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Silver Crown
Monday, 6 July 2009

KASEY KAHNE TO PROMOTE THE RETURN OF USAC NATIONAL RACING TO HISTORIC OSWEGO SPEEDWAY

KASEY KAHNE TO PROMOTE THE RETURN OF USAC NATIONAL RACING TO HISTORIC OSWEGO SPEEDWAY


The Kasey Kahne "Steel Palace Classic" presented by Ollie's Bargain Outlet
to feature USAC Silver Crown Series on August 6



MOORESVILLE, NC (July 7, 2009) - Absent for two decades, USAC National Championship Racing returns to the former
"Indy of the East" race track at Oswego (NY) Speedway on August 6 to feature USAC's K & N Silver Crown Series in the
inaugural Kasey Kahne "Steel Palace Classic" presented by Ollie's Bargain Outlet. Kahne, a NASCAR star who owns a
USAC Sprint and Midget team, is serving as the race promoter and is expected to race an entry in the event that includes
a 100-lap feature with a total prize purse of $45,000. USAC's popular Sprint Cars last raced at Oswego Speedway back in
1968 when the speedway was nicknamed the Steel Palace.


 


"Oswego Speedway has such a storied history with open wheel cars, so when I found out that the track hasn't hosted a
USAC National race for many years we decided to revive the series back East," said Kahne, who won the 2000 USAC
Midget Championship earlier in his career. "The Silver Crown cars harken back to the days when USAC used to run at
Oswego, so in a sense, it will be like it was back in the golden days of open wheel racing for one night."


 


Joining Kahne in the field is another NASCAR driver and former USAC star, Ryan Newman, who won the 1999 USAC
Silver Crown championship and is the only driver to win all three USAC National Rookie of the Year honors in the Silver
Crown, Sprint and Midget series.


 


"New York has always been a great racing state and USAC has many devoted fans in the area," said USAC President
Kevin Miller. "It's great to see Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman, two former USAC champions coming back to race. We
are all very excited to bring this spectacular series to the race fans of the Empire State. It will mark the initial appearance
of these cars on pavement in New York."


 


The USAC-sanctioned K & N Silver Crown Series features long-wheelbase cars and has been described as the world's
most competitive major racing series by Auto Racing Analysis. To compete in USAC's premier series is the pinnacle for
many American open-wheel competitors and to win the championship is a prestigious milestone in any driver's career.
Previous champions include Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, J.J. Yeley, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Al
Unser. Powering these machines are 355-cubic-inch American-production-based engines modified for racing. A typical
Silver Crown engine produces over 750 horse power.


 


"As the other 'Big O' in Upstate New York, we at Ollie's Bargain Outlet are thrilled to help bring USAC racing back to
Oswego for the first time since the 1960s," said Mark Butler, president and CEO of Ollie's Bargain Outlet. "The storied
history of the Oswego Speedway, along with great fans and the outstanding abilities of our good friend Kasey Kahne and
the other participating drivers are sure to combine for a night to remember. Don't miss the Steel Palace Classic!"


 


Oswego Speedway is a 5/8-mile paved track that seats up to 15,000 spectators. Built in 1951, Oswego Speedway is
regarded as one of America's most revered race tracks and hosts the annual Budweiser International Classic each Labor
Day weekend.


 


"We are thrilled that Kasey is bringing these open wheel machines back to Oswego," said Oswego operator Steve Gioia.
"We see this race as the beginning of another great run of USAC Championship events running at the track."


 


Advance $25 general admission tickets for the Kasey Kahne "Steel Palace Classic" presented by Ollie's Bargain Outlet
can be purchased at the Oswego Speedway box office or by calling (315) 342-0646. Discounts for children are available.
The Oswego Speedway box office is located at 300 East Albany Street, Oswego, N.Y. 13126 and is open Monday
through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. For more information, visit www.oswegospeedway.com.


 


Event Details
Name:                The Kasey Kahne "Steel Palace Classic" presented by Ollie's Bargain Outlet
www.steelpalaceclassic.com/
Date:                Thursday, August 6, 2009
Venue:               Oswego Speedway
Oswego, NY
www.oswegospeedway.com/
Purse:               $45,000
Tickets:             Advance tickets only at Oswego Speedway box office
$25 General Admission grandstand (ages 16+)
$10 Child General Admission (ages 6-15)
$30 Member Pit Passes, $40 Non-Member Pit Passes