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HISTORIC ELDORA SPEEDWAY CRAFTS SUMMER CLASSIC

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Drivers to Compete in Old Spice Event August 17

ROSSBURG, Ohio (June 27, 2005) – In a classic return to their roots, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series drivers Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney will get behind the wheel of winged Sprint Cars on Wed., Aug. 17 at the “Old Spice Sprint Sizzler” at Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in southwestern Ohio. The trio, all of whom have extensive Eldora experience in the 700-plus horsepower, methanol-burning machines, will be actively competing within the National Racing Alliance (NRA) Sprint Invader sanctioned event.

All three drivers have repeatedly emphasized that Sprint Car racing was very influential in developing their careers. Often referred to as “engine stands on wheels”, Sprint Cars weigh a mere 1,200 pounds and offer a power-to-weight ratio exceeding that of an Indy car. Success in Sprint Car racing is attributed to keen driver reflexes and the ability to preserve the life of one’s all-important right rear tire while maneuvering wheel-to-wheel through intense traffic.

Of the threesome, Blaney’s Eldora record is arguably the most impressive. The Hartford, Ohio, native’s resume reflects 12 feature triumphs including a $100,000 victory in the 1997 Historical Big One and a pair of $50,000 checkered flags in the 1993 and 1995 Kings Royal events. Those conquests were complemented by six World of Outlaw (WoO) features wins and three All-Star Circuit of Champions victories.

Having the most recent Sprint success and activity at Eldora is Kahne. Currently one of the hottest commodities along the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit, Kahne visited Eldora’s hallowed victory lane in a USAC Midget car victory in 2000 and in an All-Star competition in the fall of 2003. Despite a full-time NASCAR assault, Kahne found time within his schedule to return last season to defend that All-Star victory, but a first-lap tangle with another machine thwarted that effort. “To be going back to Eldora, my favorite dirt track, is something I have been looking forward to for a while,” said Kahne. “I do not get the chance to race sprint cars that often and I have never raced a 360 at Eldora. It is going to be an awesome evening. I know Tony just warmed up last week at a track in Missouri, but I can assure you he is going to have his hands full.”

Stewart, who purchased Eldora from the legendary Earl Baltes in November of 2004, has a pair of Eldora victories to his credit. Those wins came during the popular Four Crown Nationals, sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), in 1995 – one behind the wheel of a non-winged Sprint Car and the other within a Midget Car. The Aug. 17 venture will be Stewart’s first foray into winged Sprint Car racing on the fabled half-mile Eldora clay oval. However, it will be Stewart’s second racing start at Eldora in 2005. He recently participated in the highly successful Nextel Prelude to the Dream, where he finished second to NASCAR Busch Series regular Kenny Wallace in the main event. That night he raced exclusively against his NASACR brethren, but on Aug. 17 he, along with Blaney and Kahne, will be doing battle against the weekend warriors of the NRA.

“I couldn’t be more excited to return to Eldora in a Sprint Car, a track where I have many of my fondest open-wheel memories,” said Stewart. “To me, this track is the holy grail of dirt track racing and I look forward to testing my luck against Kasey and Dave and some of the best Winged Sprint drivers in the country. Since the day I acquired the track, I have envisioned the night when I could simultaneously wear the hat of open-wheel driver and track owner. With our partner Old Spice, we are going to make it happen.”

Old Spice has expressed its equal enthusiasm for the event. "When we learned that Tony had acquired Eldora Speedway we immediately wanted to become involved. Old Spice has been a proud sponsor of Tony since 1999 and his idea for this event really personifies our own adage of real performance for real guys. We're sure the fans will see a great race and we're really excited to be a part of it," said Old Spice Brand Manager Carl Stealey.

Reserved seats, affordably priced at $16 for adults (ages 16 & up) and $10 for children (ages 10 - 15) will go on sale Wed., July 6 via the track’s website (www.eldoraspeedway.com) and over the phone (937.338.3815). Eldora promoter Larry Kemp has indicated that, with the exception of the grassy hillsides, all seating for this event will be reserved. A limited number of general admission tickets for the hillside areas will be made available on Aug. 17.