Gainesville Raceway announces expansion

GAINESVILLE RACEWAY ANNOUNCES MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION

Multi-phase project will include luxury VIP box suites on the pit side of the facility; construction of permanent Top Eliminator Club; new race control tower complex

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2006) -- Fans heading to Gainesville Raceway this weekend for the 37th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals will see the beginning of a multi-million dollar, multi-phase project designed to upgrade the entire facility.

NHRA announced today that Gainesville Raceway will undergo a major redevelopment including luxury VIP box suites atop the South Side Grandstands on the pit side. Also part of the facelift at one of the most well-known drag racing facilities in the country will include construction of a permanent Top Eliminator Club in its current location and a complete overhaul of the current race control tower and suites.

"The NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals and Gainesville Raceway have become one of the premier stops in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and the East Coast kick-off for the 23-race season," said Peter Clifford, executive vice president and general manager, NHRA. "This expansion project will not only enhance the fan experience for our Top Eliminator Club seat holders, but current and future suite holders."

The first phase of the project, which will be completed in time for this year's NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals, is a 15,000-square-foot permanent Top Eliminator Club structure located on the south side of the TEC Grandstand. The new steel framed structure with removable side curtains for inclement weather is equipped with permanent lighting and available throughout the year for hospitality functions, shows, festivals, vendor use, classroom space, display space and banquets, in addition to being the primary structure for Top Eliminator Club guests at the national event.

Immediately following the conclusion of the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, construction will begin on luxury VIP Skybox Suites on the south side of the main pit side, reserved seat grandstand. In all, eight individual suites will be built offering suite holders both inside and outside seating and unparalleled views of both the drag strip and the open pits. Similar in design as the sky boxes recently built at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and currently being constructed at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.), the suites will have full glass front walls and individual chair back seating outside in front of each suite. The suites will be completed in time for the 2007 season.

As part of the master renovation of Gainesville Raceway, plans also call for a new race control building with a state of the art media center and 360 degree race control center on the top floor. In addition NHRA will, in coming years, remodel the permanent restroom facilities throughout the facility and install new permanent grandstands on the spectator side (north side) with remodeled gates and entrance areas to connect spectator side guests to the pit side, as well as remodel the existing ticket buildings

In addition to Gainesville Raceway, NHRA currently owns and operates four drag racing facilities across the country. Other facilities include Indianapolis Raceway Park, which recently went through a multi-million dollar renovation including trackside suites along the West Side Grandstands; National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio; Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga., just outside Atlanta; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, which recently announced a similar renovation project including trackside suites along the East Side Grandstands at the historic facility in Southern California.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members nationwide and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program presented by AAA. The NHRA also offers the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

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