Category: Other Series Racing

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Thursday, September 15, 2011) – Bristol Dragway heats up Sept. 23-25 with one of the most exciting weekends of the season, featuring the Super Chevy Show and Fas Mart Thunder Valley Mayhem presented by Beef O’ Brady’s Family Sports Restaurant.

Super Chevy Show’s extreme exhibition machines return to Bristol Dragway to take part in the ultimate thrill show, Thunder Valley Mayhem on Saturday night. Nitro Extreme Pro Mods, which also will make passes on Sunday afternoon, will square off in one of the wildest shows on four wheels.

The Pro Mods, however, are just the start of an exciting evening of exciting thrills. Fans will be treated to lightning-fast passes by the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and Cannonball Express “jet trains,” while two monster trucks will square off in the “largest” drag race in Thunder Valley this season.

Team FMX will bring their electrifying motocross stunt show to Thunder Valley Mayhem and put on a performance like no other. Each time Team FMX shows up in Bristol, fans are guaranteed to see stunts and tricks like they can only catch on television.

Add crowd-favorite Tranasaurus, who will show up to tear trashed cars to shreds, and a spectacular fireworks extravaganza and Fas Mart Thunder Valley Mayhem is the perfect nightcap for Saturday’s activities at the Super Chevy Show.

All of Thunder Valley Mayhem’s professional drivers and exhibition acts will be available to meet fans in the pit area during the event.

Thunder Valley Mayhem exhibition runs will take place at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, while the Pro Mods and jet dragsters will run again on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Thunder Valley Mayhem is just one highlight of this extremely busy and exciting weekend. Bracket racers will flock to Thunder Valley to take part in exciting racing action in Bracket 1 (Super Pro), Bracket 2 (Pro), DOT and True Street.

Fans also will get to see a spectacular selection of some of the region’s best classic and modern Chevys at the Keisler Engineering car show. Chevy die-hards will be impressed with the attention to detail given to these show machines. Super Chevy attracts the top machines and surely is an event for any true General Motors fan.

Anyone interested in locating new products for their restoration project will want to visit the Performance & Restoration Marketplace. If that hard-to-find used part is nowhere to be found, the car corral and used parts swap meet is definitely the place to go.

For extreme excitement and entertainment, the Super Chevy Show and Fas Mart Thunder Valley Mayhem are just the ticket.

Gates open Friday at 9 a.m. with racer tech inspection. A Test and Tune session is scheduled for noon.

Gates open at 8 a.m. Saturday with Car Show registration and tech inspection also beginning at this time. Time trials take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday’s bracket racing begins at 3 p.m.

Saturday’s Fas Mart Thunder Valley Mayhem presented by Beef O’ Brady’s Family Sports Restaurant has two pro show sessions scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Sunday gates open at 8 a.m. with car show registration from 8 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Tech inspection also beings at 8 a.m. A Racers for Christ chapel service is slated for 8:30 a.m. Time trials will run from 9 a.m. – noon. Sunday’s bracket race rolls off at 1 p.m. with a Sunday’s Pro Show featuring the Pro Mods takes place at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Spectator Admission is $10 Friday, with Saturday and Sunday $20 each. Saturday’s admission includes Thunder Valley Mayhem. A weekend pass is available for only $30. Ages 10 and under are $5 per day, or $10 for the weekend. Full hook-up camping is available for $100.

For more information about Super Chevy Show or Fas Mart Thunder Valley Mayhem, please call (423) BRISTOL or visit www.bristoldragway.com.

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Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its 600 Racing subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary. The Company also equally-owns Motorsports Authentics, a joint venture formed with International Speedway Corporation to produce, market and sell licensed motorsports merchandise. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.speedwaymotorsports.com

 

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Thursday, September 15, 2011) –* Just because the IRWIN Tools Night Race is in the rearview mirror, it does not mean Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway will take a rest — not even close.

In the next few weeks, BMS will be invaded by a car-eating dinosaur, speedy sharks and the fastest race cars to ever grace the banks of the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile.”

“We are proud to host some of the best events in racing and the final two weeks of this season are a testament to that,” said Jerry Caldwell, BMS Executive Vice President and General Manager. “October 1 not only marks one of our favorite events, the Sharky 500 and Kids Expo, it includes the debut of the extremely quick MustSeeRacing Sprint Cars and the season finale for Street Fights.

