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NASCAR: Record Ratings Lead Gigantic Texas Motor Speedway Weekend

1 April 1999

FORT WORTH-DALLAS- Record-setting is the most appropriate way to describe the PRIMESTAR 500 and Coca-Cola 300 weekend at Texas Motor Speedway -- including record local television ratings.

Local television ratings for the Fort Worth-Dallas market were up for both Sundays PRIMESTAR 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race and Saturdays Coca-Cola 300 NASCAR Busch Series event. The PRIMESTAR 500 drew a rating of 10.7 with a 22 share, compared to 1998 figures of 8.8 rating with a 21 share a ratings increase of 22%. The sold-out PRIMESTAR 500 was the largest attended sporting event in Texas history.

The Coca-Cola 300 had a rating of 4.3 with an 11 share, up from a 3.8 rating with an 11 share in 1998 a 12% increase in ratings from the previous year. The Coca-Cola 300 drew the largest crowd in the history of the NASCAR Busch Series.

Texas Governor George W. Bush dropped the green flag on the PRIMESTAR 500. Crowds cheered as Texas native Terry Labonte took the checkered flag and $376,840 for his victory. Mark Martin was the winner of the Coca-Cola 300, taking home a check for $65,475 for his efforts.

Coors Light Silver Bullet Qualifying Days on Thursday and Friday produced record crowds who watched the starting fields for the weekend races take form. More than $5,000,000 in prize money and awards went to competitors during the four days, the richest weekend in Texas motorsports history. "What a great week it was," said speedway general manager Eddie Gossage. "We had record attendance, the fans were happy, the racing was great -- the weather could have been a little better but it was still a wonderful success."

Other highlights of race week included:

Thursdays gala grand opening of The Speedway Club with a special performance by legendary entertainer Wayne Newton;

The Speedway Childrens Charities Texas chapter raised over $110,000 through Saturdays Winn-Dixie Auction of driver memorabilia and Wednesdays Fort Worth Star-Telegram Celebrity Golf Tournament with proceeds to benefit dozens of childrens charities in the Fort Worth-Dallas area;

More than 8,500 Boy and Girl Scouts were guests of the speedway along with their troop leaders for the Saturday Coca-Cola 300.

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery

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