AAA Chicago Offers Race Fans Final Chance to Drive Simulator in Springfield August 26-27

AURORA, Ill., Aug. 24, 2005 -- AAA Chicago's racecar simulator makes its final stop in Illinois this week when it brings the NEXTEL Cup racecar simulator to the Hot Rod Super Nationals at the Springfield State Fairgrounds Aug. 26-27.

A racecar simulator is an actual vehicle with a special computer system to reproduce the environment and action of a race at Daytona International Speedway. There are steering wheels and computer screens on both the driver and passenger sides such that two people can drive at a time. Visitors also will be able to check out a full-size replica of the #99 AAA Ford Taurus, which Carl Edwards of the Roush Racing Team is driving in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series this season.

The simulator will be at the AAA booth at the Hot Rod Super Nationals on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 E. Sangamon Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The Auto Club Group of AAA clubs is sponsoring Edwards and the #99 Ford this season. During this week's events, each participant who drives the simulator will receive a special certificate from AAA specifying their speed. That record will be entered into a national database along with the speeds recorded by other contestants at other events sponsored by AAA throughout the 2005 NEXTEL Cup season. At the end of the season, the 10 drivers who have recorded the highest speeds will receive a die-cast model of the #99 AAA Ford Taurus autographed by Carl Edwards.

AAA is a federation of motor clubs serving 48 million members in the United States and Canada with automotive, travel, financial, and insurance services. For more than 100 years, AAA has represented the interests of the nation's motorists and served as an advocate for various traffic safety and travel related issues. AAA has served that role in Illinois and Indiana since its' founding in Chicago in 1906.

AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 48 million members in the United States and Canada.