“The week before, we have Thunder Valley Mayhem and Super Chevy Show. We definitely are going to have something for everyone to close out the racing season this year.”

All the fun begins during the Sept. 23-25 Super Chevy Show presented by GM Performance Division at Bristol Dragway. The Super Chevy Show features a weekend full of exciting bracket and exhibition racing, as well as the amazing Keisler Engineering Car Show and the Thompson Metal car corral and used parts swap meet. Spectator admission is $10 Friday, while Saturday and Sunday are $20 each. A weekend pass is available for only $30. Ages 10 and under are $5 per day or $10 for the weekend.

It doesn’t end there, as Fas Mart Thunder Valley Mayhem presented by Beef O’ Brady’s Family Sports Restaurant kicks up the action Saturday evening, Sept. 24 with a wide variety of extreme machines. From Nitro Pro Mods and jet dragsters to extreme motocross stunts and Transaurus, this is the ultimate thrill show for all ages. An exciting monster truck match race also highlights this event. Exhibition racing rounds take place at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s Super Chevy Show admission includes Thunder Valley Mayhem.

On Oct. 1, BMS closes the 2011 racing season with a day full of action for the entire family. The day begins with the fourth annual Kid’s Expo, a free event, which takes place in conjunction with the Sharky 500, a Speedway Children’s Charities rubber shark race that raises funds for agencies in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia

A number of activities will be held at the Kid’s Expo, including cornhole tournaments, an inflatable playland, the YMCA rock wall, and a Big Wheel drag race, to name a few. Live entertainment will be provided by Daisi Rain, a local youth band.

The shark race takes place on Beaver Creek between the Speedway and Bristol Dragway. The sharks are released simultaneously into the creek with the first few across the finish line scoring some amazing prizes, including the 2011 Ford Mustang BMS pace car (valued at more than $32,000), provided by Tri-Cities Ford Dealers. Second-place is $5,000 in merchandise from Grand Home Furnishings while the third-place shark will win its owner four tickets to anywhere American Airlines flies in the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Each shark is $10 and there is no limit on the number an individual can purchase. Sharks can be purchased at BMS, Grand Home Furnishings and Pizza Plus.

The Kid’s Expo will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., while the Sharky 500 is set for 1 p.m.

Beginning at noon on Oct. 1, Bristol Dragway will open its gates for the final time this year to host the Fas Mart Street Fights season finale. Racing begins at 1 p.m. and anyone with a valid driver’s license can challenge legendary Thunder Valley in their own street-legal vehicle for only $10. Spectator admission is $5. From the family minivan to high-horsepower American Muscle, there is something for everyone at Street Fights.

Oct. 1 also marks the debut of the TruFuel Xtreme Speed Classic, an event featuring winged sprint cars from the MustSeeRacing Xtreme Sprint Series. One of the series’ drivers, Jason Blonde, set a new BMS lap record during the World’s Fastest Half-Mile Speed Trials in March. Blonde lapped the track in 13.245 seconds at an average speed of 144.871 mph, shattering the previous track record held by NASCAR’s Ryan Newman.

With open wheels and extremely high speeds, the race is sure to be one fans won’t want to miss. The afternoon also will include the Rolling Thunder Modified Touring Series, Street Stocks and Mod-4s.

Gates open at 1:30 p.m. for the Xtreme Speed Classic, with racing slated for 3:15 p.m. Adult tickets are $15 in advance or $20 on the day of the event. Children’s tickets are $3 in advance or $5 on race day.

For more information about the thrilling conclusion to the 2011 racing season at Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway, please call (423) BRISTOL, toll free at 1-866-415-4158 or visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.

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Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its 600 Racing subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary. The Company also equally-owns Motorsports Authentics, a joint venture formed with International Speedway Corporation to produce, market and sell licensed motorsports merchandise. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.speedwaymotorsports.com

 

ROCK HILL, SC, Tuesday, September 13, 2011: Six hours at 100 percent. That is what the Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) championship leaders CORE autosport is up against at the upcoming race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

After mixed results in Baltimore which narrowed the American Le Mans Series LMPC standings to a one-point lead for CORE autosport drivers Ricardo Gonzalez and Gunnar Jeannette over Eric Lux, and a mere two point lead for the team championship over Genoa Racing, CORE autosport is taking no chances as they approach the six-hour ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey presented by Tequila Patrón.

