Catchfence

• Perry, Moncrief Honor Speedway With Proclamations, Fire TMS Victory Lane Six Shooters To Ring In 2010 Racing Season

• Native Texans Labonte, Braun Wheel Dignitaries To Public Ceremony In City’s NASCAR-Themed Molly The Trolleys

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 15, 2010) – Texas Governor Rick Perry and Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief issued state and city proclamations, respectively, to Texas Motor Speedway officials Thursday in a public ceremony in Sundance Square to officially kick off the speedway’s 2010 race season and acknowledge its importance as an economic engine both locally and statewide.

With the Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR doubleheader weekend beginning today at Texas Motor Speedway, Governor Perry and Mayor Moncrief honored Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith and speedway president Eddie Gossage for their efforts to make the speedway a viable economic force for the state since it opened in 1997. Mayor Moncrief presented Gossage with the City of Fort Worth proclamation while Smith accepted the state proclamation from Governor Perry as both government officials declared it race week locally and statewide.

Smith and Gossage were praised for the economic impact of the NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway, which generate approximately $75 million in economic benefit regionally and are annually the largest-attended, single-day sporting events in the state of Texas. In its 13 years of existence, Texas Motor Speedway has brought to Fort Worth and surrounding areas the economic impact of hosting 46 Super Bowls.

“That, my friends, is the definition of a good partner,” Moncrief said of the speedway’s contribution to the local economy. “And Fort Worth wants to return the favor by working hard to be a good host to the NASCAR fans that come here. You could say that TMS symbolizes what Fort Worth and the North Texas region as a whole has to offer, and you don’t have to go far to find exciting entertainment any time, any day.”

“They (NASCAR race weeks) make a huge economic difference wherever they are,” Perry said. “Mr. Smith and I were talking about that in May, for instance, that they have two huge events in (Charlotte) North Carolina. And sir, all we’re wanting is a couple more races in Texas – for starters. Eddie, what you guys do out there and the $90 million you bring in for this economy out here that comes into Texas and the surrounding area, that is a powerful economic impact.

“On behalf of the 24 million people that call Texas home we want to say to NASCAR, welcome to Texas. We are glad that you are here.” Joining the dignitaries were NASCAR drivers and native Texans Bobby Labonte and Colin Braun. Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup Series champion from Corpus Christi, and Braun, the rising Nationwide Series star from Ovalo, drove the dignitaries in style as each got behind the wheel of a NASCAR-themed Molly The Trolley.

The trolleys featured oversized rear spoilers that read “Follow Me To The Samsung Mobile 500,” waist-up images of NASCAR superstars Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the windows, window netting decals on the driver’s side windows and some tire rub decals on the side of the vehicles.

Trailing an escort of Fort Worth motorcycle officers and official Texas Motor Speedway Chevrolet Camaro pace cars, Labonte and Braun drove the trolleys six blocks down Main Street to a cheering crowd and the music of the Texas Christian University Marching Band.

“It was a lot of fun to drive that trolley,” Braun said “It felt like I was driving a motor home because it had the air brakes. I also had a real good driving coach with me, so I felt like I was in good hands. I don’t know who won, but it was fun.

“It was neat being a kid from Texas and get to meet the governor, meet the mayor. They both seem like really nice guys and huge fans of NASCAR.”

Labonte and Braun presented the governor and mayor with event-decaled race helmets signed by them and then Gossage let the event finish with a bang. He handed Governor Perry and Mayor Moncrief Turnbull 45 Colt-style revolvers that Sunday’s Samsung Mobile 500 race winner will fire in Victory Lane to celebrate his win in true Texas fashion. Governor Perry and Mayor Moncrief gave the six shooters a solid test run as they emptied out the chamber of blanks by firing them into the air to conclude the ceremony.

Thursday’s festivities was just part of the effort by the city of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau to show their appreciation for the race fans that will be visiting for the Samsung Mobile 500 weekend. The city is doing their part to provide a Texas-sized greeting to race fans by featuring “Welcome Race Fans” signage across the Fort Worth area and downtown hotels will provide welcome ribbons and buttons.

“The city of Fort Worth has continued to help serve our race fans,” Gossage said. “We are excited about working with the city to get the community ready for everything Texas Motor Speedway has to offer during the Samsung Mobile 500 race weekend.”

Labonte enjoys returning to his home state track and this weekend he is being backed by one of the most visible and influential Texans in the state. The Perry re-election campaign committee is sponsoring Labonte’s No. 71 TRG Motorsports Sprint Cup Series car for the Samsung Mobile 500.

“Coming back to Texas Motor Speedway with Eddie Gossage and the mayor, they do such a great job,” Labonte said. “They get more bang for their buck. They have a great facility and a lot of great fans come out, and they promote it really well. When we come to Texas, it’s never a dull moment.”

Tickets for the Samsung Mobile 500 race week, featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung Mobile 500 and Nationwide Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, are available by calling the speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

- Texas Motor Speedway, Press Release