EDMONTON, AB – Edmonton International Raceway, a quarter-mile (0.40225 km) asphalt oval located in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada, has joined the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series for the 2005 racing season. Edmonton becomes the third Canadian race track to join NASCAR, following Delaware Speedway in Ontario and Autodrome St. Eustache in Quebec, which both joined the series in 2004."As we grow NASCAR's international racing programs, the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series has proven to be an excellent fit for our partners in Canada," said Richard Buck, NASCAR Director of Racing Development, Canada. "Edmonton International Raceway is another great addition to the series and we could not be more pleased to add this facility to the NASCAR lineup. Teams and drivers at Edmonton will soon be racing for their first NASCAR championship, and we welcome them to the NASCAR family."
Edmonton International Raceway is one of nine oval tracks in the province of Alberta. The track is located 30 miles (48.2 km) from Edmonton, the sixth-largest city in Canada. The track hosts 10 different racing divisions on Saturday nights. Edmonton’s Late Model class will be NASCAR-sanctioned in 2005, and its drivers will be eligible for the $25,000 (U.S.) NASCAR divisional championship. A total of $1.7 million (U.S.) in point fund awards is distributed to NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series competitors annually.
Beginning in 2005, NASCAR has created a new format for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Tracks are grouped into one of four divisions – Division I, Division II, Division III and Division IV. Drivers compete for a divisional championship by accumulating championship points at events held at tracks within each division.
Edmonton will be placed in Division II, which also includes Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, Autodrome St. Eustache, Concord Motorsport Park in Concord, N.C., Delaware Speedway, Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa., Holland International Speedway in Holland, N.Y., I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H., Lorain Speedway in South Amherst, Ohio, Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., Myrtle Beach Speedway in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., San Antonio Speedway in San Antonio, Texas, Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, Calif., Spencer Speedway in Williamson, N.Y., Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif. and Watsonville Speedway in Watsonville, Calif.
In 2004, NASCAR announced a multi-year operational and marketing agreement with the Canadian Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (CASCAR). NASCAR has also formed NASCAR Canada, a partnership with TSN that established a Canadian base of operation in Toronto, as well as NASCAR Mexico, based in Mexico City. These new offices support local racing and extend the marketing of the sport to borders north and south of the U.S.
NASCAR is the top-rated motorsport on Canadian television, and TSN is the most preferred viewing destination. The Canadian fan base is six million strong with Canadians considered among the most passionate NASCAR fans, according to the 2004 Ipsos-Insight NASCAR Canada Brand Tracker Survey. A significant number of Canadians have attended a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race.
For More Information, Contact:
Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 681-4173 or jdavidson@nascar.com
Loretta Thiering, Edmonton International Raceway, (780) 467-9276 or speedway@telusplanet.net.
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