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PRESS RELEASE, PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY, PLACERVILLE, CA

FROM THE OFFICE OF JOHN PADJEN MOTORSPORTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, TUESDAY, JULY 1 ,2008

MEDIA CONTACT: BILL SULLIVAN: [email protected]

Placerville proudly presents US Army, Gold Country Limousines July 4^th Spectacular

Four divisions compete Friday in festivity filled family event followed by fireworks

PLACERVILLE, CA – For decades it has been a race that past winners admit is simply “special” on their list of accomplishments. It takes place on Independence Day, historically before the season’s largest crowd and now, extra winnings are at stake for Placerville Speedway’s “Race for Freedom July Fourth Spectacular.”

For the first time in the 43 year history of Placerville Speedway, this annual holiday race will be sponsored by two entities and one of them could not be more appropriate as the US Army will sponsor the three regular track divisions in conjunction with Gold Country Limousines. A total of $1400 in extra winnings will be up for grabs during the night and a number of features will be added to bring a very patriotic flare to the event that is home to El Dorado County’s only holiday fireworks display.

Prior the evening’s racing action, Don Wilson, the Associate Pastor of Cold Springs Community Church will open the ceremonies with a special invocation followed by a Military Color Guard that will present the Nation’s colors while local vocalist Shawna Grenade will perform the National Anthem. The special opening ceremony will conclude with a military flyover that will pass over the grandstands which, on this night, will be home to some 100 families that who’s loved ones are currently deployed overseas. Following the evening’s races a giant fireworks display will take place featuring both ground and aerial pyrotechnic displays sponsored by track promoter Alan Padjen and the El Dorado County Fair Association.

“The July Fourth race is always very special, the crowd has great energy and it’s by far our biggest night of the year,” explains Bill Sullivan, Communications Director for Placerville Speedway. “This year we are taking it to a whole new level thanks to this very unique sponsorship package coordinated by Frank Vilt, he has been instrumental in putting this special night together.”

Vilt, a resident of Cameron Park, comes from a family with deep roots in military service. His grandson, Jared Vilt, is in his first year of racing in Placerville Speedway’s Pure Stock division with the assistance of his grandfather who owns Gold Country Limousines.

Friday’s event will pay bonus funds to the top positions in the winged sprint car, pro stock and pure stock divisions. The added bounty is sure to bring a great deal of fireworks to the track long before the night comes to an end. In the sprint car division, a $500 bonus will bring Friday’s victory to the $2000 mark and additional winnings will be distributed among second and third place.

The Pure Stock division will see a $200 bonus for first place, which will double the standard payout. A total of $400 in extra winnings is scheduled to be distributed among the top five finishers. The Pro Stock division will also see $400 in extra funds among the top five finishers, with $200 of that going to the feature event winner.

The three track regulars will be joined by the Nor-Cal Dwarf Cars on Friday night to make a four division program an action packed night of great family entertainment that will take place in conjunction with the annual “Family Blast” at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. This event begins at 4 p.m and will feature a number of games and events including live music throughout the evening.

Placerville Speedway will kick off the night of racing one hour earlier on Friday night. The grandstand will open at 4 p.m. with qualifying at 5:30. Adult tickets are $14, juniors are $10 and ALL CHILDREN ARE FREE! An early arrival to the speedway is suggested as the event is expected to sell out early.

Saturday’s auto racing is estimated to be concluded just prior to 10 p.m. Friday night to allow for the fireworks display that will also be synchronized to a soundtrack of modern patriotic music and broadcast throughout the fairgrounds public address system as well as over the skipperpartys.net FM Transmitter on channel 95.5. Race teams are encouraged to turn up the stereos in their haulers prior to the fireworks display.

“We’re making this a group effort, it’s about families, fun and the community coming together to celebrate our independence,” added Sullivan. ‘We welcome the families of our troops to our facility and we are honored to be collaborating with the US Army to make this annual event what it once was and even better.”

Prior to Friday’s night of activity, several different drivers will have their cars on display at various area businesses in El Dorado County to be announced on Tuesday and a number of drivers and race track personnel will be participating in the annual Pollock Pines July Fourth Parade.

Additional details about these pre-race events will be announced in the coming days among a series of press releases at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com that will take an inside look at the upcoming ‘Race to Freedom July Fourth Spectacular” at Placerville Speedway. Check back to www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com daily for further updates.