Milwaukee Mile Governor's Cup Weekend Nuggets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August
24, 2006
Weekend schedule attached
MILWAUKEE MILE
A NEW ERA BEGINS
Contact: Jim Tretow, Milwaukee Mile Media & Comm.,
jtretow@milwaukeemile.com, 414-453-5761
Milwaukee Mile Governor's Cup Weekend Nuggets
500 Miles of Stock Car Racing
Between the four divisions racing this weekend during The Milwaukee Mile's
Governor's Cup weekend, there will be 500 miles of stock car racing.
Over 150 race teams are expected to compete in the national ARCA RE/MAX
Series and ASA Late Model Challenge Series, plus grass roots racers from
Wisconsin and the Midwest will be racing on The Mile in the Mid-American
Stock Car Series and Wisconsin Challenge Series.
Wisconsin racers from Lake Geneva Raceway, 141 Speedway, Slinger Super
Speedway, Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Madison International
Speedway, LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway will be racing at what will be their
biggest and fastest track they'll compete on all year. For Wisconsin short
track racers, racing at The Mile has been compared to competing in their
Daytona 500.
Lt. Governor Lawton To Take Part in Governor's Cup 200 Activities
Representing the Governor's office this Sunday will be Lt. Governor Barbara
Lawton, who will address the crowd and meet the ARCA RE/MAX Series drivers
just prior to the Governor's Cup 200 Sunday afternoon. She will also award
the coveted winner's crystal trophy.
103 year-old Grand Marshal for Governor's Cup 200
The Milwaukee Mile is the oldest active motor speedway in the world, with
the first auto race held in September, 1903. Milwaukee native Arthur Wetzel
can honestly say he's been around since the historic oval was strictly a
horse track. Milwaukee Mile Chairman Craig Stoehr invited Wetzel, a family
friend who just turned 103 this Summer, to serve as the Governor's Cup 200
Grand Marshal. The active Milwaukee native will take part in pre-race
festivities beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
BREAKDOWN: GOVERNOR'S CUP BY DIVISION
The ASA Late Model Challenge Series is emerging as one of the nation's best
options for late model racers who want to race with equal equipment, which
creates some extremely close racing. Spec "crate" engines allow no
modifications, with mandated parts and composite body rules, attracting
entrants as young as 14 to compete in this radial-tired series. What began
in Michigan has now spread as a viable, high-profile series attracting
teenagers and veterans alike, who field professional race teams of varied
backgrounds, ages, geography and income. The Governor's Cup 150 will be the
longest race in series history, held at the largest track, offering up a
whole new set of challenges.
Drivers to watch: Current point leader Kelly Bires of Mauston, racing for
the team who won the 2005 series championship with driver Stephen Leicht
who's now in NEXTEL Cup, Chad Wood of Madison, 19 year-old Travis Dassow of
West Bend is 3rd in series points. Just entered: Michigan short track guru
Butch Miller, winner of three straight ASA National Tour races at The Mile
held in 1986 and 1987.
.
The Mid-American Stock Car Series is a great way for up and coming drivers
to break out of their local short track shell and get valuable experience at
venues throughout the Midwest. Using short track technology and affordable
race parts and engines, Mid-American drivers can compete in a car that's far
less expensive than an ARCA RE/MAX Series car or an ASA Late Model Challenge
Series car, while getting the benefits of traveling and racing on some of
the very same tracks.
Drivers to watch: Current point leader James Swan of Lake Geneva, former
series champ Bill Prietzel of Richfield, and Pat McIntee of West Bend, who
also races at Slinger Speedway.
The Wisconsin Challenge Series (WCS) allows super late model drivers the
opportunity to travel and race against stiff competition from across the
Badger state. The WCS was formed to allow teams at the highest level of
pavement oval racing the occasional chance to race extended features and
travel to different race tracks. The series has not been a destination
series, and allows by rule a number of engine configurations to compete,
increasing the competition. This will be the series' inaugural visit to The
Milwaukee Mile.
Drivers to watch: NASCAR Truck rookie Erik Darnell, the 2003 WCS champion
returns to race against his former foes. Plus, current point leader Kenny
Richards of Montello and multi-time series champion Mark Eswien of Wisconsin
Rapids, and local short track favorites on The Mile.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series races newly-built and former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup cars,
so these are full-bore NASCAR type race cars, which makes this series a
great proving ground in similar equipment to what the 'Cup drivers race.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series has plenty of veteran drivers and teams to learn
from, as many NASCAR teams and manufacturers have entries in the series to
develop their drivers and crew members in similar race cars. Kyle Busch,
Ryan Newman, Travis Kvapil and Scott Riggs all drove in (and won in) the
ARCA Series to gain experience to better understand NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race
cars.
