Record Attendance and Strong TV Ratings Highlight PRIMESTAR 500 Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway

5 April 1999
Record Attendance and Strong TV Ratings Highlight PRIMESTAR 500 Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway
    CONCORD, N.C., April 1 -- Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
today announced the CBS network broadcast of the PRIMESTAR 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on March 28 garnered a
strong 5.4 rating with a 14 share.  Approximately 5 million households tuned
in to watch Texas native Terry Labonte claim the checkered flag.
    Proving that everything is bigger in Texas, record numbers crowded the
speedway on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 26 - 28.  Approximately 370,000
spectators trekked from 50 states and several foreign countries, as far away
as Australia, to watch Coors Light Silver Bullet Qualifying, the Coca-Cola 300
NASCAR Busch Series race and the PRIMESTAR 500.
    "This weekend showcases the excitement surrounding racing in Texas,"
stated Bruton Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway
Motorsports.  "We are pleased with the strong 5.4 rating.  It's great to know
so many folks were watching the race considering the spring-like weather
blanketing a majority of the country."
    "In addition to these outstanding racing events, we opened The Speedway
Club at Texas.  This facility provides fan amenities found at no other
speedway."
    Legendary entertainer Wayne Newton helped open The Speedway Club with a
sold-out show.  The nine-story building towers over Turn One of the speedway
and features fine dining, a health club and spa, meeting space including a
26,000 square foot ballroom with spectacular views of the speedway and beyond,
and verandah seating for speedway events.
    Speedway Motorsports will host its next major racing weekend April 9-11 at
Bristol Motor Speedway.  The Company is a leading marketer and promoter of
motorsports entertainment in the United States. SMI owns and operates the
following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway,
Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sears Point
Raceway, and 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.