Catchfence

CONCORD, N.C. (April 27, 2011) – Perennial NASCAR Sprint Cup Series all-star Kyle Busch was in the right place at the right time today when he rode into uptown Charlotte on horseback and prevented a heist involving the $1 million prize earmarked for the winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Speedway president Marcus Smith was at Independence Square at Trade and Tryon Streets in uptown to kick off the motorsports month of May in Charlotte and certify the more than $1 million winner’s purse for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 21. While the money was being transferred by a sheriff and his deputy to a Dunbar Armored truck, masked cowboys rode up on horses and confronted the lawmen. Wearing a white hat and riding a horse named Poco, Busch arrived on scene just in time to thwart the robbery and told the crowd that gathered uptown, which included media and fans, that the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race million-dollar prize was his.

Of course the “bad guys,” including Fox Sports and SPEED TV personality Jeff Hammond, were simply acting and the $1 million purse was never in jeopardy. The “wild west” theme of the event follows this year’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star race ad campaign, “The Throwdown at Charlotte.”

Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&Ms Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, talked with fans and media about the excitement of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

“The All-Star Race is one of the most action-packed races of the year,” Busch said. “We look forward to that race. It gives us a great opportunity to go out there and go for broke really. You either bring home the checkered flag and the check or you bring home the steering wheel. Unfortunately for me I’ve only been able to bring home the steering wheel, so maybe one of these years I can bring home the million bucks.”

Busch tops all drivers at Charlotte Motor Speedway in NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series wins with six and three respectively, but the 20-time Sprint Cup Series winner is still searching for that elusive first Cup win at the Mecca of Motorsports.

Tickets for all May races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Frontstretch tickets with the best views of the world’s largest HD video board, debuting at the speedway in May, start at just $49 for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 21. Fans can also purchase two frontstretch tickets for just $99 to the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29.

For daily updates on May race activities, connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.

- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Press Release