Realignment Announced for ‘05 NASCAR Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 14, 2004) – Officials of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today the next phase in the sanctioning body’s schedule realignment process. Keeping pace with the increasing demands of NASCAR’s nationwide growth in popularity, the 36-race 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule has been adjusted to address that growth, via the following changes: · New NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race dates have been sanctioned at Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. Texas Motor Speedway’s new event will be held on Nov. 6. As the season’s 34th event, it will be crucial in the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” that determines the series champion. Phoenix International Raceway’s new race will be on Saturday night, April 23. Texas retains its spring date (April 17), while Phoenix retains the next-to-last slot on the schedule (Nov. 13). · North Carolina Speedway will not be on the schedule after this season. · Darlington (S.C.) Raceway now will have one date on the schedule, with the track’s fall race moving from November to the evening of Saturday, May 7. · California Speedway will have the first of its two events on Feb. 27, one week after the season-opening Daytona 500 -- the date previously held by North Carolina Speedway. Thus, the series will now travel from the season’s biggest race to the nation’s second-largest market. California’s other race will remain on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4). In January 2003, NASCAR announced “Realignment 2004 and Beyond.” The plan calls for regular review of race dates and locations in order to continue bringing the most competitive racing in the world to the widest possible audience, and providing the kind of value that has proven NASCAR to be one of the very best sports properties. “The 2005 schedule marks an important milestone in NASCAR’s realignment efforts because it provides opportunities for more fans to experience first-hand NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events near their hometowns,” said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France. The schedule continues to reflect the increasing demand for races throughout the country. In 2005, the Southeast will continue to be well served with great racing in Richmond, Va.; Charlotte, N.C.; Atlanta; Daytona Beach; and others. Additionally, NASCAR continues to reach out to new fans in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. The 2005 season -- NASCAR’s 57th -- will open on Sunday, Feb. 20 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR officials also announced that NASCAR’s “Preseason Thunder” test sessions will return to Daytona International Speedway in January 2005. TENTATIVE 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES SCHEDULE DATE, SITE Feb. 12, Budweiser Shootout – Daytona International Speedway Feb. 20, Daytona International Speedway Feb. 27, California Speedway March 13, Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 20, Atlanta Motor Speedway April 3, Bristol Motor Speedway April 10, Martinsville Speedway April 17, Texas Motor Speedway April 23, Phoenix International Raceway May 1, Talladega Superspeedway May 7, Darlington Raceway May 14, Richmond International Raceway May 21, NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge – Lowe’s Motor Speedway May 29, Lowe’s Motor Speedway June 5, Dover International Speedway June 12, Pocono Raceway June 19, Michigan International Speedway June 26, Infineon Raceway July 2, Daytona International Speedway July 10, Chicagoland Speedway July 17, New Hampshire International Speedway July 24, Pocono Raceway Aug. 7, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aug. 14, Watkins Glen International Aug. 21, Michigan International Speedway Aug. 27, Bristol Motor Speedway Sept. 4, California Speedway Sept. 10, Richmond International Raceway Sept. 18, New Hampshire International Speedway Sept. 25, Dover International Speedway Oct. 2, Talladega Superspeedway Oct. 9, Kansas Speedway Oct. 15, Lowe’s Motor Speedway Oct. 23, Martinsville Speedway Oct. 30, Atlanta Motor Speedway Nov. 6, Texas Motor Speedway Nov. 13, Phoenix International Raceway Nov. 20, Homestead-Miami Speedway