RACE: USAR: Indy IRP 2006 schedule released

25th ANNUAL KROGER 200 HEADLINES THE 2006 IRP RACING SCHEDULE

INDIANAPOLIS (January 19, 2006) Indianapolis Raceway Park has released the 2006 racing schedule and the 25th annual Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children, NASCAR Busch Series race, will take center stage during the year. The Kroger 200 is the culminating race of Kroger SpeedFest, which includes the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the USAC Silver Crown division.

"SpeedFest weekend is always one of our largest events during the year," said Ron Anderson, general manager of IRP. "With the activities we have planned leading up to and during the event, we feel it will be a special evening that the fans shouldn't miss."

Also in 2006, the oval schedule will expand with visits from the Indy United Racing League (IURL), late model stock car and truck series, USAC Series and Hooters Pro Cup.

The world's largest and most prestigious drag race returns as the 52nd annual NHRA Mac Tools U. S. Nationals takes to the strip over Labor Day weekend on Aug. 30th through September 4th. Complimenting the drag strip schedule will be the annual visits from Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals, Super Chevy show, AMA Pro Star, Indy Truck Bash and the Buffalo Soldiers.

"We feel this years schedule is very well rounded with as many oval, drag strip and road course events as possible," continued Anderson. "We have seen growth in our events during the past seasons and we feel this schedule will help continue this trend."

2006 OVAL RACING SCHEDULE

May 13 Indy United Racing League (IURL)

May 20 To Be Announced

May 27 Coca-Cola Night before the 500 featuring the USAC Midget Series

June 10 Indy United Racing League (IURL)

June 17 Hooters Pro Cup

July 1 USAC and the Indy United Racing League (IURL)

July 5 To Be Announced

July 15 Indy United Racing League (IURL)

July 22 ASA

Aug. 3 J. D. Byrider 100 USAC Silver Crown series

Aug. 4 Power Stroke Diesel 200, presented by Ford and International, NASCAR Busch Series race

Aug. 5 25th annual Kroger 200, benefiting Riley Hospital for Children, NASCAR Busch Series race

Aug. 12 UAW Family Labor Night with the Indy United Racing League (IURL)

Sept. 9 Indy United Racing League (IURL)

Sept. 23 Indy United Racing League (IURL)

2006 DRAG RACING SCHEDULE

DRAG STRIP SPECIAL EVENTS

April 7 - 9 Lucas Oil Division 3 race

June 2 - 4 Mopar at Indy

June 9 - 11 Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals

June 24 - 25 DHRA

June 28 -- July 1 Buick Horse Power Nationals

July 14 -- 16 Super Chevy Show

July 29 Buffalo Soldiers

Aug. 12 -13 AMA Pro Star

Aug. 18 -- 20 Indy Truck Bash

Aug. 30 -- Sept. 4 52nd annual NHRA Mac Tools U. S. Nationals

Sept. 15 -- 17 ET Finals

Sept. 23 -- 24 Drag News Bracket Series

Oct. 13 -- 15 Fall Sportsman Classic

Oct. 21 -- 22 Dragraceresults.com Racing Series

VP FUELS E.T. BRACKET RACING SERIES

March 26 (Saturday) Open test and tune

April 1 (Saturday) Open test and tune

April 2, 15, 22, 23

May 13, 14, 21, 29* (*National Dragster Challenge)

June 17, 18* (*Jr. Dragster Challenge)

July 2, 23*, 30 (*King of the Track)

Aug. 20

Sept. 9, 10

TUESDAY NIGHT STREET LEGAL RACING SERIES

March 28

April 4, 11, 18, 25

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

June 6, 13, 20, 27

July 11, 18, 25

Aug. 8, 15

Sept. 12, 19, 26

Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 30

MIDNIGHT MADNESS EVENTS

May 12

June 16

July 21

THURSDAY NIGHT SLICK TIRE TEST AND TUNES

April 13, 20, 27

May 11, 18, 25

June 1, 15, 22

July 20, 27

Aug. 10, 17

Sept. 7

2006 ROAD COURSE RACING SCHEDULE

May 5 -- 7 Sports Car Club of America

July 7- 9 Sports Car Club of America

Sept. 29 -- Oct. 1 Sports Car Club of America

One of five drag racing facilities owned and operated by the National Hot Rod Association, IRP was built in 1960 and has presented organized racing events since 1961. From March through October, the facility hosts more than 130 dates of racing on three tracks, a quarter-mile drag strip, a .686-mile paved oval and a 2.5-mile road course. Home to drag racing's biggest event, the NHRA U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend, the drag strip runs more than 50 days of point-to-point action, from national events to street legal community programs. The oval track draws racing's biggest events, including annual visits from the NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and three USAC races, including the Coca-Cola Night Before the 500. The road course provides a home for several racing sanctions, such as SCCA, while providing an ideal resource for driving schools, corporate outings and open-road tests for professional drivers.

- IRP -