Monday, May 17, 2010

NASCAR Day Ready To Bowl In Iowa

K&N Pro Series Drivers and Iowa Speedway To Team With The NASCAR Foundation For Special Fan Event On May 21

The Bass Pro Shops in Altoona, Iowa,

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR and Iowa Speedway, in conjunction with The NASCAR Foundation, will hold a special NASCAR Day Bowling Challenge on Friday, May 21. The event, which will pit fans, media and the top drivers in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, will take place at the newly opened Bass Pro Shops in Altoona, Iowa.

“We are looking forward to a little friendly rivalry with the stars from NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series, members of the Iowa media and, of course, the wonderful Iowa Speedway race fans,” said Craig Armstrong, Vice President of Promotions and Communications for the Newton oval track. “Bass Pro Shops in Altoona offered to host us in their great new bowling facility, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate NASCAR Day than having fun with the friends of NASCAR.”

The NASCAR Day Bowling Challenge will run from 7-9 p.m. and is a perfect opportunity for fans to meet the drivers up close prior to the running of the Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200 at Iowa Speedway in Newton on Sunday, May 23. The fourth annual combination race between the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West – the top step in NASCAR’s developmental ladder to its national series – has quickly become a signature event on the series’ racing calendar.

NASCAR Day is celebrating its seventh year. Annually celebrated on the third Friday in May, NASCAR Day is a charitable celebration of the NASCAR spirit that enables fans and partners to join together to make a difference in the lives of children. NASCAR Day encourages fans to make a $5 donation for a collectible lapel pin which in turn will support programs that help children live happier, healthier lives.

Pins are currently available at Bass Pro Shops locations throughout the United States.

“We are so excited to have Bass Pro Shops on board as a retail partner for our NASCAR Day program this year,” said Sandy Marshall, executive director of The NASCAR Foundation. “The NASCAR Day Bowling Challenge will be a great way for area fans to come out and celebrate NASCAR Day on May 21.”

The NASCAR Day Bowling Challenge is free and open to the public.

Both series points leaders, Cole Whitt in the East and Greg Pursley in the West, will be on hand to take part in the bowling face-off, which will take place following the driver meet-and-greet and will feature six teams each comprised of two drivers, a media member, and a race fan. Fans will have a chance to win one of five spots online at www.iowaspeedway.com. The final fan will be selected from those in attendance at the event Friday evening.

Whitt, a former USAC open-wheel standout, will be joined on the East teams by fellow 18-year-old Ty Dillon, the grandson of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner Richard Childress; Matt Kobyluck, 2008 series champion and two-time NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown winner; Zach Germain, son of NASCAR national series car owner Steve Germain; and Joey Gase, the 17-year-old Cedar Rapids standout who will be making his series debut in his home state with Spraker Racing.

Pursley, a former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion, will be joined on the West teams by Paulie Harraka, the 2009 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Sunoco Rookie of the Year; Moses Smith, the 2008 and 2009 series Most Popular Driver Award winner; Jonathon Gomez, a Late Model standout in Idaho before moving up to the West last season; Blake Koch, runner-up to Harraka for series Rookie of the Year in 2009; and Johnathan Hale, the 19-year-old California driver in his third year in the series.

The Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200 is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. CT. The race has been won the past three years by Joey Logano (2007), Brian Ickler (2008) and Kyle Busch (2009). Ticket information for the race is available at www.iowaspeedway.com.

Official Release May 17, 2010 - 11:23am

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