DALE EARNHARDT JR. TO APPEAR AT JENNERSTOWN

JENNERSTOWN, PA (July 16) … Dale Earnhardt Jr., voted  NASCAR’s most popular driver the past three years, will appear at Jennerstown Speedway on Sat. Aug. 12 as part of the 2006 ‘Race of Champions’ (RoC) promotion at the half-mile paved Somerset County speed complex.

Earnhardt will be joined by fellow NASCAR Nextel Cup competitors Greg Biffle, Kenny Wallace and two yet-to-be-named drivers for the event. Earnhardt will participate in the popular pre-race autograph session, but is not permitted to drive in the actual RoC contest due to a contractual agreement with his sponsor. Earnhardt will conduct an on-track interview and will also serve as the flagman for the RoC.

“Due to his hectic race and personal appearance schedules Dale Jr. is only able to make a handful of short-track appearances every year,” said Jennerstown General Manager Larry Mattingly. “We feel very fortunate to be able to attract him to Jennerstown. I know for a fact that he selected Jennerstown over several other tracks.

“Earnhardt is the most popular, and well known driver in NASCAR,” he said. “His image is everywhere – television, videos, package branding, magazine ads, commercials. He is one of the biggest attractions in the entire sports industry.”

The son of deceased seven-time Nextel Cup champion Dale Earnhardt Sr., ‘Little E’, as he is known in the pit area, has made a name for himself on the track since graduating to NASCAR’s senior circuit in 1999. In eight years of competition Earnhardt Jr. has amassed 17 wins in 237 starts, and has also accounted for six poles along with 65 top-five and 100 top-10 finishes.

Earnhardt Jr scored his most recent triumph this past May at the Richmond (VA) Int. Raceway. The Kannapolis, NC native has career winnings of over $38 million dollars, and currently sits in the third position for NASCAR’s prestigious ‘Chase for the Nextel Cup’ championship.

Earnhardt Jr., a graduate of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, also has racked up impressive statistics in the NASCAR BUSCH Series, capturing 22 checkered flags and two championships (1998-99).

The Jennerstown RoC will spotlight the four Nextel Cup stars competing in two eight-lap exhibition races, driving cars that normally compete in the Courtesy Suzuki super late model division.

Prior to the racing activity the five drivers will participate in an interactive fan appreciation session, where they will sign 500 autographs per driver. Autograph recipients will be selected through a lottery system utilizing the speedway program. There will also be a simultaneous on-track autograph session featuring the weekly performers of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series.

Also on tap that evening is a special 100-lap Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance (MAARA) super late model event, featuring competitors from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, New York and Canada.

Advance $30.00 reserve seat discount tickets are now available through Aug. 10 on-line at www.jennerstown.com, or by calling 1-888 695-0888. All seats are reserved, regardless of age. Race day reserve seats are $40.00 .

“This event sold-out a week in advance last year,” Mattingly said. “I would strongly suggest ordering tickets early if you want a seat.”

The 2005 RoC attracted a record breaking crowd of over 10,000 to watch Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader perform.

Cars may begin entering the parking areas on race day at 8:00 am. No overnight parking or camping will be permitted. Spectator gates are scheduled to open at 11:00 am, while racing is scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm.

The RoC segment will be staged ‘rain or shine’. In the event the MAARA/NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series races are rained out, the five Nextel Cup drivers will participate in a fan question and answer session followings autographs. Fans will be issued a ‘rain-check’ to a future Jennerstown event.

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