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Toyota USAC Racing Classic Presented by Comfort Suites

TOYOTA USAC RACING CLASSIC PRESENTED BY
COMFORT SUITES OF BROWNSBURG
SPRINT AND MIDGET RACES TAKE TO THE OVAL
INDIANAPOLIS June 19, 2006; The Toyota USAC Racing Classic, presented by Comfort Suites of Brownsburg, will take to the O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis oval on July 1st, with a USAC Midget and Sprint car double-header.  This will mark the first time since 2001 that the track has hosted a twin USAC bill as well as the first time ever Toyota has sponsored a USAC Racing double-header.

"We are very excited to be able to host both of these fantastic races," said Ron Anderson, general manager of O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.  "Because of the support of Toyota and Comfort Suites of Brownsburg it allows us to bring two of USAC's top open wheel series' for one night of racing."

Toyota announced today a three race championship challenge commencing with the Toyota USAC Racing Classic presented by Comfort Suites of Brownsburg at O'Reilly Raceway Park (July 1), followed by a Toyota-sponsored USAC race at Milwaukee (July 21-22) ending with the USAC scheduled event at Terre Haute (September 29).  A $25,000 prize fund will be paid to the top five car entrants based on USAC National Midget Series entrant points for the three races, of which $15,000 will be awarded to the Toyota Challenge Champion.

"Toyota is proud to introduce the three-event Toyota Challenge and sponsor multiple races on the 2006 USAC National Midget Racing schedule," said Les Unger,

Toyota national motorsports manager.  "This is a great opportunity to add a new level of excitement to the series, as well as a financial reward to the dedicated, hardworking drivers and team owners that compete in this special series.  Moving forward, Toyota will look for additional ways to strengthen our support to racing at all levels, including the USAC Racing Series."  

The USAC Midget series has visited O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis once this season during the Coca-Cola Night Before the 500 race on May 27th.  Bobby Santos III, won the event with a dominating performance but many eyes were on 18-year old Stephanie Mockler as she rapidly charged through the field. Mockler started the race in 15th place but finished third and almost pulled off a pass to place her in second.  For Mockler the return to O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis can't come quick enough.

"I'm very excited to return especially for qualifying.  We tested at the track prior to the race but nothing teaches you like actually racing, said Mockler.  "I feel more comfortable at the track so hopefully we will do better in qualifying, get a better starting spot and won't have to work so hard in the feature."

The USAC Sprint car series last toured the oval in June as Dave Steele once again dominated on the pavement.  Steele has a total of nine wins at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis and has a chance to earn his tenth victory at the track on July 1st. Tickets are available for both races and can be purchased from any Ticketmaster outlet, www.Ticketmaster.com or at the O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis box office.  Tickets are $25.00 for reserved and $20.00 for general admission.  Children 12 and under are free with a paying adult.

A schedule of events will be posted on www.oreillyracewaypark.com soon. One of five drag racing facilities owned and operated by the National Hot Rod Association, O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis was built in 1960 and has presented organized racing events since 1961.  

From March through October, the facility hosts more than 120 dates of racing on three tracks, a quarter-mile drag strip, a .686-mile paved oval and a 2.5-mile road course.  Home to drag racing's biggest event, the NHRA U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend, the drag strip runs more than 50 days of point-to- point action, from national events to street legal community programs.  The oval track draws racing's biggest events, including annual visits from the NASCAR Busch, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and three annual USAC races.  The road course provides a home for several racing sanctions, such as SCCA, while providing an ideal resource for driving schools, corporate outings and open-road tests for professional drivers.