Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Nationwide Insurance Team up for a Three Year Safety-Themed Marketing Program

12 January 2000
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Nationwide Insurance Team up for a Three Year Safety-Themed Marketing Program
    CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 12 -- Officials of Speedway
Motorsports, Inc. and Nationwide Insurance announced a three-year
comprehensive marketing agreement focused on safety and customer assistance
today at the Lowe's Motor Speedway Media Tour.
    The marketing program includes Nationwide involvement with Speedway
Motorsports' Performance Racing Network Radio and all six SMI racetrack
facilities across the country.  Speedway Motorsports' facilities host, among
other things, 10 NASCAR Winston Cup events, seven NASCAR Busch Series events,
four NHRA Drag Racing events, and seven World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
events.
    The four-part safety program will include the "Nationwide Fan Assistance
Patrol," sponsorship of the "Nationwide Safety Response Team," the "Nationwide
Safe Driving Move of the Race" award to benefit Speedway Children's Charities,
and a children's registration booth within an interactive display.  Nationwide
will begin the program at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, Speedway
Motorsports' first NASCAR event weekend of the 2000 season.
    "We are extremely pleased with our new marketing partnership with
Nationwide Insurance and with the extended benefits it provides to our loyal
fans," said Bruton Smith, Chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports.  "Customer
service is and has always been at the top of our priority list; this program
will further enhance the race fan's experience at all of our speedways."
    In addition to the safety programs, the agreement provides Nationwide with
exclusive marketing and promotional rights in the insurance and investment
product categories at SMI speedways.  Other benefits include event
hospitality, signage, and corporate suites.
    "We have recognized the tremendous growth in popularity in Motorsports
over the past decade and the importance of this sport to our customers and
agents.  We see this as an innovative and exciting way to be accessible to our
customers while at the same time offering programs that endorse safety," said
Tom Crumrine, president of Nationwide Agencies.
    Nationwide Insurance is part of Nationwide, a Fortune 500 company based in
Columbus, Ohio and one of the country's largest insurance and financial
services organizations.  Nationwide has a long-standing commitment to traffic
safety, supporting such programs as the national Air Bag and Safety Belt
Campaign, MADD's National Sobriety Checkpoint Week program and Prom Promise.
    Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of Motorsports
entertainment in the United States.  The Company owns and operates the
following premier facilities:  Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway,
Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sears Point
Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.  The Company also provides event food,
beverage, and souvenir merchandising services through its Finish Line Events
subsidiary, and manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing
cars through its 600 Racing subsidiary.