RACEWAY USHERS IN 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH 2008 MEDIA KICKOFF DAY

SONOMA, California — Infineon Raceway officially welcomed the 2008 Big O Tires Racing Season on Monday with its 3rd annual Northern California Media Kickoff Day.

The event, which was attended by more than 25 Northern California media outlets, focused on the track’s 40th anniversary celebration, as well as the 20th anniversary of NASCAR Cup racing in the Sonoma Valley. The Sprint Cup Series visits Infineon Raceway for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 20-22.

Drivers Vitor Meira (IndyCar Series) and Joey Hand (Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series) and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Guidera (NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series) attended the media day.

Infineon Raceway is the only facility to host every major form of motor-racing in this country: stock cars (Toyota/Save Mart 350); drag racing (FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, Aug. 1-3); open-wheel cars (Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County (IndyCar® Series, Aug. 22-24); and motorcycles (Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, May 16-18).

The day began with a four-minute video highlighting the history of the raceway, followed by a Q&A with Steve Page, Infineon Raceway president and general manager; Ken Clapp, consultant, NASCAR; and Tim Zahner, Sonoma County Tourism Bureau.

Clapp attended the facility’s ground-breaking ceremony in 1968, worked at the raceway for years and was instrumental in bringing NASCAR Cup racing to the Sonoma Valley in 1989. Clapp has been involved in NASCAR for 58 years.

“I would have never believed the track would rise to the heights it has,” said Clapp, a Danville resident. “I am very proud of the fact that it has come so far. “

Meira was peppered with questions relating to the recent unification of the IndyCar Series and the Champ Car World Series.

“With the rebirth of the series and with the unification, I’m very excited as a driver and as a spectator,” said Meira. “As a driver, team and competitor, you want to have the best field, and the best quality of drivers around you.… NASCAR has been growing and growing all the time, and with the unification it’s our turn (to grow). Everyone is looking at IndyCar now.”

For ticket information to any event during the 2008 season, please call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.

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