POSTED 4-7-09 FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY NEWS RELEASE

Fairgrounds Speedway Media/Fan Appreciation Day a Success Written by: Rob Spires The economy may be slumping, but there was no sign of that at Fairgrounds Speedway on Saturday. A strong number of teams representing each of Fairgrounds Speedway's ten divisions of racing were on hand to show off new equipment at the track's first Open House and Media Day. Among the drivers who had race cars on display was last year's third-place finisher in Supertruck points, nineteen year-old Daniel Bolden. Bolden's #09 truck was sporting a flashy new paint job. "We hung a new body on it over the winter," Bolden commented. Bolden wasn't the only driver with a different look. Returning track champion Andy Johnson and Trista Stevenson (who missed playing a game in her high school softball tournament to be at the track) were also sporting new paint on their Late Models. However, don't be fooled by the paint scheme on Johnson's car, it's the same car and motor that propelled him to last year's championship, assured Johnson. Of course, the economy wasn't the only concern for racers over the off-season. Former track promoter Joe Mattioli wasn't granted a lease extension for the Speedway, putting in the hands of the Metro Fair Board to name a new promoter. Eventually, co-owner of Full Throttle Race Parts Danny Denson was granted the lease at the end of January. Not wanting to begin preparing for the season until a new promoter was confirmed put many racers in a bind to prepare for opening night. "We didn't start (preparing) until January," said Supertruck driver Jess Williams, "but we have two trucks together now." Johnson took a different approach. "We went on with plans (after last season). We figured there would be racing here," he said. Though there hasn't been racing at Fairgrounds Speedway since September, it doesn't mean that the drivers haven't been busy. Bolden and Williams competed in the United States Supertruck Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park in November, a race that Bolden ended up winning. "We were down on power, but we handled better," Bolden said. Many of the competitors in that race were using heavier NASCAR Camping World Truck Series style chassis. Williams said he believed that many of the USST's regular competitors would switch to Fairgrounds Speedway's style trucks because of their better handling characteristics. Last year's Sportsman champion Lee Goddard said he is looking forward to the upcoming season. "Danny (Denson) runs a business; he knows what he's doing. He'll make it fair for everybody. I love it- it's a big improvement," he said. While racing will indeed go on, the economic downturn and sponsorship woes are concerning drivers. Both Williams and Stevenson travel to Fairgrounds Speedway from out of state; Mississippi and Illinois respectively. "We drive up here and back every Saturday," Williams said. "We don't have money for hotel rooms." Williams, who won a race last season, added that it's especially difficult for out-of-state drivers to find sponsorship because of their location. "We don't know them and they don't know us," he said. Both Williams and Stevenson are seeking local sponsors to enable them to run the entire season. Fairgrounds Speedway will open its season on Saturday, April 18 with competition in nine divisions. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children from 11-17, and children under 10 are admitted free. Tammy Brewington Public Relations Manager PO Box 40503 625 Smith Avenue, Suite 100 Fairgrounds Speedway at Nashville 615-242-2077 phone 615-244-3448 fax 615-306-5664 cell