AAA Sponsors Simulated NEXTEL Cup Racing at Cherry Festival

Some visitors to the Cherry Festival this weekend in Traverse City will be driving at speeds approaching 200 mph. But they won't be a danger to anyone; not even themselves.

In the festival's Open Space Area, AAA Michigan will have a full-scale replica of the AAA Car #99, a Ford Taurus being driven this year by Carl Edwards in NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup series. From noon to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday anyone who wants to try a racing challenge can take a free drive in Car #99. They will be seated at the wheel looking at a computer screen as they try to negotiate a simulation of the famous Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Each participant will receive a certificate stating the average speed attained, and their score will be recorded in AAA's motorsports database. At the end of the NEXTEL Series in November, the people with the 10 highest scores from the eight-state service area of The Auto Club Group, of which AAA is a member, will receive a 1/24-scale model of AAA Car #99 autographed by Carl Edwards.