CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX ANNOUNCES CANADIAN PARTNERSHIP AND TICKET PACKAGE

DETROIT, Mich. (April, 23, 2013) – Opening its arms to all of the great Canadian race fans located across the Detroit River from Belle Isle, the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is proud to announce a renewed partnership with the City of Windsor. Through the relationship, fans across the border will have the opportunity enjoy a weekend full of world class auto racing, family fun and on-stage entertainment, May 31-June 2 at the Grand Prix.

As part of this unique partnership Canadian fans will enjoy a special ticket and transportation package through the City of Windsor. In addition, the Belle Isle Casino building, which hosts members of the working press throughout race weekend at the official event Media Center, will be sponsored by the City of Windsor, as it was during the 2008 Grand Prix.

The special ticket package includes a seat in the “Canadian Grandstand.” This features a reserved seat ticket in Grandstand 2, located at the start/finish line, which gives fans one of the best views of the on-track action. Also included in the package is a round-trip Transit Windsor ticket to and from Belle Isle, access to the Meijer Family Fun Zone and concerts on the MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage. Single-day tickets start at $55 per person (HST included) and two-day tickets start at $105.

“We welcomed fans to the Canadian Grandstand at our event back in 2008 and we enjoyed tremendous support with a strong turnout,” said Bud Denker, Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Event Chairman. “We appreciate the partnership with the City of Windsor and Mayor Francis. We are excited to offer this special package once again to all of the great Canadian fans and we look forward to providing an exciting weekend at the Grand Prix.”

Fans can visit www.cityofwindsor.ca for more information or call 311 in the City of Windsor to purchase tickets. Fans can also visit the Windsor International Transit Terminal and Customer Care Centres throughout Windsor starting Friday, April 26 to purchase the Canadian Grandstand ticket packages. Cash, debit, Visa and MasterCard are all accepted for the Canadian Grandstand package.

“The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is one of the many exciting events going on this summer and the City of Windsor is proud to lend its support,” said City of Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis. “We want to make sure that the Canadian Grandstand is packed with fans all weekend long so we urge everyone to get their tickets and enjoy a great weekend on Belle Isle.”

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Last lap wreck at Daytona injures fans, mars Tony Stewart's Nationwide victory

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart won Saturday's DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, but the elation of his victory disappeared in the wake of a heart-stopping wreck that saw Kyle Larson's car demolished after flying into the crossover gate that provides access from the asphalt to the main grandstand. 

As Stewart dodged the crash and crossed the finish line, the front clip of Larson's car sheared off , ripping the engine out of its compartment. The front suspension and engine ended up on the walkway at the bottom of the stands.

A tire from Larson's car also flew into the grandstands.

Regan Smith led as the cars approached the checkered flag, but Smith tried to block Brad Keselowski, who was running second, and turned across the nose of Keselowski's car.

There were no immediate reports as to the extent of injuries, but emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene with stretchers and removed one spectator who was tightly strapped to the gurney. Other fans appeared to be receiving treatment at the scene.

The emergency in the grandstand tempered Stewart's fifth victory in his last six February races at Daytona and the 11th Nationwide Series win of his career.

"Fortunately, with the way the event's equipped up, there were plenty of emergency workers ready to go, and they jumped in on it pretty quickly," NASCAR president Mike Helton told ESPN. "And right now, it's just a function of trying to determine what all damage is done.

"They're moving folks, as we've seen, to care centers and taking some folks over to Halifax Medical (Center), so we'll be able to update later on, but right now, all we know is everybody's working real hard on determining what all happened."

Larson climbed from his car almost immediately and was evaluated and released from the infield care center.

Drivers, Larson included, were more concerned with the safety of the fans than the outcome of the race.

"The important thing is what's going on on the frontstretch right now," Stewart said after climbing from his car. "We've always known since racing was started this is a dangerous sport. But it's hard. We assume that risk. It's hard when the fans get caught up in it.

