Tickets.com Client Spotlight: Kentucky Speedway

Wildlife Expert Maynard Named Meijer Indy 300 Grand Marshal

Cincinnati Zoo Executive Director to Deliver the Command for IndyCar Series Drivers to Start Engines at Kentucky Speedway

Motorsport.com

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens Executive Director Thane Maynard will deliver the command for an international field of IndyCar Series stars to ignite their engines when he serves as grand marshal of the "Meijer Indy 300 Presented by Red Baron and Edy's" on Aug. 1 at Kentucky Speedway.

The nationally-known wildlife expert has been associated with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens for more than 25 years. He is best known as a writer and host of numerous wildlife programs such as the "90-Second Naturalist," which airs on radio stations across North America. He has additionally been featured as regular guest with popular NBC Television late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien as well as on ABC Television's "Good Morning America," NBC Television's "Today" show and "CBS This Morning."

Maynard has previously worked as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) U.S. project coordinator and continues to partner with advocacy organizations such as Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy. He is author of 13 books and explores a variety of wildlife-related careers in his most recent work, "Working with Wildlife."

"Cheetahs are the fastest runners on Earth, so it's a perfect fit to have our 'Race For The Record' at Kentucky Speedway and to partner with record holder Sarah Fisher. Besides, our motto at the Cincinnati Zoo is 'More Animals. More Fun.' What could be more fun than to come down to Kentucky Speedway to join their great fans? It'll be a blast."

Maynard is expected to attend the "Meijer Indy 300 Presented by Red Baron and Edy's" with Sarah, an eight-year-old female cheetah which will attempt to become the "World's Fastest Land Mammal" at the track Sept. 9 when she challenges a record time to be established by the South African cheetah Zaza on Aug. 15.

"Our association with the Cincinnati Zoo and its cheetahs dates back to our inaugural 2000 season when we were proud to play host to Moya. Under Thane's leadership and dedication, the Cincinnati Zoo has grown to be one of the very best in the world and we're honored he will be joining us for the 10th IndyCar Series event in our history," Kentucky Speedway Director of Communications Tim Bray said.

Kentucky Speedway stages its fourth and final 2009 race weekend featuring IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights action July 31-Aug. 1. Both series open the weekend with Friday practice sessions and qualifying before a Saturday doubleheader featuring the IndyCar Series "Meijer Indy 300 Presented by Red Baron and Edy's" and Firestone Indy Lights "Kentucky Indy Lights 100" along with modern rock group Carolina Liar in concert.

Weekend tickets, new infield camping and Big Deals can be reserved by visiting the tickets pages of www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 888-652-RACE (7223) or through the Kentucky Speedway ticket offices at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., or the Sparta, Ky., Fan Center off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 North. Fans also can reserve tickets at Meijer stores and Tickets.com outlets including Meijer stores.

ARCA RE/MAX Series Teams Prep For Click It Or Ticket

Kentucky Post
Jessica Noll

SPARTA, Ky. - Eight of the top 10 teams in the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship standings rolled to Kentucky Speedway Monday to test their wares in preparation for the July 18 "Click It or Ticket. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150."

Current championship leader Parker Kligerman and second-place driver Justin Lofton were on hand to mentor teammates, while nine-time series champion and four-time Kentucky Speedway race-winner Frank Kimmel was hard at work turning laps in his No. 44 Ford.

Kligerman, who owns a 55-point lead over Lofton after collecting a series-leading three wins and a total of five top-five and eight top-10 finishes through nine events, was advising stock car newcomer Dakoda Armstrong, but remained intensely interested in the information gained from his team’s test laps.

"Dakoda has done a little bit of stock car stuff and just wanted a little help getting used to this place; it’s the fastest place he’s been," Kligerman said.

The 18-year-old Penske Racing developmental prospect saw his original part-time campaign convert to a full-season scenario when he came out of the gate with two top-five and a total four top-10 finishes through the first four races of the season.

While unexpected, his full-time cushion hasn’t changed his go-for-broke race mentality that has helped him claim victory in three of the past four series events.

"We’re coming to every race with the intention to win because we didn’t think we’d be here for the full season. We’re focusing on the points, but we’re also focusing on winning. We really feel we should have won one more in addition to our three," he said.

The Connecticut native’s only finish outside a race top-10 this season was a 17th-place showing in the May 9 "Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150." He plans to make amends for that performance in 12 days.

"I think it will be hotter than the last race, so the tires might be a little slower and we might move around a little more. I think we have a good package from last race, which is one of the races I feel we at least should’ve finished second. I kind of threw it away coming of Turn 4 on the inside with a couple of laps to go trying to catch the leaders. We want to come back and get vengeance on this place," he said.

