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Madison, Illinois –  Gateway Motorsports Park returns to action on Wednesday, May 8 with the return of Wide-Open Wednesday and the debut of the new Battle of the Bikes Showdown.  The most recent Wide-Open Wednesday event attracted more than 150 racers ranging from street legal station wagons to race cars and motorcycles reaching speeds in excess of 170 miles per hour.

The new Battle of the Bikes Showdown provides the opportunity for motorcycle racers to win trophies in three competition areas.  Following time trial runs that begin at 6 p.m., all of the motorcycle racers will compete in a one-shot pass to earn trophies for best elapsed-time (quickest), highest mile-per-hour (fastest) aMediand best reaction time (closest to perfect jump on the starting christmas tree green light).  If a driver scores a tri-fecta and can capture all three categories on the same night, he will be presented with a custom designed Gateway Motorsports Park ‘Battle of the Bikes Showdown’ jacket.

Media Release

Contact: Susan Ryan

314-304-6800

Susan.c.ryan@att.net

Local Owners Seal the Deal at Gateway Motorsports Park

“Those who can must step up as a community when the need arises and save our precious assets and encourage growth so we can retain our status as a top-tier city,” Curtis Francois

St. Louis Region, May 1, 2013 – Gateway Motorsports Park is finally where it belongs – locally owned and operated by people who love motorsports and who love the region. Today, Curtis Francois announced that he has finalized the local purchase of Gateway Motorsports Park. “This is a great day for local sports fans and for the St. Louis region,” said Francois, a real estate developer, retired race car driver and owner of Gateway Motorsports Park. “Our region needs significant sporting, entertainment and cultural venues to remain relevant, and Gateway MSP is among the finest in the country.”

The St. Louis region has taken significant blows over the years, with the loss of major Fortune 500 companies (today there are only nine) such as May Department Stores, AG Edwards, etc., not to mention the uncertain future of the Rams. The consequences of letting this world-class facility shutter were staggering. That’s why the State of Illinois, St. Clair County and the City of Madison were so motivated to revitalize this property, which will employ hundreds and entertain millions for decades to come. “Without a buyer willing to take on the risk of ownership, the assets on the property would have been sold as scrap,” said City of Madison Mayor John Hamm. “Gateway MSP is a first-class asset to our region, and it would have been devastating to our community to lose something as valuable simply due to corporate restructuring and a poor economy.”

“Someone had to step up and prevent this regional jewel from ending up in the scrapyard,” said Francois. Getting this deal done proved more complex than others wanted to undertake, which is why the multimillion-dollar property sat vacant for over a year once the previous owners, Dover Motorsports, Inc., relinquished the property due to a corporate refocus to concentrate their efforts on gaming. As a result, Gateway and sister facilities in Memphis and Nashville were shuttered. To complicate matters, the property on which Gateway Motorsports Park resided was owned by a half-dozen property owners and leased by Dover. Francois’ experience in putting together complex real estate deals over the years proved invaluable to the success of the revitalization of the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the region. “Getting these local property owners to agree on a common approach and sale was certainly challenging, but these are great folks who were committed to seeing this track survive and thrive.”

Illinois Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr., who represents the 57th District, said this venue was just too important to the people of Illinois to let it vanish. “When a facility like his is on the verge of extinction, through no fault of the people of Illinois, we have an obligation to stand up, protect these jobs, future tax revenues and the businesses that would have been devastated by the loss of this great venue. We are grateful for the cooperation of so many people who have stepped forward to make this happen.”

The Future of Gateway Motorsports Park

What Francois also brought to the table was a tremendous passion to revive professional racing in the region. Gateway MSP has historically been a very popular facility for major motorsports sanctioning bodies due to its proximity to Indianapolis, which is where many major motorsports companies and top drivers are headquartered. The facility is on track to generate nearly 45 full-time jobs and hundreds of part-time jobs, in addition to tax revenue and revenue for surrounding businesses such as hotels, restaurants, etc. that were on the verge of going bust when the track closed in 2010. “Those who can must step up as a community when the need arises and save our precious assets and encourage growth so we can retain our status as a top-tier city,” said Francois. “I was born and raised here in St. Louis, and I love this community. This is an incredible sporting facility with potential to become one of the top-flight facilities in the country. That would be a great thing for this region.”

