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Texas Motor Speedway To Host Second IRL Race in 1998

1 October 1997

Texas Motor Speedway To Host Second IRL Race in 1998

    FORT WORTH/DALLAS, Oct. 1 -- Four-time Indianapolis 500
winner and Indy Racing League (IRL) team owner A.J. Foyt, along with Texas
Motor Speedway General Manager Eddie Gossage, announced today that the Fort
Worth speedway will host a second IRL event, the Lone Star 500K, Sept. 20,
1998.
    Entering to the theme song from the motion picture "Rocky," Foyt joined
Gossage in Victory Lane for the afternoon press conference.  Sparky, Texas
Motor Speedway's mascot, was also on-hand to aid the pair in making the
announcement.
    "We're glad to be coming back to Texas Motor Speedway," said Foyt.  "It
means a lot to our teams to compete right here in Texas two times next year."
    Texas Motor Speedway is the only venue on the IRL's 1998 schedule that is
slated to host two races.
    "The success of the True Value 500K showed us that race fans should have a
second IRL date at Texas Motor Speedway," said Vice President of Indianapolis
Motor Speedway and Executive Director of IRL, Leo Mehl.  "The June race in
Texas was a turning point for our series and we are delighted that we will be
returning to Fort Worth two times next year."
    In addition to the Lone Star 500K, which will be a day event, the race
weekend will kick off with the Cowtown 250 Automobile Racing Club of America
(ARCA) Bondo/Mar-Hyde series day race Sept. 19, 1998.
    "America's Original Nighttime Indy Car Race," the True Value 500K returns
next summer to the speedway's schedule June 6, along with the Pronto Auto
Parts 400K NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series night race June 5.
    "We've created a great relationship with the IRL and are proud to be
adding a second race to our schedule," said Gossage.  "We've promised our fans
an exciting racing package and we're certainly doing that with the help of
legends like A.J. Foyt and other great competitors in the racing world.  Texas
Motor Speedway is committed to taking motorsports entertainment to another
level and providing race fans with an unforgettable and enjoyable racing
experience."
    Speedway Motorsports Inc. , the owner and operator of Atlanta,
Bristol, Charlotte and Texas Motor Speedways, 600 Racing and operator of Sears
Point Raceway, is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment
in the United States.

SOURCE  Speedway Motorsports Inc.