Lofton, who has picked up a win and a total of seven top-five finishes this season, served as lead consultant for his Eddie Sharp Racing teammates Craig Goess, currently fifth in the championship standings, and Tim George, Jr., ranked 10th in standings.

"I made a couple of laps, but it’s actually fun having people wanting you to come out and help them, but it’s not as much fun as being in the racecar and doing your own thing," Lofton said.

He’ll also be searching for Kentucky Speedway redemption in the "Click It or Ticket. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150" after placing second in a May event he feels he could’ve won.

"I’m hoping I’ll make up for the first race here when we finished second with such a strong racecar. We hit something on the track and put a hole in the nose. It’s beneficial for me to be here to spend some time on the track and some time off it to see the different changes everyone is making and which way the track is going," he added.

Nine-time series champion Frank Kimmel will make a run at his fifth Kentucky Speedway victory in the upcoming 150-mile affair.

The Clarksville, Ind., driver and team owner earned his series track leading 11th top-five and 13th top-10 finish with a fifth-place May showing.

"The track was awesome last time we were here. It had a lot of grip, it was a night race and we were running really fast. We were really happy with the car. We probably had a top-three car, but ended up fifth the way things fell out. I’m looking forward to coming back. We’re testing today and hopefully we can make the car even better," he said.

Kimmel enters the series’ July 11 race at Iowa Speedway third in the series standings after collecting two top-five and four top-10 finishes. The veteran sits 230 points back of the leader, but plans to make a strong run at the young gun in the remaining 12 races on the schedule.

"Parker’s been tough and he’s going to be hard to beat all year long. He’s doing a great job, but he’s not really had any problems. We’ll just keep plugging along, doing our thing. If we can be more competitive, we’ll just push him as hard as we can," he added.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne was a surprise guest in the Kentucky garages where he worked on transitioning ARCA RE/MAX Series hopeful Brad Sweet to stock car racing. Kahne set up Sweet’s car and turned the second-fastest lap of the morning session at 172.712-mph (31.266 seconds). Joey Coulter topped the first session with a 172.767-mph (31.256 second) trip around the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway tri-oval.

Visit arcaracing.com for a full list of drivers and their times from the morning and afternoon sessions.

Kentucky Speedway's third of four 2009 race weekends opens July 17 with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series practice sessions from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Action continues July 18 with a doubleheader race day featuring the NCWTS "Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers" followed by the "Click It or Ticket. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150." The day also includes a concert with classic country music artist Lee Greenwood.

Weekend tickets, new infield camping and more Big Deals can be reserved online by visiting http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/, by phone at (888) 652-RACE (7223) or through the Kentucky Speedway ticket offices at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., or the Sparta, Ky., Fan Center off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 North. Fans also can reserve tickets at Meijer stores and Tickets.com outlets.

Tickets.com Client Spotlight: Kentucky Speedway

Lee Greenwood to Perform at Kentucky Speedway

Kentucky Post
Jessica Noll

SPARTA, Ky. – Classic country music artist Lee Greenwood will perform a July 18 concert at Kentucky Speedway during a doubleheader race day that will feature the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers” and the ARCA RE/MAX Series “Click or Ticket. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150.”

The well-known country singer will take the track’s Turn 1 concert stage in lieu of Chris Cagle, who was forced to cancel his event appearance to begin physician-ordered vocal rest.

Greenwood, 66, skipped his high school graduation to begin forging what would evolve into a long and successful recording and touring career. His inspiring signature 1985 single, ”God Bless the U.S.A.,” was honored as the Country Music Association (CMA) Song of the Year and helped earn him one of his two career CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Awards.

“I wrote the lyric ‘I’m proud to be an American,’ because I really wanted to instill the pride back in America. The song represents my family, my community and all the Americans who are proud of who they are,” he said of the uplifting ballad that was voted the most recognizable patriotic song in the country.

Throughout his tenure as one of country music’s most recognizable vocalists, he has won numerous accolades for his work on songs such as “I.O.U.,” “Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” “I Don’t Mind the Thorns (If You’re the Rose)” and “Dixie Road.”

He is currently in the process of finishing an album of pop standards entitled "Proven," which will contain Ray Charles’ classic “I’m Busted” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” The collection will soon be available through his Web site: http://www.leegreenwood.com/.

The veteran also is working on a new country album. “It will be more than a comeback album, I’m hoping to discover a new legion of fans that buy the music Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn and Martina McBride are recording,” he said.

