Saturday, May 12, 2001
'Legends' race has big names
Michael Waltrip, Marlin in field
By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SPARTA, Ky. — Mother's Day weekend fell just right for Kentucky Speedway, with Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip among those driving at the track today on a NASCAR Winston Cup “off” weekend.
|
VR SPEEDWAY
|
Experience the Kentucky Speedway through 360º immersive photography.
|
Waltrip, fellow Winston Cup drivers Sterling Marlin and Brett Bodine, and former Winston star Ernie Irvan will drive in a celebrity “Legends” race at 1p.m. today.
Waltrip and his fellow Winston Cup drivers are able to appear because NASCAR never races on Mother's Day weekend.
Waltrip is a longtime friend of Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Cassis'. Cassis once worked with Waltrip's NASCAR Busch team.
“These guys are all very gracious with their time, and we're thrilled to have them,” Cassis said. “Plus, the fans will get to meet them.”
Waltrip and friends will sign autographs for fans between 10:30 and 11:45a.m. today. Gates open at 10a.m. on what is officially “700 WLW Day at the Races,” which includes a celebrity race of WLW personalities.
The Winston Cup drivers will be driving Legends cars, a series that features five-eighths-scale replicas of old hot rods. Waltrip and Steve Park were among a handful of Winston Cup drivers who appeared for a Legends exhibition at the speedway last summer.
The track's signature event of the summer is a NASCAR Busch race June 16, the Outback Steakhouse 300. Busch is the No.2 NASCAR series behind Winston Cup.
Sports Stories
Dillon signs five-year deal
Brown has guess on realignment
Harnisch goes on disabled list
Rainout results in doubleheader today
Young expected to return today
Deion works overtime
Reds' seats will be green
Prosser hires former XU player
'Legends' race has big names