CONCORD, N.C. (June 23, 2011) – Just one week after the announcement
was made about the second-annual Legends Million race at Charlotte Motor
Speedway, buzz is already beginning to circulate among drivers anxious for
another shot to win the prestigious race.
The Legends Million, held Aug. 1 and 2, will once again provide the
biggest Legend Car and Bandolero purse of the year and is expected to draw a
large field of competitors including some of the biggest names in racing.
Kevin Harvick, Inc. development driver Gray Gaulding made history in
2010 as the youngest competitor to run in the Legends Million at the tender
age of 12. The youngster is thrilled that Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of
Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the parent company of Charlotte Motor Speedway
and U.S. Legend Cars International, is bringing the event back for a second
year.
“I first have to thank Bruton Smith for bringing back the Legends
Million,” said Gaulding. “You’ve got 300 cars trying to make a 30-car field.
It’s really special for the young talent coming up through the ranks to put
up that big of a check.
“I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully we can get a win. Last
year we had some bad luck with a coil going out, but there is always this
year.”
The 2009 U.S. Legend Cars International Semi-Pro Asphalt Oval
champion, Kenzie Ruston, shares a similar opinion with Gaulding.
“I was surprised to hear about the second-annual Legends Million,”
said Ruston. “It really shows how considerate Bruton is to put up that money
for a young kid to have the chance to win again. I haven’t been in a Legend
Car since the last Million, so I will just be happy to make the show and I’d
be thrilled with a top-10 finish.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan turned some heads in the
garage during Monday’s Summer Shootout practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway
when he showed up to run his No. 6 UPS Legend Car.
“With the second-annual Legends Million coming up it gives me an
opportunity to practice a little bit,” said Ragan. “I’ve got Aug. 1 and 2
kinda marked out in my calendar, so hopefully we can make it and get a
little practice that will go a long way.”
Last year, Ragan started on the outside pole for the feature event
and stayed near the front to take home a fourth-place finish.
Tyler Green, the 2010 Summer Shootout Pro division champion at
Charlotte Motor Speedway, is ready to improve upon his fifth-place finish
from last year’s $1 million race.
“I’m definitely excited that they are going to have another one,”
said Green. “It’s going to be a huge race again. I was disappointed in my
fifth-place finish last year because we ran a lot better through the season.
I just feel like we have a lot to prove in this year’s Million.”
Wentzville, Mo., native, Kyle Weatherman, finished 21st in the
inaugural event last year and is looking forward to a second chance to win
the big money.
“When they first announced the Legends Million race this year, I was
excited and I was pumped up because I feel like I struggled in the last
one,” said the 13-year-old Weatherman. “I think I can make an improvement
this year.”
Weatherman’s 12-year-old brother Clayton will make his first
appearance in the Legends Million this year after winning the Bandolero
Bandits feature at the event in 2010.
“When they came out with the second Legends Million, I was excited
because I didn’t think I was going to get to race one,” said the younger
Weatherman. “My brother got to do one last year and I didn’t get to because
I was too young. I’m just really excited and I think I can get a top five.”
Drivers can register for the Legends Million at
http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com. All Legend Car competitors 12 years of age
or older may register. The race is not restricted by division. All minors 17
or younger must complete a minor waiver, which is available for download at
http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/waivers.
Registration is free with the purchase of a new Legend Car from U.S.
Legend Cars International.
For additional information on competitor registration for the
Legends Million, visit http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call the Charlotte
Motor Speedway events department at (704) 455-3205. For more information
about U.S. Legend Cars International and Legend Cars, visit
http://www.uslegendscars.com or call U.S. Legend Cars International’s headquarters
at (704) 455-3896.
Tickets to the Legends Million race are just $10 for adults and
children 12 and under are admitted free. To purchase tickets, call the
Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or go online
to http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
Connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter at
http://www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or become a Facebook fan at
http://www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.
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