Drivers to watch: 19 year-old Dexter Bean from Westby, Wisconsin (near
LaCrosse) is the only full-time home state ARCA racer. Ryan Matthews of
Lake Geneva, Tony Leis of LaCrosse making his series debut, and 20 year-old
Justin Allgaier of Springfield, Ill. who just won on the Springfield mile
dirt track on Sunday, plus NASCAR development teams fielding NASCAR's next
stars.
Day By Day
Friday afternoon practice for ASA Late Model Challenge Series & Mid-American
Stock cars
Tickets: $5, kids 12 and under free.
Saturday ARCA practice and pole qualifying, Governor's Cup 150 ASA Late
Model Challenge Series race, Mid-American Series feature event
Tickets: $7 - $19 reserved grandstand
Sunday is Governor's Cup 200 ARCA race and Wisconsin Challenge Series 50
Tickets: $9 to $25
A weekend pit and paddock pass is just $35, allowing access to the cars all
weekend
$10,000 Miss Milwaukee Mile contest finals
On Sunday afternoon in the Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill on Grandstand, one
of 10 beautiful women will be crowned Miss Milwaukee Mile. The Grand Prize
is $10,000 cash, a year's use of a Toyota vehicle, a trip to Miami for the
NASCAR season finale, a year's supply of Miller Lite and a Miller Lite
dispenser cooler, monthly DiCarlo Salon visits and more. Finals between
2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Contestants were chosen during each major 2006
Milwaukee Mile race event, plus on-line voting at www.missmilwaukeemile.com.
$10,000 Dash For Cash
Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., 16 Mid-American Stock Car competitors will
be racing for 16 laps and their share of $10k. This all-out sprint will be
made up of competitors invited from Lake Geneva Raceway, 141 Speedway in
Francis Creek, ,Mid-American Stock Car Series regulars and seven racers from
the Saturday afternoon Mid-American Stock Car Series 40-lap feature.
Each driver is guaranteed $400 to start the race, with the winner bagging a
cool $2,000.
"Go The Extra Mile" School Supply Drive
Race fans and surrounding neighbors of the track can earn tickets by
contributing new school supplies at The Milwaukee Mile office through
Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. for underprivileged kids in Milwaukee and
West Allis middle schools. A portion of ticket sales will also go toward
school supplies. The Milwaukee Mile has aligned with Office Depot, the
"official office products of NASCAR" to also contribute items.
NASCAR Truck Series rookie Erik Darnell To Race Sunday In Wisconsin
Challenge Series Already a proven winner in every division he's competed in,
leading NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Erik Darnell is returning to
his roots this weekend, as he'll compete in the 50-lap Wisconsin Challenge
Series race on Sunday afternoon. A native of Beach Park, Ill. and a young
veteran of Milwaukee Mile competition, Darnell's crew on Sunday by his
father Danny and grandfather Bay, both drivers themselves. He currently
races for Roush Racing (Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle
are his NEXTEL Cup teammates at Roush Racing).
Classic Car & Motorcycle Show Sunday on Fan Midway
Car clubs and motorcycle enthusiasts are welcome to show off their rides in
style at The Milwaukee Mile Sunday morning. The Mile's Gilbert Brown will
be on-hand at 11:30 Sunday morning to pick his favorite classic car and
motorcycle - which will receive special recognition awards from the former
Green Bay Packer player.
Entertainment Off The Track on Sunday
"Janesville", a popular Midwestern country band out of the Chicago area will
be performing at noon at the Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill on Grandstand
Avenue. They will entertain up until the Miss Milwaukee Mile competition
takes center stage.
The U.S. Navy jazz ensemble "Horizon" will also perform at noon near the
Classic Car & Motorcycle Show near Turn One on the fan midway.
Hands-On Fun
Try your hand at The Milwaukee Mile Pit Stop Challenge - take on your
friends or the clock to see how fast you can change a race tire, drive
around The Mile on the NASCAR 2006 PS2 system, test your hockey skills in
the Milwaukee Admirals slap shot competition, and learn hands-on what safety
is all about on the road with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Singing Solo
Performing the National Anthem this weekend will be Milwaukee entertainer
Tracy Hanneman on Saturday, and U.S. Navy MU2 David Cobbal on Sunday.
Details available by visiting The Milwaukee Mile website,
www.milwaukeemile.com
