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Route 66 Raceway Announces 1998 Inaugural Season Schedule of Events

13 January 1998

Route 66 Raceway Announces 1998 Inaugural Season Schedule of Events

    JOLIET, Ill., Jan. 13 -- Route 66 Raceway today announced its
1998 line up of major spectator events at the first true "Stadium of Drag
Racing."
    The aggressive schedule includes 16 major motorsports events sharing the
1/4 mile drag strip, 2-mile road course, 1/2 mile clay oval and the 1 mile off
road course.  Highlights of the schedule are the opening event Route 66
Nationals, featuring NHRA Winston Drag Racing on May 28-31, AMA Superbike Road
Race on Aug. 4-9, and the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on July 26th.
    "We are very proud of this schedule as it brings a wide cross section of
motorsports entertainment to the people of Chicago," commented track CEO Dale
Coyne.  "Route 66 Raceway is the first major motorsports facility in the
Chicagoland area, and the second largest stadium in Chicago.  Area race fans
now have a unique and exciting opportunity to experience major motorsports and
special events in a modern state of the art facility."
    Other events include races from several National Series such as AMA
Prostar Bike Drag Racing, Championship Off Road Racing, Hot Rod Magazines
Fastest Street Car Series, AMA Grand National Oval Series, Super Chevy
Weekend, SCCA Road Racing and NHRA's Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.
    Inaugural events for 1998 and beyond include America's Corvette Show
featuring one of the country's most professional and upscale Corvette Events
of the year, Chicagoland Mopar Shootout, Truck Fest, Import Nationals, Harley
Homecoming and the first factory supported Ford Nationals featuring Ford
racing and production vehicles.
    This diverse schedule will bring increased exposure to Chicago and the
Joliet markets.  Twelve of the Route 66 Raceway's sixteen events will be
televised in 1998.  "We are currently working on two major concerts for 1998,
other special events, and a full bracket racing program for 1998," adds Coyne.
"This will be an exciting first season for racers and fans alike at Route 66
Raceway."
    Season tickets go on sale January 20th for the 1998 season.  Individual
tickets go on sale February 16th for the Inaugural Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
For more information on events or tickets call the Route 66 box office at
815-722-5500.

                           1998 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS


    May 28-31
    ROUTE 66 NATIONALS                                        TNN
      NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series, Featuring the World's Premiere
      Drag Racing Series including the top pros from Top Fuel, Funny Car,
      Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck and Pro Stock Bike.

    June 12-14
    AMERICA'S CORVETTE SHOW                                   ESPN
      World Class Corvette Show, Racing, Judging, Kruse Auction, Seminars,
      Road Racing etc., Co-Promoted Jim Purvis formerly of "Bloomington Gold."
    June 20-21
    CHICAGOLAND MOPAR SHOOTOUT
      Featuring Mopar Racing, Swap Meet, Shows & more.

    July 10-12
    STREET FIGHTER NATIONALS                                  ESPN2
      AMA Prostar Top Fuel, Pro Class and Street Class motorcycles from
      around the world.

    July 17-19
    TRUCK FEST & CHAMPIONSHIP OFF ROAD RACING                 ESPN2
      Truck Drag Racing, Show & Shine, Swap Meet, Off Road Truck Races
      featuring Walker Evans and factory teams on the 1-mile Clay Oval/Infield
      Track.

    July 24-26
    HOT ROD MAGAZINE/MUSCLE CAR FASTEST STREET CAR SHOOTOUT   ESPN2
      Hot Rod Magazine Street, Show & Race Cars.

    July 26
    PENNZOIL WORLD OF OUTLAWS
      Featuring the Winged Stars of Sprint Cars on the 1/2 mile Clay Oval.

    August 4-9
    CHICAGO'S AMA SUPERBIKE WEEK                              FOX
      Featuring Superbike Road Racers from around the world on factory bikes.

    August 8
    AMA GRAND NATIONAL OVAL RACING
      American Motorcycle Association Flat Track racers on the 1/2 mile Clay
      Oval.

    August 14-16
    AMRA HARLEY HOMECOMING
      Harley Drag Racing, Show, Swap Meet and More.

    August 21-23
    SUPER CHEVY WEEKEND                                       ESPN2
      National all Chevy Show featuring Drags, Swap, Shows & Jet Cars.

    August 28-30
    INAUGURAL FORD NATIONALS                                  ESPN2
      The first Factory Authorized Ford extravaganza featuring Fords,
      Mustangs, Mercurys, Funny Cars, Vintage Ford Road Racing, Indy Cars,
      Swap Meet, Car Judging, Seminars, Special Appearances, Manufacturers
      Midway.

    Sept. 11-13
    IMPORT NATIONALS                                          ESPN2
      Featuring Drag, Solo II, Road Racing and Oval Racing for Imported Cars,
      Manufactures Midway, Judging, etc.

    Sept. 18-20
    FALL SPRINTS
      Traditional SCCA Multi Class Road Racing on the 2-mile Road Course.

    Sept. 25-27
    NHRA DIVISION 3 FEDERAL-MOGUL RACING SERIES               ESPN2
      Featuring Alcohol Dragsters, Funny Cars, Pro Stocks and Divisional
      Classes.

SOURCE  Route 66 Raceway