By Staff
BROOKLYN – Ladies and gentleman, start your engines!
President Roger Curtis announced today the starting times for the events culminating with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Citizens Bank 400 on Father's Day, June 17.
The 2007 season kicks off Friday, June 15 with the ARCA RE/MAX Series race at its traditional 5 p.m. start time, which follows NEXTEL Cup qualifying. On Saturday, June 16, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starting field will roll off the grid at 3 p.m., shortly following NEXTEL Cup final practice.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Citizens Bank 400 on Sunday, June 17 will start earlier than previous years – 2 p.m.
"An earlier start time of 2 p.m. for our NEXTEL Cup Series race in June is important because it, along with our enhanced outbound traffic plans, will allow our fans to return to their homes at a reasonable hour following an exciting day of racing in the Irish Hills," Curtis said. "Fans will have ample time in the late morning and early afternoon to take advantage of all the amenities of the Victory Lane Club and AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza before watching intense racing by their favorite NEXTEL Cup Series stars. It makes for a great race day, and we care about our fans from doorstep to doorstep."
Gate opening times at MIS have also changed for June 2007. Gates will be open to the general public at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday. Visit www.MISpeedway.com for a complete schedule of events.
Several fan enhancement projects for 2007 are under way at MIS. Two grandstands in Turn One have been torn down and are being replaced with new, fan friendly grandstands. The new grandstands offer race fans premium seating and amazing sightlines of MIS' two-mile oval. The new seats are four inches wider than the seats in the old grandstands and will allow fans to have more leg room. All of the new seats are bench-style with seat backs.
The new grandstands are also 10 rows higher than the old grandstands so fans who sit there will have breathtaking views of all the on-track action at MIS – including a fantastic view down pit road. The new seats will carry Michigan International Speedway's familiar and distinct yellow and red pattern.
Traffic patterns for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race days are also being improved. The refined patterns will make traffic flow out the speedway faster following NEXTEL Cup races. MIS is in the process of enhancing tram stops and will purchase additional trams for guests with disabilities.
Tickets for all the speedway's races, including the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Citizens Bank 400 on June 17 and the 3M Performance 400 on Aug. 19, are on sale by calling the MIS Ticket Hotline at 1-800-354-1010 or by visiting www.MISpeedway.com.