Francois has big plans for the future of Gateway, which will make a big impact on the overall region. He has put in place a five-year, multi-million dollar capital improvement campaign that will put Gateway Motorsports Park in a position to succeed in the long-term. The drag strip has been completely rebuilt and is now among the top drag strips in the country. Plans are underway for development of a nationally-sanctioned Karting track scheduled for a summer 2013 opening, which has created tremendous buzz throughout the racing industry. The Gateway Challenge program, which is launching this year, allows just about anyone to experience the thrill of racing on an awesome track. The oval track will host the premier Silver Crown event in June for the first time since 2001 at Gateway. 2014 will bring more activity to the oval track than ever before, and 2015 plans are moving toward attracting more major motorsport-sanctioned events throughout the facility. Efforts are underway to schedule outdoor concerts in the 20,000 seat amphitheater-style stands.

“The economic health of this region is dependent on the willingness of business leaders and entrepreneurs to take calculated risks and support innovation,” said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Board Chairman. “Now that Gateway Motorsports Park is on the path to long-term sustainability, it’s time enlist the entire community and area businesses to rally around Gateway so it can provide real value to the region.”

Background

In September of 2011, Francois reached an agreement to operate Gateway for the 2012 racing season while plans were underway for the revitalization and purchase. An important key to reopening Gateway was the commitment to drag racing and the partnership with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Francois inked a long-term deal with the NHRA starting with a signature event in September 2012. “Thanks to the grassroots motorsports fans across the country, this event was the most successful NHRA event in track history, setting attendance and track speed records,” said Francois. Tickets go on sale next week to the public for the 2nd Annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. For more information, www.gatewaymsp.com

Gateway Motorsports Park is a 200-acre facility located at 700 Raceway Boulevard about five minutes east of downtown St. Louis. The vision for the new Gateway Motorsports Park is to create a racing lifestyle that attracts enthusiasts, professionals, amateurs and street-car lovers of all kinds by harnessing the grassroots momentum, energy and passion of the thousands of racing enthusiasts and fans in the area. The first racing event at Gateway was held in 1997. The track closed in 2010 under former ownership and reopened for the 2012 racing season with Francois at the helm.

At Gateway Motorsports Park our mission is to provide our fans, racers and sponsors with a first-class, up close and personal racing experience. This includes unprecedented access to the drag strip, the oval, the road-racing track and a nationally-sanctioned karting track as well as special events such as concert and corporate functions for year-round activity at Gateway Motorsports Park. www.gatewaymsp.com

Jr. Dragster Thunder (8.90 and slower)

April 2, 2013

For Immediate Release

Contact: Gateway Motorsports Park Public Relations

(618) 215-8888

USAC SILVER CROWN TO MAKE TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO GATEWAY

Madison, Illinois -  The legends of open wheel racing return to Gateway Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 1 as the United States Auto Club (USAC) Traxxas Silver Crown Series headlines the Gateway 100.  The event will mark the first USAC Silver Crown event at Gateway since the 2001 race and the first event on the 1.25 mile oval since the 2010 season.

“The Silver Crown series has a tremendous tradition in this region and we’re extremely excited to have them re-open the Superspeedway in this historic event,’ said Chris Blair, Gateway Motorsports Park Senior Vice-President.  “The stars of USAC produced some incredible events here between 1997 and 2001 that were some of the most talked about in the long history of this incredible series.”

Gateway Motorsports Park produces a tremendous challenge for drivers with it’s long straightaways, sweeping high banks through turns 1 and 2 and a tight configuration through turns 3 and 4.  The cars will be capable of circling the track at over 180 miles per hour.  It’s anticipated that all-time USAC speed records will be shattered as the cars come to the fastest Silver Crown venue ever.

“Gateway is truly a driver’s track and this series is known for producing the stars of tomorrow,’ continued Blair.  “Thanks to USAC and Traxxas, the excitement is building and the series is growing.  This event could go down in the books as one of the greatest in the long history of asphalt champ car racing.”

In addition to the modern, high-speed marvels of the Silver Crown Series, the event will also feature historical racing from Can-Am Limited of St. Louis.  The group will feature classic Indy cars on display and exhibition racing throughout the afternoon.

“The Gateway 100 will become a must attend event for race fans of all generations,” continued Blair.  “We want the older fans to relive the glory of seeing former USAC champions such as Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman as they became champions behind the wheel of these beautiful machines.  At the same time, we are working with the historical groups to provide younger fans with the opportunity to marvel at the machines from the past and see how the sport has evolved.”

Tickets are now on sale by calling the Gateway Motorsports Park ticket office at 618-215-8888 or by visiting www.gatewaymsp.com.  Advance adult tickets are only $25 and kids 6-12 are just $5.  All tickets are $5 more day of show.  Children 5 and under are free.

