Corporate Business on Upswing During 2001 Season at Sears Point Raceway.

Business Editors/Entertainment & Sports Writers

SONOMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2001

Business is on the upswing at Sears Point Raceway.

After finishing the 2001 main-event season with record attendance and major breakthroughs in the business community, the outlook is strong for 2002 as the raceway fully unveils its $35 million Modernization Plan.

The raceway not only achieved record ticket sales for all of its major events, including the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Winston Cup and NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals, but it also increased new business by more than 30 percent over 2000.

Track officials were able to attract nearly 20 new businesses during the 2001 season, including Big-O Tires, Dodge, Bank of the West, Miller Brewing Company, Coleman Company Inc., AT&T Broadband and ACDelco, among others.

"Our investment in modernizing Sears Point Raceway is all about creating a more compelling facility environment both for racing fans and our corporate partners. It is very encouraging to see such a positive response, even at this early stage of our project," said Steve Page, president and general manager at Sears Point Raceway.

The new business coincides with Sears Point Raceway's Modernization Plan, which will transform the facility into one of the premier motorsports and entertainment venues in the country.

Phase two, which is currently under way, will focus heavily on the road course and drag strip. Plans include repaving of both the road course and drag strip, a 660-foot concrete launch pad for drag racing, increased run-off for safety, enlargement of pit road to accommodate a 43-car starting field and the separation of the road course from the drag strip. The entire plan will be complete by summer, 2002.

"The San Francisco market is a tremendous market. With rapidly growing television ratings, record attendance and the modernization benefits for sponsors, we've had a strong and positive reaction from corporate America," said Tim Schuldt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Sears Point.

New sponsor benefits for the 2002 season include targeted lifestyle villages, high-tech connectivity and state-of-the-art luxury suites. The lifestyle villages will include a "Family Area/Kidz Zone," "The Extreme Fan Zone," "The Great Outdoors and Do-It-Yourself Village," and "Corporate America Tech Village and Business Center."

Sears Point Raceway is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc (NYSE:TRK)., a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. SMI also owns and operates the following premiere facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. SMI also provides food, beverage and souvenir merchandising services through its Finish Line Events subsidiary, and manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars through its 600 Racing subsidiary.