Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Answer Fan Questions Via Website

California Speedway today announced its official website, www.californiaspeedway.com, has launched two new fan features, a NASCAR 101 section and a monthly driver question and answer opportunity, that went live on Thursday.

California Speedway.com is the first motorsports facility hosting a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race to feature a NASCAR 101 section on its website. This NASCAR 101 section will be a starting place for new and long time race fans to learn about NASCAR. It will feature the NASCAR Fan Guide in English and Spanish. The NASCAR Fan Guide offers detailed information about the history of NASCAR, how to follow the sport, its teams and competition elements.

Also in the NASCAR 101 section will be diagrams explaining competition elements of NASCAR, including information on tech inspection, SAFER walls, racing flags, race vs. street tire, pit stops, tight vs. loose, inside the cockpit, cutaway car, freezing the field and aero drafting. Information on driver hometowns, track distances and locations throughout the country will also be included in this NASCAR 101 section. There will be a link from the home page to the NASCAR 101 section, or it can also be directly accessed at www.californiaspeedway.com/fans/NASCAR101.jsp.

Also beginning in May, californiaspeedway.com will feature a monthly driver question and answer opportunity allowing race fans the prospect to email questions for each month's driver to answer. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., will answer fan questions in May. Race fans will have to log on to www.californiaspeedway.com to submit their question. Questions for Earnhardt will be accepted via email through Friday, May 5 at 12 p.m. PDT (noon). Not every question will be answered.

NASCAR drivers Brendan Gaughan and Matt Kenseth answered fan questions earlier this year through the Speedway's website with a similar question and answer format through email.

California Speedway's official website, which featured nearly 1 million page views in the two months leading up to February's Auto Club 500, is the source for up to date information about all California Speedway events. Californiaspeedway.com is an interactive website allowing race fans the opportunity to select and purchase event tickets, learn about hospitality and marketing opportunities and also features event schedules, news, photo galleries and fan guides. The site also features area information, track maps, driving schools and facility rental information.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series heads to California Speedway for the SONY HD 500 on Labor Day weekend. The weekend will mark the completion of the new Midway, complete with shade features, concert stage, town center and the grand opening of Wolfgang Puck's Apex. The Labor Day weekend also holds great value for the competitors, as the "Race to the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup" nears its climax, and the dynamics of a 20 degree temperature change as the sun sets, provides some of the most challenging and competitive racing in the nation.

For ticket and event information, visit www.californiaspeedway.com.