Atlanta Motor Speedway To Host Labor Day Weekend Sprint Cup Race

HAMPTON, Ga. August 19, 2008 – Atlanta Motor Speedway will move it’s October NASCAR Sprint Cup race date to a September 5 – 6, 2009 Labor Day race weekend that will include a companion NASCAR Nationwide Series event.

Starting in 2009, AMS will host the stars of the Sprint Cup Series racing under the lights on Sunday night, Sept. 6 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Saturday night, Sept. 5. Traditionally, AMS has hosted NASCAR Sprint Cup and Craftsman Truck Series events in October.

“Fans have been clamoring for a Sprint Cup Series race under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway,” said AMS president and general manager Ed Clark. “It’s thrilling to bring Labor Day racing back to the south on NASCAR’s fastest track. This will be a great opportunity for Atlanta Motor Speedway to celebrate our 50th year of racing.”

The event will be the first scheduled Sprint Cup series night race in AMS history and both fans and drivers are eagerly anticipating the historic event.

“Mark this day down as a great day in NASCAR history when traditional Labor Day weekend racing returns to the South,” said Patrick Brigmond, an AMS fan and Bethlehem, Ga. native. “In my opinion, there is nothing more exciting than racing under the lights. Add to that Atlanta Motor Speedway's fast, three and four-wide racing, and this will be one of the most exciting, marquis events on the NASCAR schedule.”

“Labor Day Weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway at night – I can’t think of anything better than that,” said Jeff Gordon, a four-time winner at AMS. “One of my favorite race tracks is Atlanta Motor Speedway. The place is fast, sparks are flying and I can’t wait for it to happen.”

In addition to the Labor Day date, AMS has also set dates for March’s Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, March 6 – 8. The Kobalt Tools 500, the first of AMS’ two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 2009, will be run on Sunday, March 8, while the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will take to the 1.54-mile quad oval on Saturday, March 7 for the American Commercial Lines 200.

Fans who purchased tickets to this October’s Pep Boys Auto 500 will have the first option to reserve tickets to the historic Labor Day race weekend beginning immediately by calling (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. For more information on AMS’ 2009 schedule, please visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: High-resolution image from today's press conference to accompany this release, can be downloaded from:

http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/media/press_photos/

Photo credit: Atlanta Motor Speedway

Labor Day Weekend Announcement Quotes

Jeff Gordon, four-time winner at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

“Labor Day Weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway at night – I can’t think of anything better than that,” said Gordon. “One of my favorite race tracks is Atlanta Motor Speedway. The place is fast, sparks are flying and I can’t wait for it to happen.”

Kyle Busch, the winner of March’s Kobalt Tools 500 at AMS:

“I think its going to be great,” said Busch. “Its going to be an awesome opportunity for us to really showcase the heat of the south and be able to get out on a racetrack where its really slick, really slimy and be able to slide all over the place in this new car. We’re going to be able to have the opportunity to showcase [Labor Day weekend] in the south once again and bring it back to where it was originally.”

David Ragan, an Unadilla, Ga. native:

“Racing under the lights on Labor Day weekend would be awesome,” said Ragan. “It’s a good weekend just to come out, have a barbeque and watch a good race. And it’d be fun for me because all my family will be around.”

Carl Edwards, who won both AMS Sprint Cup races in 2005:

“I love Atlanta Motor Speedway, the site of my first Cup series win,” said Edwards. “I can’t wait to race there under the lights.”

Ed Clark, Atlanta Motor Speedway president and general manager:

“Fans have been clamoring for a Sprint Cup Series race under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway,” said Clark. “It’s thrilling to bring Labor Day racing back to the south on NASCAR’s fastest track. This will be a great opportunity for Atlanta Motor Speedway to celebrate our 50th year of racing.”

Labor Day Weekend NASCAR Race Facts

○ The first Southern 500 took place on Labor Day in 1950. This was also NASCAR’s first 500-mile race and was the only 500-mile race until the Daytona 500 debuted in 1959.

○ The first Southern 500 was co-sanctioned by NASCAR and rival Central States Racing Association with more than 80 entrants who showed up (a two-week qualifying system was used which was inspired by the Indianapolis 500). A 75-car field aligned in 25 rows of three cars, racing for a $25,000 purse.

○ Johnny Mantz won the first Southern 500 in a car owned by Bill France Sr.

○ The 1980 Southern 500 was Terry Labonte’s first win. The last Labor Day race at Darlington, the Mountain Dew Southern 500 in 2003, was Terry Labonte’s last Cup victory.

○ 1985-1997: The Labor Day race served as the fourth race of the popular Winston Million. Bill Elliott (1985) and Jeff Gordon (1997) clinched the Winston Million with wins at Darlington’s Southern 500.

○ In 1992, Darrell Waltrip recorded his last win at the Labor Day race going 298 laps, or 407.068 miles, in a rain-shortened contest.

○ The Labor Day event was moved to Auto Club Speedway, formerly California Speedway, in 2004.

○ Since its move to California, the Labor Day race has been held as a night race on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

○ At the 2005 Labor Day weekend race, the Sony HD 500), Kyle Busch became the youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup winner.

○ Labor Day night racing returns to the South when Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-6, 2009.