Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Announces 2007 Schedule
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Ackford, 614-793-4620, rackford@midohio.com MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE ANNOUNCES 2007 SCHEDULE DUBLIN, Ohio (November 27, 2006) - Six main attractions, the return of open-wheel racing and two long-standing grassroots races highlight the 2007 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course schedule, unveiled today by TrueSports, Incorporated. New for 2007 at the Lexington, Ohio road course, is the highly anticipated combined American Le Mans Series and IndyCar Series event (July 20-22). The technological marvels of the American Le Mans Series are the featured attraction during the Acura Sportscar Challenge on Saturday, while the IndyCar Series will challenge the historic facility for the first time as it hits the track for The Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio on Sunday. This combined event is poised to be the largest and most significant motorsports event in the state of Ohio. Among the traditional events in the track's 2007 lineup will be the EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank, featuring the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series and the Triple Crown Tuner Challenge (June 22-24), the Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio (June 29-July 1), Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire (August 3-5), the National Auto Sport Association Championships (September 14-16), the AMA Road Race Grand Championships and Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 21-23) and the AMA Superbike Shootout (September 28-30). "We continually strive to offer our spectators and sponsors the best collection of motorsports events possible," said Michelle Trueman Gajoch, president of TrueSports, Inc. "The 2007 season will once again deliver excitement and diversity as we highlight more series and showcase more racing than any year in the history of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. We're looking forward to another exciting season." The Grand American Road Racing Association's Rolex Sports Car Series will run a new split-class format during the EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank (June 22-24). The traditional Saturday evening endurance race will be reserved for the Series' Daytona Prototypes and a Sunday afternoon race will be run for the GT machines. The three-day event will also feature the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, and the top tuner cars in the Midwest will return for the Triple Crown Tuner Challenge. Celebrating the history of motorsports and sportscar racing, the Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio (June 29-July 1), will bring 50 years of auto racing history to the track, including the annual Concours d'Elegance and British Car Showdown. The 'Cars of Italy' will be the featured marques. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course's traditional summer Cycle-Fest begins with the thirteenth annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (July 27-29). This historic event will feature vintage road racing, motocross and time trial events, bike shows, vendors, guest speakers, seminars, new model demo rides, auctions and the largest motorcycle swap meet in North America. Completing the ten days of two-wheel action will be the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire (August 3-5), the country's largest stand-alone AMA Superbike Championship race. In an event that is one of the best and most popular on the calendar, Ben Spies will attempt to defend his 2006 sweep of the Wiseco Superbike 100 Doubleheaders. Sports cars and sedan racing will be back for one final time in September when the top amateurs from across the country will vie for national titles at the National Auto Sport Association Championships (September 14-16). The NASA Championships will feature amateur road racing, time trials, autocross, and drifting competitions in multiple classes. The AMA Road Race Grand Championships and Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 21-23), will bring the country's major motorcycling associations and their amateur riders to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to vie for 34 national championships. At the same time, marquee motocross manufacturers and their riders will be competing in an invitational to determine who goes home with the Manufacturers Cup title. The AMA Superbike Shootout will again be the season finale for both the AMA Superbike Championship, and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and will include four unique Dunlop Tire Qualifying Heat Races and a consolation race. The event will also crown champions in AMA Supersport, Superstock and Formula Xtreme classes. Season passes and individual tickets are available now by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or by logging on to www.midohio.com <http://www.midohio.com/> . A comprehensive motorsports facility, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course features a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit. The park-like, 330-acre complex in Lexington, Ohio also features an amateur motocross venue. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year. 2007 MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE SCHEDULE June 22-24 EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank (Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series) Triple Crown Tuner Challenge June 29 - July 1 Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Feature: The Cars of Italy July 20-22 Acura Sportscar Challenge (American Le Mans Series) The Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio (IndyCar Series) July 27-29 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days August 3-5 Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire (AMA Superbike Championship) September 14-16 National Auto Sport Association Championships presented by Toyo Tires September 21-23 AMA Road Race Grand Championships AMA Motocross Manufacturers Cup September 28-30 AMA Superbike Shootout (AMA Superbike Championship) -30-