12/8/06

LAKE ERIE SPEEDWAY TO HOST LEGENDS NATIONAL QUALIFYING RACE

 
Erie, PA (December 8, 2006): Lake Erie Speedway will be hosting a Legends National Qualifier on Saturday, July 21st along with the Lake Erie 200, a 200 lap MAARA Late Model race. The Legends event will showcase two feature races, with 20 cars racing to qualify for the National race in the A-Main. Both feature races will award the same amount of points towards the Lake Erie Speedway track championship, however the winner of the A-Main will also be an automatic qualifier for the Legends National Race at the end of the season. Competitors can qualify for the A-Main by finishing in the top 5 in one of the 4 Legends heat races of the night. The top 20 cars that do not qualify for the A-Main will race in the B-Main.

The A-Main purse will total an outstanding $3,500,with $600 going to the winner. This is one of the highest purses for the Legends series in the country. The B-Main purse will total $1,040, with $100 going to the winner. Lake Erie Speedway wants this purse to attract competitors not only from Pennsylvania, but from New York, Ohio, West Virginia, and Michigan as well.

"This race showcases a great amount of prestige for our Legends drivers, and we are really excited to make this a part of the Lake Erie 200 show," said Lake Erie Speedway General Manager Joe Lewandoski.

Jake Francis of LeRoy, Ohio, the 2006 Ohio Semi-Pro Legends Champion and the 2006 Lake Erie Speedway Plyler Overhead Door Late Model Rookie of the Year will be doing double duty that night, as he will race in both the Lake Erie Speedway 200 and the Lake Erie Speedway Legends National Qualifier. "I am very excited to be able to compete in both feature events. Lake Erie Speedway continues to pay the highest purses for Legends, which always provides a very competitive atmosphere."

"This is our way of thanking the Legends competitors who have supported us year in and year out. Giving our drivers one of the biggest races in the country will continue to draw the intense level of competition Lake Erie Speedway has prided itself on," said Race Director A.J. Moore.

Lake Erie Speedway is looking to get over 40 cars for this event, and will host optional practice on Friday, July 20th from 5:00-10:00 PM. "By hosting practice the night before, we can ensure that everybody has an equal chance to qualify for the Legends National Race," said Lewandoski. Lake Erie Speedway has been part of the 600 Racing Legends program since the track opened in 2002. Lake Erie Speedway also hosted the Legends National in 2005, where approximately 190 cars came to compete. In a short period of time, Lake Erie Speedway has become one of the top Legends tracks in the nation.

"It's cool to be racing for this kind of purse, and that Lake Erie Speedway is willing to stand behind the Legends series by giving us one of the highest paying purses in the country," said Eric Hammill, a seasoned Legends competitor from Erie, PA.

Tickets for the Lake Erie Speedway 200 and the Legends National Qualifier are available for purchase from Lake Erie Speedway by visiting [Lake Erie Speedway's web site] or calling Jason Scanlon at 814-878-4599.

For More Information, Contact:
A.J. Moore, Lake Erie Speedway Race Director
814-878-4563 or amoore@lakeeriespeedway.com

Source: Sean Benim/Lake Erie PR
Additions:
Posted: December 9, 2006