IRL: Pep Boys Indy Racing League to race at Kentucky Speedway in 2000
22 September 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
FLORENCE, Ky- The Belterra Resort Indy 300 at Kentucky
Speedway, set for Aug. 27, 2000, is officially on the 2000 Pep Boys Indy
Racing League schedule, league and speedway officials announced today.Leo Mehl, the executive director of the Indy Racing League, joined Kentucky Speedway President Jerry Carroll in unveiling the new event at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Also assisting with the announcement were Michael Allen, chief operating officer of The Belterra Resort, and Indy Racing drivers Scott Goodyear, Scott Harrington and Scott Sharp.
"We are proud to be a part of the inaugural season of Kentucky Speedway," said Mehl. "They are building a first-class facility there, and it will be a great place for our teams and drivers to compete. What is also exciting is that Kentucky Speedway is in the heart of open-wheel racing."
Kentucky Speedway is being constructed 35 miles south of Cincinnati, in northern Kentucky. The $152-million motorsports complex will feature a 1.5-mile tri-oval, seating for 65,000, 50 luxury suites and a glass-enclosed restaurant seating 210.
"This is an exciting time," said Carroll. "This is a great market for open-wheel racing, and I told Leo and (league founder) Tony (George) a year ago that Kentucky Speedway could fill up for one of their events, and then to have Belterra Resort come on as the title sponsor is truly fantastic."
Joining the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2000, and events at Texas Motor Speedway on June 10 and Oct. 15, The Belterra Resorts Indy 300 becomes the fourth event on the Pep Boys Indy Racing League 2000 schedule. The balance of the League's schedule will be announced in the near future.
The Belterra Resort, a property of Hollywood Park, Inc., based in Los Angeles, is set to open in fall 2000. It is a massive entertainment complex being built in Vevay, Ind., and will include a 300-room hotel, riverboat casino and 18-hole championship golf course.
Paving of the racing surface at Kentucky Speedway is underway, with track testing anticipated for October. The speedway also announced it has already begun one of its Phase II projects - lighting the facility. That project will also be finished in 2000.
The Belterra Resort Indy 300 will get the green flag at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 27, 2000, and be broadcast live on ESPN.
For The Belterra Resort Indy 300 ticket information, call Kentucky Speedway at (888) 652-7223.
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