The Gateway 100 caps off a spectacular weekend of USAC national events in the St Louis Metro Area.  On Friday, May 31 the USAC National Midget Series will be in competition at nearby Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois.

Gateway Motorsports Park offers two programs to combat the problem of illegal street racing in the St. Louis Metro area. Instead of racing illegally on the roads,  Wide-Open Wednesday and Midnight Madness provide car enthusiasts with the opportunity to operate their cars on the safe confines of Gateway’s NHRA sanctioned drag strip.

Both programs are open to any licensed driver with proof of insurance and any street-legal car or motorcycle.  Minors must present a signed parental consent form, which may be obtained by calling the track’s office at (618) 215-8888.

All cars are required to pass a basic NHRA safety inspection (seat belts, battery mounts, properly-inflated tires, etc.).  All cars are subject to security search as coolers, outside alcohol and weapons are not allowed.

Entry fee for each is $25 to race and $15 admission for spectators.

Gates open for Wide-Open Wednesday at 5 p.m. with racing from 6 – 10:30 p.m.  In addition to street and grudge racing, the event features an open test ‘n’ tune, bracket gambler race and trophy class eliminations.

Gates open for Midnight Madness at 7 p.m. with drag racing, drifting, music and special attractions from 8 p.m. – 2 a.m.

For more information, please call Gateway Motorsports Park at (618) 215-8888 or visit www.GatewayMSP.com.  Follow Gateway Motorsports Park on Facebook and Twitter.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Gateway Motorsports Park Public Relations
(618) 215-8888

March 23, 2013

Madison, Illinois – There’s a new level excitement for the racing operations staff of Gateway Motorsports Park.  A recent track surface enhancement program and the acquisition of additional track preparation and maintenance equipment has the facility in excellent condition for the start of the 2013 season.

“During the off-season Penhall Concrete did a grind of the racing surface and we then followed that with a surface polish by Freeburn Track Grinding,” said Gateway Motorsports Park Senior Vice President Chris Blair. “Both groups did an incredible job and the finished product is one of the smoothest in drag racing.”

Also during the off-season, the track continued on it’s quest to be one of the best equipped tracks in racing.  The most recent addition to the Gateway fleet is a Powerboss brand ‘Track-Boss” track scrubber to greatly reduce track clean-up times.

“I’m very impressed with the commitment of Gateway owner Curtis Francois to provide our team with the best tools,’ continued Blair.  “The Powerboss compliments a new rotary drag, a new John Deere tractor, a specially designed Tymco vacuum truck, two Buffalo Turbine blowers, a fleet of ATVs and the best spray rig on the market. “

In an effort to properly train the racing operations team, and to prepare an all new racing surface for the season ahead, Gateway Motorsports Park enlisted the help of NHRA Safety Safari team member Rollie Miller for a special prep and training school.  Miller conducted two days of hands-on training with the crew on the proper use of the equipment and the latest techniques in drag strip preparation.

“We’ve given our team the best surface and the best tools to work with, so it was only natural that we bring in an expert like Rollie to help get the track to National Event standards,” said Blair.  “Through the course of the season our plan is to bring in other professionals to offer their expertise and fine-tune our operation. We have expectations to be the best racing facility and we are going to work with the best people to make that happen.”

The next scheduled event for Gateway Motorsports Park is the Saturday, March 30 Test ‘n’ Tune.  The regular season kicks off on Wednesday, April 3 with the first of 28 scheduled Wide-Open Wednesday events.

Just in time for Midnight Madness – Gateway Motorsports Park caught up with PRO AM KMS Drifting Champion, Andrew Lewis.

Andrew has been drifting for four years now. It all started in 2011 when he built an RB20DET. He kept the engine in for about five months before realizing it wasn’t enough power to compete with. Andrew did a ground up rebuild of the entire chassis. He built the cage, tubed the front end and slapped an LS1 into it.

During Andrew’s rookie year he competed in the MDU Pro AM competition and finished strong taking 10th and received ‘The Most Smoke Award’. Andrew also ran in the PRO AM KMS competition in Atlanta taking first place at the championship.

Adam Reed of DriftSTL had a lot to say about Andrew’s drifting talent – “Andrew is a great guy and a fantastic driver…even for an LSx guy *chuckle*. He takes his driving seriously enough to compete in multiple pro ams and that dedication is what we like to see. And he still hangs out and throws down at all the local events, just to let us know it isn’t going to his head. I wish him luck in the coming season and hope he finishes at the top in MDU,” said Reed.

