[Twister]

Irwindale, Calif. - - The overarching popularity of NASCAR Winston Cup racing has got NASCAR thinking very seriously about the crush in the garage area with more and more fans wanting to see racing drivers up close and personal. They've recently proposed very strict limits on where and when drivers can sign autographs, made certain areas off-limits for fans to get to at all, and has even offered to actually fine the drivers who give autographs to fans at the wrong time and/or in the wrong place 

But that's on the Winston Cup circuit.

On the other hand, there's the NASCAR short tracks like Irwindale Speedway where fans can really get close up and personal with the drivers, their crews, and their awesome machines. Since 2001, Irwindale's own on-track autograph session has brought every race car and invited every fan in the house right down onto the race track to meet every driver at 6PM.

"We can't really take credit for the concept, " said General Manager Bob DeFazio, "We had done some on-track autograph sessions featuring certain divisions and also tried seating selected drivers at autograph tables in the grandstands, but when the ASA ran its race here in 2001 we took one look at the fan's reaction and decided to do an on-track meet and greet at every event regardless of what was racing that night."

The rest, as they say, is history. Both fans and drivers took the idea to heart and the front straight at Irwindale Speedway before any Saturday night race looks like their giving something away. Perhaps that's because they are! Giving something away that it is  Four-color autograph cards, candy, toys, frisbees, calendars, posters, yo-yos, balloons, pens, hats, t-shirts, and half a dozen other got-to-have-one items any and all of which are slathered with sponsor messages and other calls-to-action. Accessibility is the word  Interaction is the result.

Even the sometimes-underappreciated crews get in on the act on Irwindale's 6-degree banking. "Everyone associated with each of the cars is there enjoying the flavor of the evening and talking to excited fans," said DeFazio. "Many of our teams make sure that their sponsors and sponsor's reps are at the autograph sessions because of the great 'buzz' that everyone gets from the party atmosphere down on the track." Its another win-win deal the kind that we really like to see at Irwindale."

The track's on-track autograph session is so popular that it has its own sponsor! King Taco, a local Los Angeles chain of eateries, is the "title sponsor" of the autograph session and sees its name on the reverse side of every division "hero card " that's passed out at Irwindale. At Irwindale, each NASCAR Weekly Racing Division has its own "Class of _(year)_" autograph card featuring a group shot of every driver in the division taken on opening night of the race season.

And other tracks and other racing series' are beginning to follow suit too. Both the NASCAR Featherlite Tour and the Winston West last year began staging pre-race on-track autograph sessions to the delight of their many fans and followers. "We've found that it takes now longer or no more effort than it used to do to get six drivers to sit in the front row of the grandstands  Now we've got them all and they're all (potential) winners when their on the front straight before the night's racing," DeFazio concluded.

Irwindale's NASCAR pre-season will begin on March 22, 2003 with an Auto Club-Sponsored day at the races which will invite fans out to the Speedway to get a good look at the place, and the racers. From noon until nine all fans are cordially invited to visit the track FREE OF CHARGE (for either parking or admission) to watch all racing divisions practice. Fans will be able to buy tickets for Opening Night (March 29) and all other 2003 season events on March 22.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Doug Stokes (626) 358 -1100

THANKS!
Doug Stokes