Friday, September 08, 2006

World of Outlaws Summer of Money’ Airing Exclusively on ESPN2 in 2007

World of Outlaws Summer of Money’ Airing Exclusively on ESPN2 in 2007

Chris Dolack, VP Public Relations The World of Outlaws and ESPN announce a multi-year partnership to broadcast the “World of Outlaws Summer of Money” exclusively on ESPN2.“The World of Outlaws is a nationally recognized brand, with the best drivers in sprint car racing and a tremendous following of devoted fans,” said Frantz Cayo, Director of Motorsports Programming for ESPN. “We immediately saw how the ‘World of Outlaws Summer of Money’ concept would compliment our NASCAR and NHRA motor sports programming. We look forward to working with the World of Outlaws to grow sprint car racing and increase the sport’s fan base.”The “World of Outlaws Summer of Money” on ESPN2 includes eight one-hour broadcasts, seven of which will feature events run only hours earlier. The eight broadcasts will air from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (ET) Sundays beginning June 17 and continuing through August 5. ESPN2 is available in more than 90 million households in the United States with the “World of Outlaws Summer of Money” broadcasts available internationally, as well.“Securing ESPN as one of our national media partners is a vital component of our business model,” said DIRT MotorSports President and CEO Tom Deery. “This platform will allow our current fans to have unprecedented access to the World of Outlaws while also introducing the incredible excitement of sprint car racing to millions of new potential fans. At the same time, the ‘World of Outlaws Summer of Money’ events on ESPN2 will provide the marquee exposure value to our corporate partners and team sponsors. We are working on additional media strategies with the World of Outlaws, and are confident that the ESPN ‘Summer of Money’ series is a strong foundation for the 2007 season and beyond.”The “World of Outlaws Summer of Money” on ESPN2 launches at historic Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway, which will be host two World of Outlaws events in 2007. The series then continues onto Dodge City (Kan.) Raceway Park; Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D.; Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.; K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio; and wraps up at The Raceway at PowerCom Park in Beaver Dam, Wis. In addition, the tradition-rich Kings Royal at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, and Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., also will be part of the series.Drivers, car owners and promoters believe the World of Outlaws partnership with ESPN will have a positive effect on the future of sprint car racing.“I’m thrilled that beginning in 2007, the World of Outlaws will have a landmark television partnership with ESPN2 that will not only continue to grow the premier winged sprint car series in the world and provide exceptional value to our sponsors, but will also allow our great race fans and myself the ability to watch Joey Saldana and our #9 Dodge/Mopar Kasey Kahne Racing car on national television,” said NASCAR Nextel Cup Series star Kasey Kahne.

“Combining the World of Outlaws and ESPN2 is significant,” said Eldora Speedway promoter Larry Kemp. “It will no doubt help to draw new people and sponsors to the fast-paced and highly entertaining world of sprint car racing while giving those fans that have supported it for so long an easier way to catch the action.”“It’s exhilarating,” said Donny Schatz, who is celebrating his 10th season with the World of Outlaws by capturing the 2006 Knoxville Nationals and leading the championship standings. “We want to bring World of Outlaws sprint car racing to as many fans as possible and ESPN will allow us to do that. We certainly need to thank The Outdoor Channel for its coverage the past three years and now we’re excited to take our racing to a major network.”“It’s huge for our team and sprint car racing,” said Terry McCarl, one of the most competitive drivers in the business. “Like most people, I only watch a few stations and ESPN is one of them. It has been around almost as long as the World of Outlaws and is a mainstay in the United States. It’s a real honor to have our events on ESPN and I look forward to showing them how exciting World of Outlaws racing is. If you’re on ESPN, that’s about as good as it gets. I think NASCAR has done a great job of turning most of America into race fans, and I think if you’re any kind of race fan and you give the World of Outlaws racing action a chance, you’ll fall in love with it.”“Racing on ESPN will mean an awful lot for our sponsors like Jolt Energy Gum,” said Justin Henderson, one of the World of Outlaws top rookie contenders who claims to be a fan of the 11 o’clock SportsCenter. “The more my team and I can race up front and be on camera, the more opportunity we have to attract bigger sponsors and more fans. That means the world to us. It’s really the best thing that’s happened for our sport.”

The “World of Outlaws Summer of Money” on ESPN 2 includes:
Event Date (Air Date) — Venue
June 16 (June 17) — Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway
June 23 (June 24) — Dodge City (Kan.) Raceway Park
June 30 (July 1) — Red River Valley Speedway, West Fargo, N.D.
July 6 (July 8) — Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.
July 14 (July 15) — Kings Royal, Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio
July 17 (July 22) — Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup, Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, Pa.
July 28 (July 29) — K-C Raceway, Chillicothe, Ohio
Aug. 4 (Aug. 5) — The Raceway at PowerCom Park, Beaver Dam, Wis.

All broadcasts air from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (ET) Sundays on ESPN2.

In other related news, the WoO and Knoxville Raceway announced today that the series would return to the historic track on April 28 and June 16.

More on both of these stories tomorrow.
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