Texas Speedzone - SAS-USRA Combined Awards Banquet a Huge Success

San Antonio, TX (February 6, 2006) - More than 350 drivers, crew members, sponsors, fans and race officials enjoyed the combined San Antonio Speedway (SAS) - United States Racing Association (USRA) Awards Banquet Saturday night (February 4) at Pedrotti's North Wind Ranch in Helotes, Texas.

For Immediate Release – February 6, 2006 Contact: Nick Holt, USRA Media Director (903) 576-4144 cnholt@sbcglobal.net Combined San Antonio Speedway/United States Racing Association Awards Banquet a Huge Success San Antonio, TX (February 6, 2006) - More than 350 drivers, crew members, sponsors, fans and race officials enjoyed the combined San Antonio Speedway (SAS) - United States Racing Association (USRA) Awards Banquet Saturday night (February 4) at Pedrotti's North Wind Ranch in Helotes, Texas. Over $38,000 in points fund awards and valuable contingency awards were presented to the top teams participating in the NASCAR-sanctioned SAS racing program and the three USRA Traveling Series – the USRA Super Late Model Series, the USRA Modified Series and the USRA Truck Series in 2005. After an absolutely delicious dinner provided by Pedrottis, the awards ceremony got under way with Milton Hope, the SAS track announcer, serving as a most hospitable and humorous Master of Ceremonies. Hope called the top ten in each of the four SAS classes up to the stage where they were presented with checks, trophies and various other awards. Mona Turner accepted the Championship trophy in the Women on Wheels Division while Randy Frautschi took home the hardware for his team in the Road Runner Division, Greg Rohmer garnered the first-place awards for his team’s championship run in the Sportsman Division and Robert Barker was honored for his team’s 2005 NASCAR Late Model Championship. After several special awards, including an award to Dickerson from Texas Pro Sedan Race Director Neil Upchurch and a special thank you to the FASCAR organization for a $4500 donation to several SAS drivers who qualified for their monetary awards, Hope introduced the top-ten in the final 2005 USRA points standings as well as the USRA Champions. Shawn Paul Lehman was recognized for his USRA Truck Series championship along with his first place finish in the national All Star Truck Racing Series. Bruce Beddoe was next up to claim the spoils for winning the USRA Modified Series championship. Both drivers were very appreciative of all the people who supported their racing efforts and took time to recognize those who made special contributions. Then it was time to introduce the USRA Super Late Model champion, Heath Stewart. Stewart not only took home a beautiful trophy and a nice USRA check, but also was awarded an ABC racing body and a nice looking Hoosier Racing Tires jacket. Stewart was most sincere and humble as he expressed his heartfelt thanks to the many who made his championship possible, including many of his competitors who jumped in to rebuild Stewart’s SLM after the first of two back-to-back races on the final night of USRA competition. “After the wreck in the first race I knew the damage was very bad and I all but decided to park it,” Stewart said. “But before I could even get out of the car a whole bunch of my competitors were over there starting to repair the damage. I had parts and pieces from a lot of different cars and even a piece of the front straight sign I took out in the wreck became part of the rear spoiler.” Stewart went on to win the USRA Championship by one point over T. Wade Welch. Also receiving recognition were the USRA and SAS Rookies of the Year. Many of the recipients also were awarded ARP ABC race car bodies, 5-Star Racing race car bodies, numerous American Racer racing tires, gallons of racing fuel and jackets from both American Racer racing tires and Hoosier Racing tires. In addition, door prizes were provided by Day Motorsports, Oval Components and Checkered Flag Racing and Sports Collectables. “It was a great night to look back over the 2005 racing season and honor those who contributed so much to our successful first year at SAS and USRA,” Terry Dickerson - founder and president of the USRA and CEO of the USRA Management Group that operates San Antonio Speedway – said the day after the banquet. “We have a lot of great people involved in our racing programs and it was my honor to give them a first class awards banquet. We are definitely going to move on to even bigger and better things in 2006.” And a first class banquet it was indeed. “Pedrotti’s went all out to make sure the racers felt welcome complete with checkered linen tablecloths, checkered flag center pieces, great food, a great PA system and a great facility,” Dickerson said. “It really was a lot of fun and I personally had a great time. My wife Tammy, my daughter Stormy and Debbie Williams our USRA Public Relations Director put in a lot of time to make the banquet the great success that it was.” Dickerson took the opportunity to introduce Rick Day who recently was named the San Antonio Speedway General Manager and Race Director. Day outlined the many improvements being made to the speedway and shared some of the exciting plans for major events and promotions during the upcoming racing season. Dickerson also recognized several of the key San Antonio Speedway and USRA officials with a special thank you going to USRA Race Director Wayne Norrell. Dickerson also presented a bouquet of flowers to Lillian Reeh for her many years of contributions to the racing community. Ms. Reeh owns the property upon which SAS sits and has taken an active interest in track operations and the racing program at the speedway. The ceremonies concluded with Dickerson offering a “state of the racing” speech in which he summarized some of the highs and lows of the preceding season and ended with a very positive outlook for the 2006 season which will fire up in March. For more information about San Antonio Speedway, log onto their website at http://www.sanantoniospeedway.com. The USRA website is located at http://www.usraspeed.com. ---30---