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TRACKS: New Ford Grandstand at Lowe's Motor Speedway Redefines 'Grand'

31 July 1999

New Ford Grandstand at Lowe's Motor Speedway Redefines 'Grand'

    CONCORD, N.C., July 31 -- In a move guaranteed to maintain
its rank as the most innovative motorsports facility, officials of Lowe's
Motor Speedway unveiled today plans for a massive new high-tech structure that
will create nearly 11,000 new seats on the 1.5-mile track's front stretch and
provide a much-needed expansion for the popular Speedway Club -- all in time
for the 2000 race season.

    Construction has already begun on the new Ford Grandstand, which is a
three-level design incorporating expanded Speedway Club "veranda" seating and
a covered, open-air VIP tier -- all topped off with the highest deck of seats
ever installed at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

    The new fan-friendly addition will feature 18- to 20-inch-wide stadium-
style seats and six elevators for easy access to the mid-deck VIP and upper-
level sections.  Speedway Club members will have access to a unique restaurant
and Veranda Plaza areas.

    Fans craving a bird's-eye view of the exit to pit road will want to be
sitting in the upper deck as it towers more than 110 feet above concourse
level.  A special ticket package for the sky-high deck includes admission to
The Winston, the Coca-Cola 600, the UAW-GM Quality 500, the All Pro Bumper to
Bumper 300 and CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 -- all for $465, an average of $93 per
event.

    Of the 10,860 new seats, the 4,317-seat veranda extension will be
available exclusively to Speedway Club members, with the 896-chair VIP level
and 5,647-place upper deck tickets offered to the general public in a season
ticket package.  The construction marks a net increase in permanent seating
for Lowe's Motor Speedway of 10,254 units, bringing the total racetrack
capacity to 167,254 for the year 2000.

    "The additional seating makes us second only to the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway in overall capacity," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and
general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway.  "With all the racetracks around the
country being improved or built from scratch, our challenge is to keep our
speedway the premier facility in all of motorsports and the flagship of SMI.
To do this we must continue to be innovative and timely with new additions
such as this $14 million Ford Grandstand.  The structure includes unique
amenities for additional Speedway Club memberships, corporate sales as well as
the avid race fan."

    The new construction marks the first time in 15 years that the general
public can purchase new seats on the LMS front stretch, but it is particularly
of benefit to The Speedway Club, which was itself a "first" for stock car
racing when introduced in May of 1987.

    "Now that we have the capability to expand the club and members' seating
into an all-new facility," said Speedway Club Vice President and General
Manager Wanda Edwards Miller, "we're taking to the next level the services and
amenities that members expect to find at the world's premier race facility.
The new restaurant, where members can congregate before, during and after the
race, is a good example of the new service."

    Miller has hired additional staff to handle the increased demand for
club memberships and ticket packages.  Other benefits enjoyed by The
Speedway Club members include special theme nights in the restaurant and
race car driving schools.

    Future plans for improvement at Lowe's Motor Speedway include
construction of a new showerhouse, a wider concourse level for greater
foot traffic flow, a third pedestrian walkway over Hwy. 29 and a
souvenir/ticket superstore.

    For more information about Speedway Club memberships and special club
packages for the new Ford Grandstand, call (704) 455-3240.  Tickets for
the general public, which go on sale Aug. 16 can be purchased by calling
(704) 455-3200 or by visiting the speedway's ticket office.