FW: PRESS RELEASE-ARCA Trucks and Sportsman join Illinois State Fair Lineup

Contact Bob Sargent at 217-764-3200 or Jay Hardin at jhardin3@verizon.net
about this release

ARCA Trucks and Sportsman Join Illinois State Fair Racing Lineup

For the first time in nearly ten years Illinois State Fair race fans will
have four auto racing events over the final weekend of the Illinois State
Fair as the Automobile Racing Club of America Lincoln Welders Truck Series
joins the traditional Tony Bettenhausen 100 for the USAC Silver Crown Series
on Saturday August 20, and the thirteenth annual Sportsman Nationals join
the ARCA RE/MAX Stock Cars and the Allen
Crowe 100 on Sunday August 21.

The ARCA trucks will be making their first appearance at Springfield, but
not their first appearance on a mile dirt track as the mid-sized trucks ran
at DuQuoin in 2003 with current ARCA RE/MAX driver and defending ARCA Truck
champ Brett Rowe taking the 50-mile event. Approximately twenty of the
mid-sized trucks are expected to be present at Springfield for the ninth of
twelve scheduled events in 2006.

Paul Hahn of Canton, Michigan leads the current 2006 Lincoln Welders point
standings thanks to wins in his 2005 Chevrolet Colorado at Sauble Speedway
and Toledo Speedway. Hahn is looking for his first title having finished
second to Rowe last year. Chasing Hahn is Toledo, Ohio’s John Kasmierski
Jr., former ARCA Truck champ Bill Withers (winner at Flat Rock Speedway),
Michigan’s Kyle Partridge, rookie Nick Gullatta of Ohio, veteran Norm Weaver
of West Virginia, Brad Yunker of Ohio, Indiana’s Duane Bischoff, Michigan’s
Craig Meyers and Ohio’s Ron Wells. Indiana native Steve Christman, a former
competitor at Springfield during the Illinois Fall Nationals is 11th in the
points, while two-time ARCA Truck champion Robbin Slaughter of Ohio is 14th

Saturday’s Best Western Classic for the trucks on the Springfield mile marks
the first of three consecutive dirt track appearances for the Lincoln
Welders Truck Series, they race again next Sunday at DuQuoin and then at
Eldora on September 6 as the makeup date for an event that was postponed due
to rain.

Local drivers take to the Springfield Mile on Sunday, August 21 for the 13th
running of the popular Sportsman Nationals, the “Daytona 500” for area short
track drivers.

The Sportsman Nationals seems to grow more popular each and every year
during the Illinois State Fair, due to the close competition and the
familiar names that have graced victory lane. Springfield’s Wes O’Dell is a
5-time Sportsman Nationals champion, while fellow Springfield resident
Dennis Vandermeersch has won twice. Buffalo’s Jeff Leka is a three-time
winner of the event, with New Berlin’s Steve Sheppard, Jr. the two time and
defending winner of the Sportsman event.

ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck action is slated to begin with qualifying
immediately after the practice session for the USAC Silver Crown Series on
Saturday morning August 19, with the Best Western Classic main event for the
ARCA Lincoln Welders trucks immediately prior to the 46th Tony Bettenhausen
100.

The Sportsman Nationals will have, if needed, qualifying races prior to
their 20 mile main event. The 20-mile Sportsman National feature event is
slated for 12 noon on Sunday, August 20 just before the 44th Allen Crowe 100
for the ARCA RE/MAX Series stock cars.

Tickets for both days are on sale now and can be obtained by calling the
Illinois State Fair Box office at 217-782-1979, from promoter Track
Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or any Ticketmaster outlet. Additional
information can be found at www.trackenterprises.com or www.arcaracing.com.