Las Vegas 400 Jackpot For Speedway Motorsports

11 March 1999
Las Vegas 400 Jackpot For Speedway Motorsports
    CONCORD, N.C., March 11 -- Speedway Motorsports
today announced record television ratings for the Las Vegas 400 NASCAR Winston
Cup Series and Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series events and record attendance
for the March 5-7 weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
    The 6.0 rating, up from a 5.8 a year ago, made the Las Vegas 400 on ABC
the second most watched NASCAR race in history, excluding the Daytona 500.
Approximately 14 million viewers in 5,990,000 homes tuned in to watch Jeff
Burton claim victory after a side-by-side duel with his brother, Ward.  The
Sam's Town 300 garnered a 2.2 rating, up from a 1.9 last year.
    Fans from 50 states and seven foreign countries jammed the 107,000 seat
facility for the Las Vegas 400, creating the largest crowd to attend a
sporting event in the history of the state of Nevada.  Record turnouts also
attended the Sam's Town 300, Orleans 150 NASCAR Winston West Series and
Pennzoil World of Outlaws sprint car events at the facility.
    "Las Vegas performed exceptionally," stated Bruton Smith, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Speedway Motorsports.  "The television ratings are
outstanding given that 1998 was the inaugural year for the Las Vegas 400 and
Sam's Town 300.  With this record-breaking event behind us, we will finalize
plans for further growth of this facility.  We've got tremendous opportunities
in Las Vegas."
    Speedway Motorsports purchased Las Vegas Motor Speedway in December 1998.
Twelve different speedway configurations are located on the 1,300-acre site
with approximately 107,000 permanent seats including 102 luxury suites
surrounding the 1.5-mile lighted tri-oval.  Series competing at the facility
include NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch, Craftsman Truck, Winston West, Southwest
Featherlite Tour along with Pep Boys Indy Racing League and Pennzoil World of
Outlaws.
    Speedway Motorsports will host its next major racing weekend at Atlanta
Motor Speedway on March 12-14.  The Company is a leading marketer and promoter
of motorsports entertainment in the United States.  SMI owns and operates the
following premiere facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway,
Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sears Point
Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway.  SMI also provides event food, beverage and
souvenir merchandising services through its Finish Line Events subsidiary and
manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars through its
600 Racing subsidiary.
    This news release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements with regard to the Company's growth potential.  There are many
factors that affect future events and trends of the Company's business.  These
factors include certain risks and uncertainties, as set forth in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, that could cause actual
results or events to differ materially from management's view and
expectations.