IRP Kroger Speedfest in the National Spotlight
23 July 1997
LIVE TV, RADIO COVERAGE OF KROGER SPEEDFEST ACTIVITIES PUTS IRP IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT Indianapolis Raceway Park will be the center of attention for millions of motorsports fans from July 30 to August 1, when the ESPN television networks and the MRN radio network converge on IRP's .686-mile oval to broadcast the Kroger Speedfest live to a national audience. Nearly four million motorsports fans last year alone tuned into the ESPN networks to watch the three Kroger Speedfest races, which in 1997 includes the DuPont 100 presented by Automotive Color & Supply on July 30, the Cummins 200 presented by the Indiana Dodge Dealers on July 31 and the Kroger NASCAR 200 presented by Ziploc on August 1. MRN, the radio arm of NASCAR, anticipates 3 million listeners for its broadcasts of the two NASCAR events. Coverage of the Kroger Speedfest commences Wednesday, July 30, when ESPN2 airs the DuPont 100 at 8:30 p.m. local time. The Cummins 200 will air live on the "the Deuce" on July 31 at 8:30, and will be rebroadcast on ESPN Saturday, August 2, at 7 p.m., several hours after the Brickyard 400 concludes. ESPN will broadcast the Kroger NASCAR 200 live from IRP on Friday night, August 1, starting at 8. In addition, ESPN's popular Speedweek show, hosted by Dave Despain, will air from IRP during the half-hour prior to the start of the Kroger NASCAR 200. MRN's broadcast of the Cummins 200 begins with a race preview Thursday night at 8:15 p.m., while Kroger NASCAR 200 coverage starts Friday night at 7:45. Local station WNDE-AM (1260) will carry MRN's coverage both nights. WNDE's daily sports talk show "Sports Daily" will originate from IRP Thursday afternoon, prior to the running of the Cummins 200, from 4 to 7 p.m. Several other out-of-town radio stations will feature qualifying and race updates from IRP during the Kroger Speedfest as well. Good seats are still available for the Kroger Speedfest. Call IRP at (317) 291-4090 for information.