Three drivers will pilot each CORE autosport entry. In the #05 Bayshore Recycling / Composite Resources ORECA FLM09 will be former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Andy Wallace joining regulars Frankie Montecalvo and team founder Jon Bennett for the first time.

The sister #06 Excel Consultants / Composite Resources machine will feature Road America LMPC winner Rudy Junco along with driver championship points leaders Gonzalez and Jeannette. The #06 lineup comes back together after a podium finish at the first-ever American Le Mans Series race for CORE autosport, the 2011 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.

Four of the six CORE autosport drivers have not driven an LMPC car on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile circuit, known for turns 8 and 8a, otherwise known as “The Corkscrew,” which drops five and a half stories in a mere 450 feet.

#05 drivers Montecalvo and Bennett have driven there in the IMSA Cooper Tires Prototype Lights series, while #06 drivers Gonzalez and Junco competed in the ALMS GTC class in 2010, as well as in other series. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will prove even more special for Gonzalez and Junco, as the Mexican natives will be celebrating 201 years of Mexican independence on Friday, Sept. 16

CORE autosport will celebrate by featuring a special “Viva Mexico” livery on the #06 as well as holding an independence day celebration from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. on that day. The event is open to all ALMS paddock pass holders and will feature a mariachi band, Mexican snacks, a trivia contest with prizes, photograph opportunities for the #06 car and the Michelin Man, and a Q&A and autograph session with Gonzalez and other guests.

Qualifying for the ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey presented by Tequila Patrónwill be aired live on ESPN3.com on Friday, September 16 at 6:30 p.m. EST, with live race coverage on ESPN3.com on Saturday, September 17 at 4:15 p.m. EST. ESPN2 will televise a tape-delayed highlight of the event on Sunday, September 18 at 1 p.m. EST.

International viewers can see the event live on MotorsTV, Rogers Sports Net, Fox Sports Middle East and Fox Latin America Networks. Live radio broadcasts are available at www.americanlemans.com.

First female to ever do so, now waiting on National and Regional title results

LEBANON, Missouri (September 12, 2011) – Chrissy Wallace did something no other female Late Model driver has ever done in ASA competition over the weekend.

She clinched the ASA Late Model championship at her home track of Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Saturday night. In turn, that also put her back in the lead for the West Region track championship, which consists of hundreds of drivers from multiple tracks.

Now, the 23-year old daughter of NASCAR driver Mike Wallace has another fete left to accomplish this year – the ASA Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil National Championship. But, she’s going to have to wait until October to find out the results for the West Region and National championship as other ASA Member track have seasons that are still in progress.

Going into her championship night at I-44 Speedway, Wallace had a solid point lead based off her six feature wins. She just needed to have respectable finishes in each of her 30-lap features on Saturday night to take the crown.

And, she came through finishing fifth in the first feature, and seventh in the second one. Making it even more special was having her entire family on hand for the crowning moment.

In 1990, Mike Wallace won the same track championship and went on to launch his NASCAR career the following year. Now, 21 years later, Chrissy is hoping the same comes true for her.

“This is just great,” Wallace said. “We worked real hard all year to achieve this goal and to have the season over and be the ASA Late Model champion at the same track my dad was, it’s just a very special thing for all of us.

“The toughest part of the year was coming back from being 12th in points at one time. The level of competition here is incredible, and I enjoyed racing everyone here at I-44 Speedway.

“When we were able to take the points lead here, that put us to the top of the ASA West Division, too. I can’t believe it, we still have two titles to compete for and our season is over. Now, we just have to sit and wait to see how the National and West Region ones work out. That would be the perfect ending to a great season.”

Wallace has made no secret of her desire to return to the NASCAR ranks in either the Camping World Truck Series, or the Nationwide Series. Utilizing her ASA Championships at a catalyst makes perfect sense.

