and Sears -- and present this exciting racing entertainment at the most famous resort in the world." Currently in its second year of action, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debuted in 1995 with 20 races across the United States and a live national television package. This year the schedule has been increased to 24 events from coast-to-coast and a complete live television schedule including four races on CBS. New in 1996 is complete live radio coverage on the Truck Broadcasting Network (TBN), a division of the MRN Radio Network, the long time broadcaster of NASCAR Winston Cup and NASCAR Busch Series events among others. Tickets priced at $49 and $29 are good for all three days of the event and available through the IMS ticket office in Indianapolis by calling 1-800-822-INDY. MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Race packages are available which include a stay of three nights or more at a Walt Disney World resort, a three-day race ticket (practice, qualifying and race day), and free transportation between the resort and Walt Disney World Speedway. Information/reservations: 407/939-7810.