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Kenny Irwin to Race in Three Kroger Speedfest Events at IRP

17 July 1997

RISING STAR KENNY IRWIN, JR. TO COMPETE IN ALL THREE KROGER SPEEDFEST
EVENTS AT INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK


Indianapolis native Kenny Irwin, Jr., a USAC open wheel veteran and
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie, will compete at Indianapolis
Raceway Park in all three Kroger Speedfest races on Wednesday, July
30, Thursday July 31 and Friday, August 1.

Officials from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Corporation announced
recently that Irwin will drive a KFC-sponsored NASCAR Busch Grand
National Series car in the August 1 Kroger NASCAR 200 at IRP.  This is
in addition to Irwin's ride in the Raybestos Liberty Racing Ford truck
(co-owned by NBA/Cleveland Cavaliers great Brad Daugherty) at the
Cummins 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race July 31 and the Johnny
Vance/Aristocrat Products USAC Silver Crown Series open wheel car,
which Irwin will pilot at the DuPont 100 July 30.

The motorsports world has awakened in 1997 to Irwin's incredible
driving talent, much of which was honed by competing in USAC's
national open wheel divisions since 1991.  Irwin has five wins on the
.686-mile IRP oval to date, and is optimistic about collecting his
sixth in the Kroger Speedfest. "I'm really looking forward to the
races at IRP, because I consider it my home track," he said.  "I may
have more laps there than anybody else in the Busch cars, the NASCAR
trucks and the Silver Crown cars, so that will put me at a great
advantage."

Irwin is driving the Raybestos Liberty Racing Ford truck throughout
the 1997 NCTS season.  He currently leads the NCTS Cintas
Rookie-of-the-Year-Award points chase by a healthy margin, and has won
two races in the series this year, including the Pronto Parts 400 at
Texas Motor Speedway on June 6 and the Florida Dodge Dealers 400 at
the Metro-Dade Homestead (Fla.) Motorsports Complex on March 16.