The National and West Region championships will be decided after the final ASA events take place on September 25 at various member speedways. Currently, Wallace and Barry Beggarly of Ace (NC) Speedway are battling it out for the National title.

Wallace is leading the West Region standings, with Beggarly doing so in the East Region. Either way, the Wallace name is still prominent in racing circles around the country.

And now, Chrissy Wallace can put “champion” next to hers.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Monday, September 12, 2011) – A perfect weekend greeted the DER Bracket Series competitors at Bristol Dragway last weekend, with several competitors earning key wins as the championship battle winds down.

Chris Johnson of Maryville won Saturday’s Super Pro action as Kingsport’s David Starnes turned on the red light by .001 sec. Johnson’s run had a .005 reaction time and a 4.913 elapsed time (4.92 dial-in) at 140.59 mph.

Gary Goldberg from Rockwood picked up Sunday’s Super Pro win in a similar fashion when Buddy Fleenor of Rogersville left the line too soon. Goldberg’s winning run combined a .015 R.T. with a 6.221 E.T. (6.22 dial-in) at 110.21 mph.

Josh Wyatt drove his Mustang to the Pro category win over Carl Widner from Elizabethton. The Blountville native had a .015 R.T. and a 7.060 E.T. (7.04 dial-in) at 105.54 mph to defeat his opponent in the final.

Brandon Bailey from Glade Spring, Va. earned Sunday’s Pro division victory, beating Johnson City’s Larry Barr. Bailey used a .026 R.T. and a 9.826 E.T. (9.81 dial-in) at 68.68 mph to oust Barr.

In a battle of Mustangs, Bristol’s CJ Elsea took his 1973 version to Saturday’s Sportsman win over a red-lighting Ben Knight, also of Bristol. Seeing the red, Elsea eased out of the starting line with a .275 R.T. and ran hard to the line, breaking out with an 11.520 E.T. (11.53 dial-in) at 116.19 mph.

John Isom of Bristol took the win in Sunday’s Sportsman action over Randy Walters from Bluff City. Isom’s winning run had a .029 R.T. and a 9.842 E.T. (9.81 dial-in) at 126.93 mph.

Gabe Ellison came out on top in Saturday’s Junior Dragster Division II when Holly Fleenor from Bristol, Va. turned on the red in the final. Ellison had an impressive .008 R.T. and a 7.931 E.T. (7.96 dial-in) at 82.49 mph.

Joseph Beeler from Knoxville defeated Elizabethton’s Jesse Edens for Sunday’s Div. II win. Beeler had used a .102 R.T. and an 8.002 E.T. (7.95 dial-in) at 76.97 mph to collect the win.

Blountville’s Carson Brown took Saturday’s Jr. Dragster Div. I category over Drew Smith of Barbourville, Ky. Brown had a .044 R.T. and drove through the lights with a 9.099 E.T. (9.08 dial-in) at 73.33 mph.

Dylan Howard of Corryton sent Roan Mountain’s Garrett Freeman back to the hauler in Sunday’s final round of Jr. Dragster Div. I. Howard reacted with a .033 R.T. and raced to an 8.927 E.T. (8.91 dial-in) at 73.33 mph.

Bluff City’s Jerry Turner defeated Michael Waller of Ivanhoe, Va. in the Motorcycle final round on Saturday. Turner left the line with a .086 R.T. and finished the run with a 5.897 E.T. (5.87 dial-in) at 118.53 mph.

Waller avenged his loss on Sunday, downing Bristol’s Knight in the final round of Motorcycle. Waller used a .040 R.T. and a 5.943 E.T. (5.87 dial-in) at 108.79 mph to earn the trip to the Winner’s Circle.

Bluff City’s Bill Roberts earned the Trophy category on Saturday, defeating Chester Lay of Corryton for the win. Roberts final round had a .029 R.T. and a 15.180 E.T. (15.12 dial-in) at 89.33 mph. Michael Nuttall from Rutledge earned the Trophy win on Sunday when Charles Justus of Hurley, Va. went red in the final. Nuttall had an .062 R.T. and 16.702 E.T. (16.71 dial-in) at 78.64 mph on the pass.

