OLLIE'S HEADS BACK TO THE TRACK THIS SUMMER
WITH THREE-RACE 'OLLIE'S 360 CHALLENGE'
NASCAR Drivers Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart
to Headline 360 Sprint Car Series;
Races Feature Potential Payout of More Than $130,000
Harrisburg, Pa. – Ollie's Bargain Outlet today announced that it would
sponsor the Ollie's 360 Challenge, a three-race series pitting NASCAR
drivers Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney against some of the
nation's top 360 sprint car drivers. And there's nothing "cheap" about
this tournament -- Ollie will dig deep into his pockets to award the
winners with a potentially record-breaking purse! With race dates set
for June, July and August, the Ollie's 360 Challenge will feature a
total three-event purse of more than $80,000, with $6,000 going to each
A-main winner. Additionally, a bonus of $50,000 will be offered to any
driver who can win two of three A-main features.
"Taking part in the Ollie's 360 Challenge, with confirmed entries
already from drivers like Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart, is
a thrill for the entire Ollie's family," said Mark Butler, president and
CEO of Ollie's Bargain Outlet. "The Ollie's 360 Challenge will give us
another opportunity to offer "Good Stuff, Cheap" -- top-quality racing
at a great value to fans across several states this summer. And I
encourage people to stay tuned for news about an exciting sweepstakes
all race fans will want to enter."
The challenge will kick off with a race at the 3/8-mile Sharon (Ohio)
Speedway on June 17. Owned and operated by Blaney and a group of local
partners, Sharon Speedway is one of the country's leading short tracks
and hosts several 410 sprint car events throughout the season.
"I am really pleased that the Ollie's 360 Challenge will make a stop at
Sharon Speedway," said Blaney. "My family and business partners have put
a lot of time and effort into making Sharon Speedway one of the best
dirt tracks in the country and it's a privilege to welcome a marquee
event such as this into our facility. I'm also looking forward to
getting into a 360 sprint car again this year."
The second round of the Ollie's 360 Challenge will take place at
Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on July 8. The high-banked,
half-mile oval has a storied history that spans more than 50 years and
is a staple in the sprint car universe. Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series Champion Stewart competes in a handful of dirt track racing
events each season.
"Any time I can race a dirt sprint car or late model I'm excited about
it," said Stewart. "I've always said that open-wheel racing is like a
reset button for me and the fact that I'm going to get to race my 360
sprinter at least three times this summer is something I'm really
looking forward to. We're very proud to be able to offer our fans a
variety of quality racing and I'm sure this event will be one of our
biggest this season. It will be fun to mix it up with Kasey, Dave and
the top 360 sprint car drivers in the country."
The third and final round of the Ollie's 360 Challenge will be hosted by
Kahne and wrap up at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., on
August 19. The facility, a favorite of Kahne's, boasts a half-mile
speedplant and one of the most loyal sprint car racing fan bases in the
country. In 2007, the Ollie's Bargain Outlet Shootout event hosted by
Williams Grove Speedway raised more than $75,000 for the Kasey Kahne
Foundation. It's a favor that Kahne is eager to reciprocate in August.
"Williams Grove Speedway is one of my favorite tracks to race on," Kahne
said. "I grew up racing sprint cars around the country and I always
enjoyed racing at 'The Grove.' Last year, we worked with Ollie's and the
track to help raise $75,000 for the Kasey Kahne Foundation and I really
appreciated all of the effort the facility and staff put into the event.
We're looking forward to working with Ollie's Bargain Outlet again this
year and I'm happy to announce that the proceeds from the Grove event
will go to support the Kasey Kahne Foundation this year as well. It will
be great to get to compete in these three events with Tony and Dave, as
well as race against the drivers who run 360 sprint cars each week. All
three races will be great for the fans, especially if someone can pull
off winning the $50,000 bonus."
The Williams Grove race not only culminates the series, it solidifies
Ollie's Bargain Outlet's commitment to charity.
"Having a charitable tie-in is extremely important to Ollie's," said
Mark Butler, a newly appointed member to the Kasey Kahne Foundation
Chairman's Board. "We, as a company, strive to give back to our
community in any way we can. Being able to connect with the community in
an exciting way via the 360 Challenge and charitably through the Kasey
Kahne Foundation gives us the best of both worlds."
About the Ollie's 360 Challenge
The Ollie's 360 Challenge will begin at Sharon Speedway on June 17. The
second race in the three event series will take place at Eldora Speedway
on July 8 with the event finale scheduled for Williams Gove Speedway on
August 19. Paying $6,000 to each winner and a minimum of $500 to each
A-main competitor, the Ollie's 360 Challenge series will rank as one of
the highest paying 360 sprint car events of 2008. All drivers competing
in at least two of the three events are eligible for the $50,000 bonus,
which will be awarded to the driver who can win two of three A-main events.
Motorsports Media Entertainment is promoting the event in conjunction
with the title sponsor, Ollie's Bargain Outlet. For more information
regarding Ollie's Bargain Outlet please visit
www.olliesbargainoutlet.com.
For more information regarding Sharon
Speedway, Eldora Speedway or Williams Grove Speedway log on to
www.sharonspeedway.com,
www.eldoraspeedway.com or
www.williamsgrove.com.
More information regarding each event of the Ollie's 360 Challenge will
become available as event times are confirmed.