Expectations High as Memphis Motorsports Park Opens This Weekend

The NHRA roared back to life in Pomona two weeks ago. NASCAR waved the green flag on a new season in Daytona last weekend. And at Memphis Motorsports Park, expectations - and RPMs - will be running high this weekend, too, when the track officially opens its 2006 season with a Test-N-Tune session at the drag strip on Saturday, and the first round of the E.T. Bracket Racing Series on Sunday.

The track's weekly racing schedule on the drag strip - from now through October - is as follows:

• Thursdays (and Tuesdays beginning April 4) - Test-N-Tune
• Select Fridays (April-September) - Midnight Madness
• Saturdays (and some Sundays) - E.T. Bracket Racing Series

In celebration of "20 Years" of racing, Memphis Motorsports Park officials recently unveiled a new street sign at the facility. Listed for years as Taylor Forge Drive, the main thoroughfare to the track is now Victory Lane. And if the 2006 schedule of major events is any indication, Victory Lane will provide its share of special moments this season.

Those addicted to the sheer horsepower of the NHRA will get their first taste of burnin' rubber when the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series takes to the track March 24-26.

NASCAR is up next with the Craftsman Truck Series O'Reilly 200, July 14-15, "under the lights" with an autograph session for season ticket holders only on Friday, and a new, free post-race concert on Saturday. Tentative start time for the race is 8:15 p.m.

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals rumbles back into town Aug. 18-20.

And the NASCAR Busch Series returns one week later in the season than in previous years. The Sam's Town 250 is slated for Oct. 26-28 and, with the number of Nextel Cup Series drivers also competing full-time in the Busch Series, promises to be the paved oval's premiere event. Drivers tentatively scheduled to appear include Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Reed Sorenson and J.J. Yeley.

An MMP Full Season Ticket is again being offered this year and includes each of the NASCAR and NHRA events. And individual "Track Packs" are available for each - $99 for the track's two NASCAR weekends, and $119 for the two NHRA weekends.

For more information or to order season tickets visit memphismotorsportspark.com.