ADRL Adds Memphis International Raceway To Schedule As 10th Race For 2011 Tour

O’FALLON, MO (March 4, 2011) – The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is bringing big crowds, breathtaking racing, world-record speeds and a grand opening back to Memphis International Raceway in 2011.

ADRL and Memphis International Raceway officials announced on Thursday that the 350-acre track will open its 2011 season with an ADRL event on May 20-21. With the addition of Memphis International Raceway to the schedule, the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league will now have 10 races on its 2011 ADRL Tour.

Formerly Memphis Motorsports Park, Memphis International Raceway was recently purchased by Moroso Investment Partners, the ownership group of Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR), in Jupiter, Fla. The ADRL event will serve as MIR’s first official event under the new ownership group, and track officials are currently enhancing the track and facility in time to host the May event.

“We are excited to add Memphis International Raceway to our 2011 schedule,” said Jeff Fortune, ADRL Executive Vice President. “This will be one more great event to what we firmly believe is the best schedule the ADRL has ever had in the series’ history.

“We’ve had some very exciting events there and I think it is terrific that we will able to return to an incredible place like Memphis International Raceway. We are thrilled to be the first event at MIR, which will add even more excitement to what will already be an fantastic weekend.”

Palm Beach International Raceway and Memphis International Raceway, under the leadership of President and CEO Jason Rittenberry, are both hosting inaugural ADRL events in 2011. Palm Beach International Raceway’s ADRL event will take place on April 15-16.

“We look forward to having the ADRL and race fans back in the stands at Memphis International Raceway,” Rittenberry said. “We had successful events at Memphis before and we’re eager to get back there and open our season with the ADRL.”

The ADRL last raced in Memphis in 2009. At that time, the event drew record, overflow crowds, including the largest single-day turnout at the spacious facility. Pro Extreme standout Jason Scruggs set the then ADRL records at the track, going 3.66 at 207.43 miles per hour in 2009.

Both ADRL and MIR officials are expecting a similar turnout of both racers and fans in 2011, marking another sign of the ADRL’s growth on a national level.

“Adding this 10th race for 2011 is another excellent step for the continued development of the ADRL,” Fortune said. “We’ve put together a well-rounded tour that we believe all of our sponsors, racers and fans will enjoy.

“Memphis has always been a popular destination for the ADRL and its racers, and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the Memphis International Raceway team.”

The Memphis International Raceway event will be the fourth on the 2011 ADRL Tour. It takes place two weeks after the ADRL makes its debut at Maple Grove Raceway on May 6-7, and one month before the Hardee’s Independence Drags V at Heartland Park Topeka on June 17-18.

The 2011 ADRL season begins on March 25-26 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.