BROOKLYN — Chuck Kaminskas and his younger brother Greg thought it was a great experience.

“It was something very special. We will remember this forever,” the brothers from Royal Oak and Westland, Mich., respectively, said following their laps around Michigan International Speedway on Monday.

That’s the memories many fans experienced during the first day of the Track Laps Program, which took place from noon until 1 p.m. on the speedway’s two-mile oval. MIS opened its race track for select dates in August and September, giving fans the opportunity to drive their personal vehicles on the track.

Due to its overwhelming popularity, the track recently added dates to accommodate the demand.

Many cars showed up for their laps on the first day including the Kaminskas brothers, as well as Dan Zomer and Bruce Watson of Kalamazoo, Mich. Zomer and Watson brought their sons, Nick (8) and Josh (6) Zomer and Tyson Watson (6), to the track to take a few laps around the track at 70 mph.

“This is really cool. We’re very excited to do this and bring the boys out to experience something very few people have had the opportunity to do,” Zomer said.

For the Kaminskas brothers, the opportunity to drive their Ford Mustangs on the 18-degree, historic banking was an opportunity they couldn’t refuse.

“We heard about this on television and really wanted to come out and do this,” Chuck Kaminskas said. “We enjoy MIS very much and have been longtime race fans. It’s a beautiful day to do this and we had a great time!”

Dates are available for future track laps for just $25. Fans may take three laps around the track at a maximum speed of 70 mph. The laps are paced by the MIS pace car.

The new dates just recently announced are at the end of August and most of the month of September — Aug. 26-27, Aug. 30-31, Sept. 1-2, Sept. 7, Sept. 13-17, Sept. 20-24 and Sept. 27-30.

Drive time is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. each day. More information can be found at MISpeedway.com/tracklaps.

Reservations may be made by calling 800-354-1010 (no online purchases are available). Advance sales are encouraged due to limited availability. Once a phone order has been placed, a ticket will be mailed to the guest in advance of their selected day. All guests must enter and present their ticket at the tunnel entrance to the track off of Brooklyn Highway.

Walk-up purchases can be made based on availability by visiting the MIS Administration Building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The track laps are limited to passenger vehicles only; no motorcycles. No passing of other vehicles will be allowed at any time. The driver of the vehicle must be 18 years of age and all participants will need to sign a waiver before driving on the track. Seatbelts and headlights must be on at all times. Laps will take place rain or shine. In the case of a date cancellation due to extreme weather or safety conditions, MIS will contact all guests in advance on their visit.

Tickets for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CARFAX 400 are as low as $25 for adults with kids 12 and under free. Visit MISpeedway.com or call the MIS ticket hotline at 800-354-1010 today to take advantage of great pricing for 2010 events at MIS.

You can also visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MISpeedway or Tweet with us @MISpeedway.