Texas to host round two

Crown Royal IROC Field Announced

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (January 19, 2005) - Defending Crown Royal International Race of Champions titlewinner Matt Kenseth and Danny Lasoski, who captured the inaugural IROC race at Texas Motor Speedway, lead the talented 12-driver field named Wednesday to compete for the 2005 $1 million winner's prize.

Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion, won two of the four 2004 Crown Royal IROC races enroute to the championship. Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws sprint car champion, topped the IROC Texas field last spring.

Texas Motor Speedway will host the second round of the series Friday night, April 15. The season opener will be February 18 at Daytona International Speedway. The final events will be at Richmond International Raceway September 8 and Atlanta Motor Speedway October 29. All participants will drive identically prepared stock cars in the series.

NASCAR drivers represented include Kenseth, 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Kurt Busch, four-time Crown Royal IROC champion Mark Martin, 2004 NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. and defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series titlewinner Bobby Hamilton.

Variety spices the remainder of the dozen-driver lineup including defending Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice, two-time Indy 500 victor Helio Castroneves, 2004 World of Outlaws sprint car champion Steve Kinser, Grand American Rolex Sports Car co-champions Max Papis and Scott Pruett and 2004 Champ Car titlewinner Sebastien Bourdais.

"We are proud to offer Texas Motor Speedway fans the opportunity to watch champions from all series compete here again in 2005," said speedway president Eddie Gossage. "One ticket will allow fans to see NASCAR NEXTEL Cup qualifying in the afternoon and racing's superstars squaring off against each other that evening in the Crown Royal IROC Series."

Tickets for the April 15 Crown Royal IROC race at Texas Motor Speedway are on sale at the speedway ticket office, by calling (817) 215-8500, online at www.texasmotorspeedway.com and at Ticketmaster locations.

<pre> 2005 CROWN ROYAL INTERNATIONAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS PARTICIPANTS

Matt Kenseth            2004 Crown Royal IROC champion
Kurt Busch              2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion
Mark Martin             Four-time Crown Royal IROC champion
Martin Truex Jr.        2004 NASCAR Busch Series champion
Bobby Hamilton          2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion
Buddy Rice              2004 Indianapolis 500 winner (IRL IndyCar Series)
Helio Castroneves       2001-2002 Indy 500 winner (IRL IndyCar Series)
Steve Kinser            2004 World of Outlaws sprint car champion
Danny Lasoski           2001 World of Outlaws sprint car champion
Max Papis               2004 Grand American Rolex Sports Car co-champion
Scott Pruett            2004 Grand American Rolex Sports Car co-champion
Sebastien Bourdais      2004 Champ Car champion

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