Bristol Dragway returns to action Thursday with the Fas Mart Street Fights Series, while the DER Bracket Series crowns its champions during the final weekend of action Sept. 17-18.

For more information about Bristol Dragway events, please call (423) 764-DRAG or visit www.bristoldragway.com.

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Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its 600 Racing subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary. The Company also equally-owns Motorsports Authentics, a joint venture formed with International Speedway Corporation to produce, market and sell licensed motorsports merchandise. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.speedwaymotorsports.com

 

ROCK HILL, SC, Thursday, September 8, 2012: ALMS Le Mans Prototype Challenge class championship leaders CORE autosport has secured sportscar veteran and former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Andy Wallace for the next round of American Le Mans Series competition at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Wallace will join team owner Jon Bennett and young driver Frankie Montecalvo aboard the #05 Bayshore Recycling / Composite Resources ORECA FLM09 at the six-hour ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey presented by Tequila Patrón on Saturday, September 17.

Wallace’s history in sports car racing goes back decades, winning some of the most prestigious races in the world including the 24 Hours of Le Mans (overall: 1988, class wins: 2001, 2002, 2006), Rolex 24 at Daytona (overall: 1990, 1997, 1999; class win 2003), Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring (overall: 1992, 1993) and the Petit Le Mans (overall: 1999).

2010 marked Wallace’s debut in the highly-competitive ALMS LMPC class, driving for Level 5 motorsports. He ran seven of nine rounds with the team and racked up three podium finishes (Sebring, Lime Rock and Road America) and finished seventh in the 2010 ALMS LMPC driver championship standings.

Wallace’s history at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca goes back to 1997 and he’s had a love-hate relationship with the storied venue since then. Highlights at the challenging track include two ALMS podium finishes in the top prototype class – a second in 2001 with the Champion Audi team and a third spot in 2005 with Dyson Racing.

Qualifying for the ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey presented by Tequila Patrónwill be aired live on ESPN3.com on Friday, September 16 at 6:30 p.m. EST, with live race coverage on ESPN3.com on Saturday, September 17 at 4:15 p.m. EST. ESPN2 will televise a tape-delayed highlight of the event on Sunday, September 18 at 1 p.m. EST.

International viewers can see the event live on MotorsTV, Rogers Sports Net, Fox Sports Middle East and Fox Latin America Networks. Live radio broadcasts are available at www.americanlemans.com.

Andy Wallace

“I have been watching CORE autosport compete this year and when I got an email from Morgan [Brady, team manager] asking about my availability for the Laguna race I was honored I was on his list for drivers.

“I think the LMPC class is a great thing as it keeps costs down, but it’s still a prototype, which is fantastic. The LMPC cars are designed to do a single job and there’s no compromises like you have with GT cars.

“I find LMPC cars just as rewarding to drive as LMP1 cars. The brakes and handling are good, the gearbox takes a bit of learning and of course I want more power, but there’s not a race driver that doesn’t want that.

“CORE autosport has been doing extremely well and always is running at the front, and this race you always want to be out there in a good car  and you can’t do much better in the LMPC class. I’m looking forward to being part of the team and I take my job seriously to bring a good result for them.”

U.S. GT Academy champion Bryan Heitkotter will co-drive the #05 car with Ryan Dalziel, Mike Sweeney and Thomas Merrill pair up in the #04 car.

For Immediate Release

Scotts Valley, California – September 9, 2011 – A.M. Performance is proud to announce that it has partnered with Nissan and their global motorsports program GT Academy to bring virtual racing to reality by giving one lucky person the opportunity of a lifetime to become a professional race car driver. Over 53,000 PlayStation Gran Turismo 5 players participated in the first round of the GT Academy competition and after an intense National Final the top 16 players in the country moved on to England where they participated in the final stage of the competition. At the end of the grueling week-long race camp at Silverstone, where the 16 competitors raced in real Nissan race cars, Bryan Heitkotter from Fresno, CA was crowned champion. This intense competition was also filmed as a reality TV show that will air in five hour-long episodes on Speed beginning on Tuesday, September 20 at 10:00 EDT.

As part of the transition from virtual racer to real racer, Heitkotter will get the chance to drive A.M. Performance’s #05 Nissan NISMO 370Z at the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, the season finale of the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge which will take place September 17th at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course.