In addition to working with his new projects, he remains true to his All-American core by serving as the official spokesperson of Operation Never Forgotten (ONF), a national non-profit communications service that connects the U.S. military and civilian worlds through non-partisan public service announcements (PSAs).
Greenwood’s Kentucky Speedway performance will be included with the price of race tickets, which are priced as low as $20.

Kentucky Speedway's third of four 2009 race weekends opens July 17 with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series practice sessions from 3-9 p.m. Practice Day tickets are $20 and include infield access.

Weekend tickets, new infield camping and more Big Deals can be reserved online by visiting http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/, by phone at (888) 652-RACE (7223) or through the Kentucky Speedway ticket offices at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., or the Sparta, Ky., Fan Center off of Interstate 71, exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 North. Fans also can reserve tickets at Meijer stores and Tickets.com outlets.

Hilary Duff To Attend Kentucky Speedway Event

By Tim Saunders

Hilary Duff will be at the Kentucky Speedway at Sparta later this month to support the Blessings in a Backpack program.

The singer will serve as the grand marshal of the NASCAR nationwide series “Meijer 300 Presented by Ritz” and encourage people to donate to the Blessings in a Backpack program, which every week distributes backpacks filled with enough non-perishable food for the weekend (six meals) to “at-risk” students.

Duff and 24 students from Gallatin County Schools will participate in activities at the Speedway, including a pit-road bike relay race. She will also drop the flag for the NASCAR race to begin. People will also be able to donate old and new backpacks to the program.

Race tickets, infield camping and Big Ticket Deals can be reserved online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 888-652-RACE (7223), through the Kentucky Speedway ticket offices in Fort Mitchell, at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, or the track Fan Center located off of Interstate 71, Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N in Sparta. Tickets also are available through Tickets.com outlets including Meijer stores.

Tickets.com Client Spotlight: Kentucky Speedway

ARCA RE/MAX SERIES AMPED TO OPEN 2009 KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY SEASON

Twenty-six drivers turn laps during "Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150" open test

SPARTA, Ky. -- ARCA RE/MAX Series championship leader Parker Kligerman and nine-time series champion Frank Kimmel were among 26 competitors preparing for Kentucky Speedway's May 9 "Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150" during an open test at the facility today.

Kligerman, 18, of Westport, Conn., is a former Formula TR and USAC Midget Series competitor who converted to stock car racing with Cunningham Motorsports, a long-running ARCA RE/MAX Series team which produced a fourth-place Kentucky Speedway finish in 2007.

The high school senior had originally eyed a future in Formula One competition, but placed those plans on hold to pursue his current stock venture with a development contract from Penske Racing.

"It takes a lot of money to get overseas. With the growing number of opportunities in NASCAR and the chance to race with support from Penske, this made a lot of sense. It's been great to race in this series with veterans like Frank (Kimmel) because I've been able to learn so much," Kligerman said.

The driver signed for eight races to be spread throughout 22-race ARCA RE/MAX Series campaign saw his early-season run extended after he scored two top-five and four top-10 finishes in his first four career series starts. He snared his season-best third place finish at Salem, Ind., April 5 and took sole possession of the top spot in the championship standings with a seventh-place performance at Talladega Superspeedway April 24.

The rookie turned his strongest his test lap at 171.238-mph. While the effort ranked eighth on speed chart, he felt he had ample room for improvement.

"We're really tight and can't figure out why. We're struggling big time off the corner and giving away too much speed. We have a lot to work on," Kligerman said.

Kimmel, a nine-time series champion, will make his eighth attempt at claiming his fifth all-time Kentucky Speedway ARCA RE/MAX Series win in the "Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150." He will enter his 18th series start in the Bluegrass State third in the series standings and 65 points off the championship lead.

The veteran nailed down his season-best fifth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway and will ride a strong wave of momentum to a track where he's scored a total of 10 top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

The Clarksville, Ind., driver is in the second year of owning the team for which he competes and is racing with the benefit of new sponsorship that helped him build a strong fleet of Ford Fusions alongside his crew chief and brother, Bill.

"We might be bringing the fastest car we we've ever had here to next Saturday's race. The problem is we'll be racing the fastest cars the ARCA RE/MAX Series has ever had here," Kimmel said.

Second-place championship driver Justin Lofton also honed his intermediate-track skills during today's test and plans to improve on the 10th-place finish he registered last July during his second career start at the track.

Lofton is driving with annual championship competitor Eddie Sharp Racing and is only five points off the championship pace after earning his first win and third top-three finish of the season at Talladega Superspeedway.

The 25-year-old from Westmorland, Calif., tore off his best lap of today's session at 174.836 mph and is building confidence for the "Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150."

