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| Press Release |
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USAC/CRA FORUM DRAWS CAPACITY TURNOUT |
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(JANUARY 19, 2004 - DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA)
Principals of the recently-announced 2004 USAC/CRA 410 Sprint Car
Series assembled Thursday night (January 15) at the Elks Lodge in Downey,
California for an informative public forum to discuss details of the new series
and acquaint prospective participants with series track operators/owners and
USAC sanctioning-body officials. A capacity, standing-room-only audience of more than 160, including car owners, drivers and other interested participants were in attendance for the meeting, opened by longtime California Sprint Car principal Glen Howard, who then introduced the panel, comprised of parties from Perris Auto Speedway, Ventura Raceway and Manzanita Speedway (Phoenix, Ariz.), plus USAC National and Western Officers. The assembly was initially addressed by Don Kazarian of Perris Auto Speedway, who summarized discussions which have taken place since the conclusion of the 2003 racing season and presented reasons for the decision to create the new series. USAC President/CEO Rollie Helmling then addressed the meeting and informed the group about USAC's involvement in the new series. Mr. Helmling also outlined items contained in an informational packet distributed to all attendees, which included the 2004 racing schedule and answers to numerous specific series-related issues such as purse, rules, race procedures, year-end point funds, series sponsors, memberships, etc. Mr. Helmling then served as moderator for the open forum in which questions were directed to the panel, which also included USAC VP/Western Operations Tommy Hunt, Mr. Kazarian, Ventura Raceway owner/operator Jim Naylor and Manzanita Speedway owner/operator Keith Hall. Unable to attend but offering input contained in the informational packet were Dave Swindell of Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif., Steve and Randy Schweitzer of Bakersfield Speedway and Steve Beitler of Skagit (Wash.) Speedway, whose facilities are also included in the 2004 calendar of events. Questions regarding many aspects of the new series were fielded by the panel, which offered insight into the structure and plans for the coming season, which opens Saturday night, March 6 at Perris Auto Speedway and presently includes 32 events with additional venues under consideration. Membership information was distributed signaling the beginning of licensing and registration for the series and is also available by contacting USAC Headquarters in Indianapolis or the USAC website at www.usacracing.com. A subsequent meeting is planned Thursday night February 5 at the Downey Elks Lodge, beginning at 7 pm for the new membership to discuss series rules. |