When asked about his drifting experience at Gateway Motorsports Park Andrew gave us the low down – “I can’t forget all the Gateway events I enjoy so much. Midnight Madness is always a blast, sliding around with my buddies. But the Road Course is my favorite track by far. That’s where the real fun is – Not to mention, my V8 really likes it too,” said Lewis.

For the 2013 season, Andrew decided to build a new car from the ground up. He chose a Silvia Coupe S13 and painted it bright red. He explained that he wanted something ‘flashier and classier to slide around in’.

This year Andrew will be running the MDU PRO AM and you can catch him at all of the local drifting events. Don’t miss Andrew and DriftSTL this Friday, March 15 at Gateway Motorsports Park’s first Midnight Madness of the 2013 Season.

MADISON, Illinois, Feb. 20, 2013 – After a successful 2012 inaugural season, Gateway Motorsports Park owner Curtis Francois wasted no time in recruiting one of the industry’s most regarded track veterans to join his team.  Francois has named 20-year racing veteran Chris Blair as senior vice president of business development and promotion.   Blair will officially start February 21, and he will supervise Gateway’s overall motorsports racing operations and promotions while developing new revenue streams for the 1.25 mile Superspeedway, NHRA sanctioned drag strip, road course and venues currently under development.

Chris is one of the most sought-after professionals in the racing business,” said Francois.  “Few racing professionals have the operational breadth and depth Chris offers, and his expertise will enable us to realize the long-term vision for creating a racing lifestyle that attracts enthusiasts, professionals, amateurs and street-car lovers of all kinds.

Known throughout the industry for his ability to create trend-setting fan experiences, Blair is also highly regarded by racers and marketing partners.   Blair has been recognized for his accomplishments and promotional expertise by multiple drag racing, drift and oval racing organizations.  He has specialized in producing major events on multiple venues including NHRA Drag Racing, NASCAR touring series, Off-Road, Formula Drift, Supercross, Monster Jam and action sports entertainment.

Blair’s experience in motorsports includes serving as Vice President of Racing Operations for Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NHRA Northwest Division Director, Director of Business Development for PACE Motorsports (now known as Feld Entertainment) and as an independent promoter and consultant for various racing teams and sanctioning bodies.

Shortly after meeting Curtis and learning about Gateway MSP, I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to create some incredible events and motorsports experiences for racing fans,” said Blair.  “Based upon what I see and the feedback I’ve received from drivers and their teams across the country, Gateway is poised to be one of the nation’s top-rated racetracks. I’m thrilled to be a part of racing history here in the Midwest.

The racing season at Gateway Motorsports Park officially begins March 15^th, with Midnight Madness.  Pre-racing activity begins with volunteer day at Gateway on Saturday, March 2^nd Volunteers arrive at 9:00 am to help spruce up the park for opening day.  This is a time-honored tradition in which racing fans throughout the region look forward to participating. An important key to reopening Gateway in 2012 was the commitment to drag racing and the partnership with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Francois inked a long-term deal with the NHRA in 2012 and this year’s event will be held September 27 – 29^th

About Gateway

At Gateway Motorsports Park our mission is to provide our fans, racers and sponsors with a first-class, up close and personal racing experience. This includes unprecedented access to the drag strip, the oval, the road-racing track and a nationally-sanctioned karting track as well as special events such as concert and corporate functions for year-round activity at Gateway Motorsports Park.  www.gatewaymsp.com

RENEW YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Renewals allow you to take advantage of the following benefits:

FREE KIDS ADMISSION — Kids 12 & under are admitted free in General Admission and Grandstand 2.  A 12 & under rate is now also available in the Nitro 2 section.  Limit 2 free kids per paid adult.

$19-DOWN PAYMENT PLAN — Hold your seats today for only $19 and pay the balance in two monthly, interest-free installments.

RENEWAL DISCOUNT — Reserve your tickets and receive $10 off your full-event ticket price.

RESERVE YOUR SAME SEATS – Secure the same great seats you had last year before they go on sale to the public.

UPGRADE YOUR SEATS — Get a 3-day ticket for less than the price of two single days or move to a better location before tickets are available to the public.

As a renewal fan, you have the first opportunity to upgrade your tickets to the TOP ELIMINATOR CLUB.  The TEC is the ultimate fan experience and gives you your choice of seating, a members-only hospitality center, complimentary meals and refreshments, and access to exclusive driver events and appearances.

CALL NOW!  THESE RENEWAL BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!

Simply call our Ticketing Department at (618) 215-8888 ext: 101 to renew your tickets today.  Please call back if the lines are busy.