"I sat down with Eddie Sharp at the beginning of the season and we looked at the cars he was going to provide. I had a couple of favorites. He gave me those and brought on a great team to support me so my confidence is through the roof.

"We've had a phenomenal day today. My first lap, the car really stuck to the track and I was able to hold the throttle about three-quarters of the way down all the way around the track. I'm really looking forward to next week's race," Lofton said.

Tickets for next week's event, new infield camping and special offers for all 2009 Kentucky Speedway races can be reserved online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 888-652-RACE (7223), or by visiting Meijer stores and the speedway ticket offices at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, near the Montgomery Inn Restaurant in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., or in the Sparta, Ky., Fan Center located off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N. Tickets also can be reserved at Meijer stores and Tickets.com outlets.

Speedway gates will open at 3:00 p.m., country music artist Chuck Wicks will be in concert at 6:00 p.m. and the green flag will fall for the "Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150" at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets.com Client Spotlight: Kentucky Speedway

Kentucky Speedway to Place Affordable 2009 Season Ticket Plans on Sale October 29

SPARTA, Ky. -- Four affordable ticket plans for the six-event 2009 Kentucky Speedway season that will include two doubleheader race days will be placed on sale Oct. 29.

The four-weekend season will mark the facility’s 10th year of operation and open May 9 with an ARCA RE/MAX Series 150-mile event. Racing will continue through an Aug. 1 high-speed doubleheader featuring IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights primetime action.

Season plan prices range from $165 to $255 according to seat location meaning fans can enjoy a reserved seat for each of the six race events for as little as $27.50. Benefit-rich plans also include VIP parking for each event which can be exchanged for general campground admission for a savings of $30, one cold pit pass for each race day with each ticket purchased and the opportunity to purchase additional race tickets at a discount.

Speedway visitors also will be entertained with event-day concerts spotlighting well-known artists. All concerts are included with the price of an event ticket and the line-up will be announced at a future date.

Ticket plans can be reserved and renewed online at http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by calling 859-578-2300, through Tickets.com outlets including Meijer stores and by visiting the Kentucky Speedway ticket office in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100 near the Montgomery Inn restaurant or the track Fan Center located off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N in Sparta, Ky.



The ARCA RE/MAX Series will open a speedway season for the ninth time with its 18th all-time appearance at the track. Roush Fenway Racing stock car talent Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., claimed his first Kentucky Speedway win on opening weekend last season by 0.374 of a second over former Formula 1 racing star Scott Speed. The competitive field also is expected to feature 2008 series champion Justin Allgaier and nine-time series title winner Frank Kimmel of Clarksville, Ind.

NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers will take center stage June 13 when they contest a 300-mile battle. A track record crowd of 73,195 witnessed the first series win by highly-touted Joe Gibbs Racing driver Joey Logano. The 18-year-old, who will take over the No. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series machine next season, became the third straight competitor to claim his first series win at the track and the third straight NASCAR Nationwide Series regular to triumph in the Bluegrass State. Stephen Leicht and David Gilliland respectively accomplished the feat in 2007 and 2006.

Grizzled veterans and up-and-coming hopefuls will be part of the 10th all-time NASCAR Truck Series visit to Kentucky Speedway July 18 for the “Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers.” Johnny Benson became the ninth different series winner in track history by guiding his machine across the finish line 0.474 of a second in front his Bill Davis Racing teammate Michael Annett in 2008. The margin was the third closest for a series event at the track. A 150-mile ARCA RE/MAX Series event will precede the truck action and mark the first time the two series will appear in a same-day doubleheader at the track. Speed took a tight 0.541 of a second victory over Sean Caisse in the July edition of the ARCA RE/MAX Series “Kentucky 150” last season.

Rocket-like race speeds of more than 200 mph will light up the Kentucky Speedway night Aug. 1 when the IndyCar Series celebrates its 10th Kentucky Speedway anniversary. Scott Dixon visited Victory Lane at the track for the first time in 2008. The reigning series champion nipped Helio Castroneves at the finish line by 0.5532 of a second in the fourth-closest series finish in track history. Sure-to-be exciting Firestone Indy Lights Series action will open the action with a twilight 100-mile tilt. Last season, Dillion Battistini aced out James Davison by an ultra-thin 0.0814 of a second margin at the finish line. The dramatic finish marked the sixth time a series race was decided by fractions of a second on the speedway 1.5-mile tri-oval.



The Kentucky Speedway sits on 1,000 acres of land 97 acres inside the tri-oval track and has been a Tickets.com client for over five years.