Heitkotter will make his GRAND-AM debut alongside the highly experienced Ryan Dalziel who will be his co-driver in the #05 GT Academy/A.M Performance machine. The team recently had a chance to test their Nissan machines in Buttonwillow where both Heitkotter and Dalziel drove the race-prepared 370Z for the first time in preparation for the Mid Ohio event. Joining them in that test were the driving duo of the #04 Nissan NISMO 370Z which includes Mike Sweeney who has been with the rookie team since it’s inception, and Thomas Merrill who will make his second start in the Nissan machine.

30 year old Heitkotter, a self proclaimed professional Gamer, was the fastest virtual driver during the tournament phase of GT Academy and credits his driving success to endless hours of simulations racing. His commitment and speed have now given him a life changing opportunity to become a professional race car driver.

This historic accomplishment, never before seen in North American professional motorsports, opens the door for a whole new generation of racers that now have new hope and a different path to becoming professional race car drivers. It is also a testament for the realism and accuracy of virtual racing and proves that aspiring drivers now have a new cost effective way to develop their skills and experience before hitting the track.

The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will take place September 16 – 17. The 2h30min race will be broadcast on SPEED September 25 at 12:00PM Eastern Time. You can follow all the action through live timing and commentary at www.grand-am.com. The GT Academy reality television show starts airing on SPEED on Tuesday, September 20th at 10:00 P.M. EST.

For more information about the team and its exciting new NISMO 370Z racecars please visit www.amperformanceracing.com and you can also follow us at www.facebook.com/amperformance and www.twitter.com/amperformance.

Bryan Keitkotter

Driver, #05 Nissan GT Academy /A.M. Performance / Nissan NISMO 370Z

“It will be a big challenge racing in the Grand Am Continental Tire series having just started my racing career in July. I’m looking forward to racing on my home soil in the US and learning as much as I can from my teammate for this race, Ryan Dalziel. I was fortunate enough to attend a test day with A.M. Performance while I was back home in California for a few days. It was great to have an opportunity to get to know the team and the car a little bit before the Grand-Am race weekend. We made a lot of progress during the day and we left feeling optimistic about Mid-Ohio.

GT Academy has provided me with a lot of experience behind the wheel in the past two months. The program is thorough and accelerated, with racing nearly every weekend and simulator sessions during the week, plus driver coaching. I’ve spent some time in the simulator at Silverstone running the Mid-Ohio circuit, getting ready for the real thing. I’m hoping I can get up to speed quickly as I’m sure there will be limited practice time.”

Ryan Dalziel

Driver, #05 Nissan GT Academy /A.M. Performance / Nissan NISMO 370Z

“I’m really excited to be part of this unique program with Nissan, GT Academy and A.M. Performance. I think the concept is so different to any other and that made me instantly attracted to it. After running some laps in the A.M. Performance Nissan NISMO 370Z a few days ago, I know we will turn some heads at Mid-Ohio and I was really impressed with Bryan and where his racing experience is at. I can’t wait until Mid-Ohio!”

Mike Sweeney

Driver, #04 A.M. Performance / Nissan NISMO 370Z

“This has been a pretty exciting year, being a part of this team as it all came together from scratch, but everything we’ve done so far pales to this Mid-Ohio event. It’s awesome to be a part of this great program, and to have our #05 car be the GT Academy car is just too cool, and we really need to thank the powers that be at Nissan and Sony for making that happen. The chance to work with a top-notch line-up is always fun too! We had no doubt that Ryan would be the business, we were very impressed by Bryan’s speed at our last test, he’s definitely an asset for this race, and of course I’ve driven with Thomas before; he’s always fast and we really made a good team, so I’m pretty thrilled about our driving line up here. Now we just need to go racing and bring home a good finish to make all those long seven-day work weeks back at the shop worth it for the guys!”