 "As much as we want to celebrate right now, as much as this is a big deal to us, I'm more worried about the drivers and fans in the stands right now. I could see it all in the mirror and it didn't look good from where I was either."

Smith said he wasn't about to surrender the victory to Keselowski 200 yards from the finish line.

"We made a move to try and win the race," Keselowski said. "We were in the catbird seat. Regan was in a good spot. He was first and I was second, and we were pushing. I kind of had the run and the move to win the race, and Regan obviously tried to block it, and that's understandable.

Sam Hornish Jr. crossed the stripe in second place, followed by rookie Alex Bowman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Parker Kligerman.

The last-lap wreck wasn't the only serious incident of the event. A 13-car wreck in Turns 1 and 2, triggered by contact between the No. 43 Ford Mustang of Michael Annett and the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro of Austin Dillon -- both championship hopefuls -- stopped the race after 116 laps and set up the finish.

Annett was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center. Richard Petty Motorsports later reported that Annett, whose car slammed the outside wall nose-first, was treated for bruising on his chest and received a CT scan. He remains in the hospital for further observation.

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HOWARD, RAIOLA TO SERVE AS QUICKEN LOANS 400 GRAND MARSHAL AND HONORARY STARTER

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 8, 2012) – Two of the state’s biggest sports superstars will be grand marshal and honorary starter for the Father’s Day Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway.  

Starting goaltender for the 11-time Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings Jimmy Howard will remove his mask and serve as grand marshal for the Quicken Loans 400, giving the command to start engines. Dominic Raiola, the center and team captain for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, will be honorary starter, waving the green flag.

“It is great to have two professional athletes synonymous with Detroit to join us at MIS,” track President Roger Curtis said. “Their records and accomplishments speak for themselves as they each lead their respective teams and are true superstars. Howard and Raiola are each truly two of the greats in their leagues, and we are honored they could join us for the Quicken Loans 400.”

When it comes to his play between the pipes, Howard is regarded as one of the best goalies in the NHL. He has played in 192 regular season games for the Red Wings with 188 starts, posting a 110-54-19 record. He played in his first NHL All-Star Game earlier this year. Since becoming the Red Wings full-time goalie for the 2009-2010 season, Howard has won 35 or more contests in each season. He is the first goaltender in Red Wings history to win 35 or more games in his first three full seasons with the team.

He also led this year’s team to the NHL’s home-game win streak record, 23 games over four months.

“I’m a NASCAR fan, so I’m thrilled to share Father’s Day with my dad at the Quicken Loans 400 at MIS,” Howard said. Howard’s father, James Howard II, will join him for the command, a perfect complement for Father’s Day.

Raiola has played in 172 career, regular season NFL games with 156 starts during his NFL career. A model of consistency, he has missed just four games since entering into the starting lineup in 2002. The seven-year captain is considered the leader of the lockerroom and held in high regard by his peers and the media, including receiving the Detroit chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association’s prestigious Detroit Lions Good Guy or media-friendly award winner in 2009.

Last year he was one of the driving forces in leading the Lions to a 10-6 record and an appearance in the playoffs. The Detroit offense finished the year averaging 29.6 points per game. The former second-round pick for the Lions in 2001, Raiola was a three-year starter on the offensive line at Nebraska.

“Michigan is my home now, so to be a part of a NASCAR race at MIS is a real honor,” Raiola said. “When you think about the history of MIS and all the great drivers and races over the years, that’s pretty impressive. And with a Detroit Company, Quicken Loans, being the sponsor of the race, well, that just makes it all the better and that much more special to be a part of.”

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Want To Work For Milan Dragway?

On Saturday, March 24th Milan Dragway will be hosting an application day. As they start the 2012 race season they will be looking for seasonal help for numerous positions. Applications will be accepted for Race Officials, Announcers, Concessions, Tickets, EMT’s and Maintenance. They will be doing brief interviews while accepting applications from 11am-3pm.

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