2004 ARCA RE/MAX Schedule released

 

TOLEDO OH (10-22-03)  The ARCA RE/MAX Series, headed towards its 52nd consecutive season of competition, has released its 2004 schedule to include 22 events in 12 states.

 

In addition to a combination of superspeedways and short-tracks on both dirt and pavement, the series has also made a significant thrust into America's heartland with an event at Gateway Int'l Raceway in Madison, Illinois as well as a second date at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.

 

The '04 ARCA calendar will see a shift of two dates from Atlanta & Lowe's Motor Speedway as the series embarks on the first stage of a re-alignment program designed to expand into new markets and build fan awareness in additional geographical areas.

 

"We're looking forward to returning to Gateway," said ARCA President Ron Drager. "St. Louis is a very important market and a great addition to our schedule. Along with our presence at superspeedways in Kentucky and Kansas, we feel good about our exposure in this very important region for our fans and sponsors. We've also been able to maintain our balance of superspeedway and short track venues, as well as our mile dirt state fairgrounds events, all of which are very important to the identity and industry position of the ARCA RE/MAX Series. And for the third consecutive season, the number of scheduled events remains stable at 22, a level we've found to be appropriate for everyone associated with the series."

 

The season, as it has since 1964, will open at Daytona Int'l Speedway for the 41st annual Daytona ARCA 200 on February 7th. The event will serve as a preamble for the same-day NASCAR Nextel Cup Bud Shootout.

 

Traditional superspeedway venues that will appear twice on the 2004 schedule include Nashville Superspeedway, Kentucky and Pocono Raceway. Other superspeedway events returning in '04 include Lowe's, Kansas Speedway, Michigan Int'l Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway and the October 2nd season finale at Talladega Superspeedway, the 42nd RE/MAX Series appearance at the renowned Alabama 2.66-mile superspeedway since 1969.

 

Traditional short-tracks returning include two at Salem Speedway mixed in with events at Toledo Speedway, South Boston Speedway, Berlin Raceway, Lake Erie Speedway, Winchester Speedway and the annual state fair races at the Springfield and DuQuoin Illinois mile-dirt fairgrounds ovals.

 

Companion events in 2004 include races with the NASCAR Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series as well as with the Indy Racing League.

 

As a result of very solid television ratings in 2003, showing a sharp increase from '02, SPEED Channel will return for more live coverage in 2004 with dates and times to be announced by year's end. 


      2004 ARCA RE/MAX SERIES SCHEDULE  
        
      DATE TRACK LOCATION TRACK 
      2-7 Daytona Int'l Speedway Daytona Beach, FL 2.5 paved 
      4-9 Nashville Superspeedway Nashville, TN 1.33 concrete 
      4-25 Salem Speedway Salem, IN .555 paved 
      5-8 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, KY 1.5 paved 
      5-16 Toledo Speedway Toledo, OH .5 paved 
      5-27 Lowe's Motor Speedway Concord, NC 1.5 paved 
      6-5 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS 1.5 paved 
      6-12 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, PA 2.5 paved 
      6-19 Michigan Int'l Speedway Brooklyn, MI 2 paved 
      6-26 South Boston Speedway South Boston, VA .4 paved 
      7-3 Berlin Raceway Marne, MI .5 paved 
      7-9 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, KY 1.5 paved 
      7-16 Gateway Int'l Raceway Madison, IL 1.25 paved 
      7-31 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, PA 2.5 paved 
      8-7 Lake Erie Speedway North East, PA .4 paved 
      8-14 Nashville Superspeedway Nashville, TN 1.33 concrete 
      8-22 Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL 1 clay 
      9-4 Winchester Speedway Winchester, IN .5 paved 
      9-6 DuQuoin State Fairgrounds DuQuoin, IL 1 clay 
      9-11 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, IL 1.5 paved 
      9-18 Salem Speedway Salem, IN .555 paved 
      10-2 Talladega Superspeedway Talladega, AL 2.66 paved