FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2011
Contact:
Mike Adaskaveg: 617.694.1230
mikeadaskaveg@racemerced.com

ANTIOCH, MERCED PRACTICES CANCELED; WORLD OF OUTLAWS: DISCOUNT HOTEL RATES AND TICKET INFO

Merced, Calif. - “I’ve run the pumps all day, every day, but the water keeps on coming,” explained Merced Speedway groundskeeper and flag man Carl Johnson. “I’m sick of this.”

Though warm sunshine filled the Bay area and Central Valley this week, Promoter John Soares was forced to cancel this Saturday’s (March 12) Antioch practice and swap meet Sunday’s (March 13) Merced practice session and swap meet because of the high water table. It is the second week in a row that practice has been canceled.

Both Antioch and Merced Speedways continue to have flooded pit areas. Near record rainfall in the valley and a deep snow pack in the Sierras over the winter have compounded the problem.

“We will try once more on the weekend of March 19 and 20,” Soares said. “We all want the season to start. We need at least one practice before the season openers at both tracks.”

Soares is hoping to run the same schedule that weekend: Pits will open for vendors at 6:30 a.m., and gates will open for buyers at 8:00 a.m. Then cars will be allowed in the pits at 1:00 p.m. each day for 2:00 p.m. practice.

Merced Speedway Specials Offered at Two Local Hotels:

Two local hotels have offered special rates to race fans attending the World of Outlaws at Merced Speedway. Holiday Inn Express and Suites at $89, and Courtyard by Marriott at $95 are available now by reserving with special codes.

The Holiday Inn Express is Merced’s newest hotel. It offers a heated pool, whirlpool, and exercise room. Each room has a 32” flat screen TV. Breakfast - which features Holiday Inn’s signature cinnamon rolls and a pancake machine - is included in the price.

The $89 rate requires a two-night stay. Call reservations at the Merced Holiday Inn: (209) 384-3700 - be sure to mention “Merced Speedway.”

Courtyard by Marriott is offering rooms with a king or double queen beds. The hotel is three years old, has large flat screen TVs in every room, a Jacuzzi and heated pool, fitness center, business center and a bistro on location.

You can book Courtyard by Marriot on line at www.marriott.com/mcecy
Then, enter Rate Code: “L9Z”. Or call the front desk in Merced at (209) 725-1221 and be sure to mention “Merced Speedway.”

Ticket Info and Schedule UPDATE for World of Outlaws on April 1:

The remaining tickets available for the World of Outlaws sprint car show on April 1 will go on sale at the Merced Speedway ticket office on Wednesday, March 30 at 11:00 a.m. The ticket sale will continue until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and if the tickets are not sold out, they will again be offered on Thursday, March 31 at 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. If tickets still remain, they will be offered on Friday at 11:00 a.m.

The Merced Speedway grandstands and concession stands will open at noon on Friday, April 1. World of Outlaws vendors will begin setting up in the fairgrounds on Thursday, and will be open to the public on Friday morning.

There will be no parking inside the Fairgrounds. There will be two large parking lots available for fans that will be in easy walking distance to the track. Traffic patterns for parking will be released next week.