Thomas Merrill

Driver, #04 A.M. Performance / Nissan NISMO 370Z

“It will be great to get the nimble A.M. Performance Nissan NISMO 370Z back in competition again, especially at a technical track like Mid-Ohio. I’d like to thank Jeff Hecox, Andrew Armistead, Mike Sweeney, and all the A.M. Performance guys for allowing me to come back and race with the team again. The team has established a fun, professional atmosphere that any driver would enjoy being a part of! We have enjoyed working with the Nissan NISMO 370z platform, and with each outing we are constantly developing and improving the car. I’d also like to send a special thanks to Chris Tomaszewski, Jimmy Lipe, Bell Helmets and Sparco USA.”

About GT Academy:

GT Academy is a global marketing and motorsports program sponsored by Nissan and Sony PlayStation. It challenges gamers and racing fans alike from across the U.S. to compete in a series of online time trials using Gran Turismo 5 as the platform via pre-selected Nissan vehicles and tracks. As the competition progresses, thousands of hopefuls are narrowed down to the top 32 finalists, who compete in the live national finals for a coveted spot in the top 16. The top 16 will compete in a grueling race camp at Silverstone racing circuit in England, where their strength, stamina, mental agility, and driving skills will be pushed to the limits and beyond. On top of pure talent, it will take a lot of drive, passion and dedication to prove to the judges who really has what it takes to become a professional race car driver. One winner will start down the path of intense training in a seven-month “Driver Development Program” to become a pro, and ultimately, compete in a real race as part of a professional racing team. The entire journey will be documented in a reality show that will air on the SPEED channel for five (5) weeks starting on September 20th at 10:00 p.m. EST. Learn more about GT Academy by visiting www.NissanUSA.com/gtacademy.

About A.M. Performance:

A.M. Performance is a race car preparation, aftermarket parts, and tuning company based in Scotts

Valley, CA. Our 9000 sq ft. facility is staffed with some of the most skilled and passionate racecar

minds in the country, with all the tools required at their fingertips to build high-end racecars for the most competitive series in the country. Our professional fabricators can handle any job, big or small, from Grand Am Rolex GT cars, to your everyday HPDE track car.

Although A.M. Performance is equipped to build a racecar from any make, we specialize in Nissan 370Z’s and Nissan GT-R’s. Our experience racing both platforms gives us unique experience to advise our customers on the exact products they need for their street, track day, or full racecar Nissan.

Check the A.M. Performance website often for company updates. Our first two years look to be

extremely exciting with our multi-car entry into the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge GS class. We will also be coming to market with multiple hard parts which will be must haves for any track or race car 370Z. An AWD chassis dyno is also in the works to be installed and ready for customer tunes by the end of 2011.

FORD THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS RETURN TO BRISTOL DRAGWAY ON FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND IN 2012

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Thursday, September 08, 2011) –NHRA officials today announced the 2012 Ford Thunder Valley Nationals presented by the Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers once again return to the popular Father’s Day weekend slot on the schedule. Thunder Valley will welcome the stars of the NHRA June 15-17, 2012 in what has become one of the most anticipated stops on the calendar for both drivers and fans.

Bristol Dragway first hosted the Ford Thunder Valley Nationals on Father’s Day weekend in 2010, and the holiday proved to be the perfect time for NHRA to visit Thunder Valley.

Because of the special day, Dragway officials are able to plan several unique Father’s Day-themed events to coincide with the race. Additionally, the summer date provides families the chance to plan a vacation to include all the excitement of the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Jerry Caldwell, Bristol Dragway Executive Vice-President and General Manager, said the date provides families an even greater Thunder Valley experience.

“We are excited to continue our Father’s Day traditions here in Thunder Valley,” Caldwell said. “I don’t think there is any better way to spend the holiday than by bringing dad to Bristol Dragway to see 8,000-horsepower machines roaring through the valley.

“The drivers and crews are some of the most fan-oriented athletes in any sport, so Father’s Day weekend is the ideal date to bring the whole family out as we host all of our friends from NHRA.”

The 2012 edition of the Ford Thunder Valley Nationals marks the 12th annual event in Bristol.

ESPN2 and ESPN2HD, a part of the ESPN network, the worldwide leader in sports, will again provide exclusive television coverage, on a same-day basis, of all NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events featuring action from qualifying rounds on Saturday and Sunday’s race.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2011. As the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States, NHRA presents 22 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.

For more information about Bristol Dragway events, please call (423) 764-DRAG or visit www.bristoldragway.com.