Contact: World Racing Group Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director 704-254-7929 * [email protected][email protected]>
Battleground Speedway's Lone Star 100 Winner Will Receive Victory Lane Visit From 1,300-Pound Texas Longhorn
'Hondo' Adds Spice To Ceremonies Following $20,000-To-Win World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event On March 20-21
EDITOR'S NOTE: A photo of Hondo the Texas Longhorn is attached to this e-mail
HIGHLANDS, TX - March 12, 2009 - The winner of the inaugural Lone Star 100 on March 21 at Battleground Speedway will partake in the usual Victory Lane dance of interviews, hugs, handshakes and photos.
And then the champion of the three-eighths-mile oval's first-ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series event will meet Hondo.
Odds are good that the triumphant driver will have never celebrated with a post-race visitor quite like Hondo, an impressive brown-and-white Texas Longhorn steer who weighs in at over 1,300 pounds. The 14-year-old animal is being brought in from the LaBuff Bucking Bulls ranch in nearby Ames, Texas, to add an interesting bit of Texas flavor to arguably the biggest dirt Late Model show ever contested in the Continental U.S.'s largest state.
A $20,000 top prize from a total purse of $100,000 will be on the line in the Lone Star 100, which begins with time trials and heat races on Fri., March 20, and concludes with a driver autograph session, last-chance races and the extra-distance headliner on Sat., March 21.
"This is going to be a huge weekend that really puts Battleground Speedway back on the map," said promoter/general manager Mike Walling, who purchased the complex in September 2008 and recently reopened the speedway for its first action since 2006. "We wanted to do something to entertain the fans and make the event even more memorable. Having the winner of the Lone Star 100 pose for pictures with a genuine Longhorn seemed to be a perfect way to blend a slice of Texas history into the post-race celebration.
"We're definitely going to get some unique Victory Lane photos. Maybe the winner will even be happy enough to climb on Hondo's back!"
Despite the steer's intimidating six-and-a-half-foot horn spread and ring-pierced nose, Hondo will be more than willing to let the victorious driver hop on him for a photo opp. Texas Longhorns are known for their innate gentle dispositions and intelligence and Hondo fits that description. The animal's owner, Twila Strickland, takes him to rodeos and fairs across the region, where kids and adults alike enjoy having their pictures taken while sitting on a saddle placed on his back.
"He's very used to people," said Strickland, who will haul Hondo to a racetrack for the first time. "He's been going to rodeos and fairs all over since he was two years old, so crowds don't bother him at all."
The question is - which expected entrant in the Lone Star 100 should fans root for to win the race and meet Hondo? Who would relish an up-close-and-personal encounter with a Texas Longhorn?
"This will be a driver's chance to really play up the moment and have some fun," said WoO LMS director Tim Christman. "Whoever wins $20,000 is going to be pumped up, but will they get the crowd going by hopping up on Hondo in Victory Lane? We'll see if the winner of the Lone Star 100 will be a showman."
Would normally reserved celebrators like defending WoO LMS champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., '07 titlist Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and red-hot 20-year-old Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., warm up to Hondo? Would outgoing Outlaws like Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., and 2008 Rookie of the Year Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., frolic with the Longhorn? Would cool-customer tour regulars like Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., smile through a photo shoot with Hondo? How would even-keeled new WoO LMS regular Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., handle the situation?
And what about the famously affable Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, a jokester who has actually worn an Elvis mask to a WoO LMS driver's meeting - would he jump on Hondo and try to ride him around the track? Would focused standouts like Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., and Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., let loose in the presence of the beast? What kind of interaction with Hondo would fans see from Chris ('The Intimagator') Wall of Holden, La., who has been known to climb catch fences to celebrate victories? Or local favorites like Kevin Sitton and Chris Brown, two drivers from Baytown, Texas, who, if either happened to pull off an upset win, would already have brought down the house before even reaching Hondo?
The Lone Star 100 weekend - the first WoO LMS event in Texas since 2004 - will kick off on Thurs., March 19, with an open practice session from 6-9 p.m. Fans can enter the grandstands free of charge to get a preview of the action, while pit admission will be $20.
Gates will open at 3 p.m. on both Fri., March 20, and Sat., March 21, with practice scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. each day.
Saturday's schedule will include a driver autograph session in the grandstand area from 4-5 p.m.
For ticket information and other info on the Lone Star 100, visit www.battlegroundspeedway.net<http://www.battlegroundspeedway.net/> or call 832-421-RACE.
Battleground Speedway is located 12 miles east of Houston, just four miles north of Interstate 10 Exit 787 on FM 2100.
Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser) and VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors Champ Pans, Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tires, Integra Shocks, Jake's Custom Golf Carts, Ohlins Shocks, Racing Electronics, Quarter Master and Wrisco Aluminum; Crane Cams Engine Builder's Challenge participants Cornett Racing Engines, Custom Race Engines and Pro Power Racing Engines; and Chassis Builder Challenge participants Rocket Chassis and Team Zero by Bloomquist.