Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today that World Financial Group will sponsor the new Friday night, March 18 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The event, which will follow Georgia Power Qualifying Night for the NEXTEL Cup Series race, will be called the World Financial Group 200. The World Financial Group 200 will be part of the new spring weekend format that will include NASCAR¿s three premier racing series: Craftsman Truck, Busch and NEXTEL Cup. World Financial Group began its foray into NASCAR racing this fall, sponsoring the American Speed Association race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October, as well as Carl Edwards¿ No. 99 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup car for several races. "Our NASCAR sponsorship experience took our entire organization to a dynamic new level," said Tim Stonehocker, President & CEO of World Financial Group. "Everyone associated with our company felt the excitement and pride of this historic moment. We are thrilled to build on this momentum and join forces once again with the quality people at Atlanta Motor Speedway to bring NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing to millions of dedicated fans."

Drunk driving is the nation¿s most frequently committed violent crime, killing someone every 30 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In addition, 40 percent of all traffic fatalities occur between October and January, during the festive holiday season. It¿s these statistics that have driven Atlanta Motor Speedway to team with the local law enforcement agencies to illustrate the dangers of drinking and driving during the Dec. 10 Holiday Sobriety Challenge at the speedway. Platinum-certified rapper Da Brat, Georgia Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, CNN¿s Kyra Phillips, WSB-AM traffic guru Capt. Herb Emory, Star 94¿s Jonathan Hyla and Hot 107.9¿s DJ Nabs will all participate in the first Holiday Sobriety Challenge, a controlled wine and beer tasting experiment that graphically illustrates the dangers of drinking and driving, even at levels well below the legal limit of .08-percent. The event will be co-sponsored by the Georgia Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), Georgia State Patrol (GSP), MADD Georgia, Team Georgia and Xtreme Measures Teen Driving School.

Below is the complete holiday schedule for the Atlanta Motor Speedway gift store and ticket office, the perfect places to find holiday presents for loved ones. Please note that the AMS gift store only (not ticket office) will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 30, for inventory. AMS Gift Store Monday, Nov. 29 9am-5pm Tuesday, Nov. 30 Closed for inventory Dec. 1-Dec. 23 Open regular hours (Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm) Dec. 24 9am-Noon Dec. 25 Closed Dec. 26-30 Open regular hours Dec. 31 9 a.m.-Noon Jan. 1 Closed Jan. 2 Open regular hours Ticket Office Nov. 29-Dec. 22 Open regular hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) Dec. 23 Open until 11 a.m. Dec. 24-26 Closed Dec. 27-30 Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 31-Jan.2 Closed Jan. 3 Open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Atlanta Motor Speedway will not be one of the tracks affected by NASCAR¿s new altered race weekend schedules, speedway officials confirmed Tuesday. Both of Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s NASCAR race weekend qualifying rounds are sponsored ¿ in the spring by Georgia Power, in the fall by Georgia-Pacific ¿ and have strong crowd draws. The 2004 qualifying day crowds have been the largest in speedway history. ¿I applaud NASCAR for what they¿re trying to do, and I appreciate them taking into consideration that this type of format doesn¿t suit all tracks,¿ said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. ¿We have commitments to our sponsors and our fans for three full days of great racing, and that¿s what we¿ll deliver.¿

Not wishing to be identified, a caller named ¿Larry¿ helped point Atlanta Motor Speedway and Warner Bros. Pictures officials to two of the seven zebras stolen after Sunday¿s Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, where a promotion took place for the upcoming film Racing Stripes. Larry said the zebras might have been accidentally taken by a few of the youths in his party at Sunday¿s race. After hearing news of the stolen zebras on Monday, Larry called Warner Bros. officials and offered to return the zebras. ¿I saw the kids taking them, and I really thought it was kind of amusing,¿ Larry said. ¿It¿s kind of like when you take home a banner after the race as a souvenir. But when I saw on the internet that they were wanting to use them again ¿ and how expensive they were ¿ I thought it was only right to call. We just overstepped our boundaries a little.¿ Larry said the two zebras ¿ 8 feet tall by 15 feet long ¿ are doing fine and will be returned to Tony Loiacono, president and CEO of The Next Box, a marketing company hired by Warner Bros. for the event.

Jimmie Johnson held off a charging Mark Martin in an emotion-filled Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Johnson dedicated his win to the 10 victims of last weekend's plane crash. "We want to win every race that we come to, but today we just wanted to try to honor this race and dedicate it to our lost friends," Johnson said. "It doesn't change anything and we don't get back our friends. But it sure makes us all fell a little better to be able to do something like this." Martin was the class of the field for most of the day, leading 227 laps. But in the end, it was Johnson who pulled away from the field and earn the sentimental win. "I know Mark had a dominant car, but things happen for a reason," Johnson said. "I had 10 angels riding on this race car."

Ryan Newman won his fourth straight pole position at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday during Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night. Newman blazed around the 1.54-mile quad-oval in 28.939 seconds (191.575 mph) to take his record-setting pole. No other driver has ever won four straight pole positions at Atlanta. Starting outside the front row for Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 is "Front Row Joe" Nemechek, who circled the speedway in 28.978 seconds (191.318 mph). Elliott Sadler, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle round out the top 5. Tickets are still available for Sunday's race and can be purchased through any Ticketmaster location or the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.

The Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) is heavy into preparations leading up to the $1 million dollar season finale, which will take place Saturday after the Aaron¿s 312 Busch Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. During Saturday¿s race, 12 drivers from different disciplines of racing will drive identically prepared machines, battling for a record Crown Royal IROC purse in a race unlike any other in America. In order to have 12 identically prepared cars for those 12 drivers ¿ Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Danny Lasoski, Steve Kinser, Helio Castroneves, Scott Sharp, Scott Dixon, JJ Yeley and Travis Kvapil ¿ IROC has been testing diligently at Atlanta since Saturday.

¿We are all deeply saddened by the tragic events of Sunday, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization during this tremendously difficult time. ¿It is at times like these that the NASCAR family pulls together. Although our hearts will be heavy this weekend, we will come together to race and try to bring some comfort to the family, friends and peers of those who perished.¿

No driver in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup has a better record than Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His average finish in 10 starts at Atlanta is 10th. In the last six races at AMS, Earnhardt Jr. hasn¿t finished lower than seventh. He won the Golden Corral 500 in the spring, finally capitalizing on his string of consistently strong finishes. So forgive him is he¿s a little bit confident about making up ground when the series returns to the fastest track in NASCAR next weekend for the Oct. 31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. ¿I can¿t wait to get back and win another one,¿ Earnhardt Jr. said.

With the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend only a week away, the garages were full on Wednesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway as 16 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch teams prepared their vehicles. Mark Martin topped the unofficial speed chart during the day/night test, piloting his No. 6 Viagra Ford around the 1.54-mile quad-oval in 30.00 seconds (184.800 mph). Martin also tested Monday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and then waited out the weather that hit metro Atlanta on Tuesday to stay and finish testing on Wednesday. It was a little longer than he intended to stay in Hampton, but Martin said it was worth it. ¿With five races left, and the championship on the line, we have no room for error,¿ Martin said. ¿We¿ve got to have great finishes ¿ and a lot of luck ¿ to get back to the top.¿

Fans aren¿t allowed in the locker room before an NFL game. They aren¿t allowed on the court at an NBA game. And they aren¿t allowed near the ice before an NHL game. But race fans can be in the pits before NASCAR races, offering them an unparalleled look behind the scenes of big-time auto racing. And Atlanta Motor Speedway has made it even easier, offering three different packages at three different price levels for fans to take advantage for the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend. For the casual fan, who just wants a glimpse of the crews feverishly working on pit road during practice and qualifying, there is the Friday-only pre-race pit pass, which sells for just $75.

Bill Elliott continued testing his No. 98 McDonald¿s Dodge on Wednesday for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the seventh of eight races Elliott will race in this season. Elliott turned laps Wednesday on par with those from the day before, his fastest lap around the 1.54-mile quad-oval timed by the unofficial stopwatches at 29.93 seconds (185.232 mph). Elliott is enjoying his reduced 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule, since it has given him time to enjoy ¿the important things in life.¿ ¿The past few days I¿ve been able to ride my dirt bike everyday,¿ Elliott said, ¿I¿ve been able to fish more, spend more time with my son Chase, and just be able to be at home.¿

Georgia¿s own Bill Elliott tested his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup car Tuesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway in preparation for the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops 500 weekend. Elliott ¿ a Dawsonville, Ga., native ¿ returned to his home track to prepare for what will be the seventh of eight races he is running during this season¿s limited schedule. Elliott circled the 1.54-mile track Tuesday in his No. 98 McDonald¿s Dodge in 29.82 seconds (185.915 mph). He was joined during the test by a contingent of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers, including Carl Edwards, who was fastest with a lap at 30.93 seconds (179.24 mph).

Singing the national anthem is nothing new to American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo. ¿At school, my nickname is the National Anthem Girl,¿ DeGarmo said with a laugh. But singing the national anthem at a NASCAR race is. And as a lifelong NASCAR fan, DeGarmo is thrilled to be singing the national anthem for the Oct. 30 Aaron¿s 312 NASCAR Busch Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. DeGarmo will also be signing autographs for fans from 11:15-11:45 a.m. on the concourse underneath the Champions Grandstand.

If the smell of vinegar is permeating from Atlanta Motor Speedway this week, don¿t worry. The place hasn¿t turned into a pickle manufacturing plant in the offseason. It just smells like it. Instead, contractors are treating the new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) walls with generous amounts of a vinegar mixture to help paint adhere to the surface in time for the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. ¿My wife went to a warehouse store and bought 20 gallons, and then I went back to a local grocery store and cleaned them out, getting about eight more gallons,¿ said AMS contractor Billy Duke of Billy Duke¿s USA Painting Inc. ¿We hope that¿ll be enough.¿

Last weekend, 18-year-old Reed Sorenson finished second at Talladega ARCA race, his third top-5 finishes in three ARCA races this season. There wasn¿t much time to celebrate, though, since Sorenson was due back in class Monday morning. Sorenson, a former Thursday Thunder champion at Atlanta Motor Speedway, has moved onto the national stage this year as a development driver for Ganassi Racing. At the same time, he¿s undertaken a load of classes at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. And already, this young driver has turned quite a few heads. Driving a blended schedule of ASA, ARCA and Busch races for Ganassi Racing, