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IMS to Host Short-Track Racers/Promoters On Champions Day, May 13

5 May 1998

INDIANAPOLIS - A new tradition will be added to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's rich open-wheel racing heritage when the facility plays host to the inaugural "Champions Day" on Wednesday, May 13. The event will bring together open-wheel champions from around the United States, in addition to short-track sanctioning body and racetrack promoters who work behind the scenes to make open-wheel racing successful.

"Many Indianapolis 500 champions started their climb to the top of open-wheel racing at one of the hundreds of short-track venues in existence," said Fred Nation, IMS vice president of corporate communications and public relations. "Champions Day provides IMS the opportunity to show our support and gratitude to the many champions and race organizers who have made Indianapolis the capital of open-wheel racing for years and who will help us build the Pep Boys Indy Racing League for years to come."

The championship drivers' racecars will be on display between the Hall of Fame Museum and the Tower Terrace grandstands. More than 20 short-track champions are scheduled to attend, including USAC's Jason Leffler, Dave Darland and Zak Morioka, plus Western Super Modified's Rebel Jackson Jr. and NAMARS midget champion Mel Kenyon. Others attending include Ricky Shelton, Michael Lang, Bernardo Martinez, Russ Wood, Jerry Nemire, Frankie Kerr, Johnny Saathoff, Larry Tyler, Kevin Olson, Don Lehmann, Marty Davis, Joe Roe, Terry Goff, Kevin Chambers and Russ Stoehr.

Champions Day events will include seminars for drivers and race organizers, a driver autograph session and a luncheon with IMS President Tony George, Pep Boys IRL Executive Director Leo Mehl and three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford. Short-track public address announcers will have the opportunity to promote their venue on the Speedway's PA system (the largest PA system in the world), and drivers will be available for media interviews.

"We anticipate that many of the driving champions attending Champions Day will someday try their hand at driving a Pep Boys IRL car at the Speedway," Nation said. "The IRL is committed to assisting these drivers in reaching the next level in their careers."