Eldora Speedway | 13929
St Route 118 | New Weston | OH | 45348
For immediate news release e-mail: mail@eldoraspeedway.com
OLLIE’S
HEADS BACK TO THE TRACK THIS SUMMER
WITH THREE-RACE ‘OLLIE’S 360 CHALLENGE’
NASCAR Drivers Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney and
Tony Stewart to Headline 360 Sprint Car Series;
Races Feature Potential Payout of More Than $130,000
Rossburg, OH. – Ollie’s Bargain
Outlet today announced that it would sponsor the Ollie’s
360 Challenge, a three-race series pitting NASCAR drivers Tony
Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney against some of the nation’s
top 360 sprint car drivers. And there’s nothing “cheap”
about this tournament -- Ollie will dig deep into his pockets
to award the winners with a potentially record-breaking purse!
With race dates set for June, July and August, the Ollie’s
360 Challenge will feature a total three-event purse of more
than $80,000, with $6,000 going to each A-main winner. Additionally,
a bonus of $50,000 will be offered to any driver who can win
two of three A-main features.
“Taking part in the Ollie’s 360
Challenge, with confirmed entries already from drivers like
Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart, is a thrill for the
entire Ollie’s family,” said Mark Butler, president
and CEO of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. “The Ollie’s
360 Challenge will give us another opportunity to offer “Good
Stuff, Cheap” -- top-quality racing at a great value to
fans across several states this summer. And I encourage people
to stay tuned for news about an exciting sweepstakes all race
fans will want to enter.”
The challenge will kick off with a race at
the 3/8-mile Sharon (Ohio) Speedway on June 17. Owned and operated
by Blaney and a group of local partners, Sharon Speedway is
one of the country’s leading short tracks and hosts several
410 sprint car events throughout the season.
“I am really pleased that the Ollie’s
360 Challenge will make a stop at Sharon Speedway,” said
Blaney. “My family and business partners have put a lot
of time and effort into making Sharon Speedway one of the best
dirt tracks in the country and it’s a privilege to welcome
a marquee event such as this into our facility. I’m also
looking forward to getting into a 360 sprint car again this
year.”
The second round of the Ollie’s 360 Challenge
will take place at Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg,
Ohio, on July 8. The high-banked, half-mile oval has a storied
history that spans more than 50 years and is a staple in the
sprint car universe. Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion
Stewart competes in a handful of dirt track racing events each
season.
“Any time I can race a dirt sprint car
or late model I’m excited about it,” said Stewart.
“I’ve always said that open-wheel racing is like
a reset button for me and the fact that I’m going to get
to race my 360 sprinter at least three times this summer is
something I’m really looking forward to. We’re very
proud to be able to offer our fans a variety of quality racing
and I’m sure this event will be one of our biggest this
season. It will be fun to mix it up with Kasey, Dave and the
top 360 sprint car drivers in the country.”
The third and final round of the Ollie’s
360 Challenge will be hosted by Kahne and wrap up at Williams
Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., on August 19. The facility,
a favorite of Kahne’s, boasts a half-mile speedplant and
one of the most loyal sprint car racing fan bases in the country.
In 2007, the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Shootout event hosted
by Williams Grove Speedway raised more than $75,000 for the
Kasey Kahne Foundation. It’s a favor that Kahne is eager
to reciprocate in August.
“Williams Grove Speedway is one of my
favorite tracks to race on,” Kahne said. “I grew
up racing sprint cars around the country and I always enjoyed
racing at ‘The Grove.’ Last year, we worked with
Ollie’s and the track to help raise $75,000 for the Kasey
Kahne Foundation and I really appreciated all of the effort
the facility and staff put into the event. We’re looking
forward to working with Ollie’s Bargain Outlet again this
year and I’m happy to announce that the proceeds from
the Grove event will go to support the Kasey Kahne Foundation
this year as well. It will be great to get to compete in these
three events with Tony and Dave, as well as race against the
drivers who run 360 sprint cars each week. All three races will
be great for the fans, especially if someone can pull off winning
the $50,000 bonus.”
The Williams Grove race not only culminates
the series, it solidifies Ollie’s Bargain Outlet’s
commitment to charity.
“Having a charitable tie-in is extremely
important to Ollie’s,” said Mark Butler, a newly
appointed member to the Kasey Kahne Foundation Chairman’s
Board. “We, as a company, strive to give back to our community
in any way we can. Being able to connect with the community
in an exciting way via the 360 Challenge and charitably through
the Kasey Kahne Foundation gives us the best of both worlds.”
About the Ollie’s 360 Challenge
The Ollie’s 360 Challenge will begin
at Sharon Speedway on June 17. The second race in the three
event series will take place at Eldora Speedway on July 8 with
the event finale scheduled for Williams Gove Speedway on August
19. Paying $6,000 to each winner and a minimum of $500 to each
A-main competitor, the Ollie’s 360 Challenge series will
rank as one of the highest paying 360 sprint car events of 2008.
All drivers competing in at least two of the three events are
eligible for the $50,000 bonus, which will be awarded to the
driver who can win two of three A-main events.
Motorsports Media Entertainment is promoting
the event in conjunction with the title sponsor, Ollie’s
Bargain Outlet. For more information regarding Ollie’s
Bargain Outlet please visit www.olliesbargainoutlet.com. For
more information regarding Sharon Speedway, Eldora Speedway
or Williams Grove Speedway log on to www.sharonspeedway.com,
www.eldoraspeedway.com or www.williamsgrove.com. More information
regarding each event of the Ollie’s 360 Challenge will
become available as event times are confirmed.
About Ollie’s Bargain Outlet
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, founded in 1982,
is the largest retailer of closeouts, salvage and surplus merchandise
in the Mid-Atlantic region. Famous for its signature catch-phrase
Good Stuff Cheap, Ollie’s offers a huge variety of famous
brand name merchandise at savings from 30-percent to 70-percent
off the regular retail price, and the assortment is always changing.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet operates 59 stores in Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, West Virginia, New York
and North Carolina.
About
The Kasey Kahne Foundation
The Kasey Kahne Foundation (KKF) was formed
in 2005 with a primary mission to help and support chronically
ill children and their families. KKF is also focused on diversity
awareness and providing opportunities for underprivileged children.
In doing so, KKF brings racing fans together for a common purpose
to raise funds for distribution to a variety of designated charities,
including Ronald McDonald House Charities. In addition, Kasey
is a member of the President’s Council for service and
civic participation, serving under President Bush. Visit www.kaseykahnefoundation.org
for more information.
About Motorsports Media Entertainment (MME)
MME produces unique, media focused racing events,
such as the highly successful Prelude to the Dream dirt late
model all star race in June 2007 and the 22nd Annual Chili Bowl
Midget Nationals in January 2008, which appeal to the broad
spectrum of motorsports fans and help partnering companies break
through the sponsor clutter.
Contact
Information
For Ollie’s Bargain Outlet:
Jamie Letti, 717-232-5554; jlettis@neimangroup.com
For Sharon Speedway:
Kate Blaney, 330.772.5481; kate@sharonspeedway.com
For Williams Grove Speedway:
Bruce Ellis, BDE@intergrafix.net
Shanon Adams, 704.660.3903; shanon@kaseykahnefoundation.org
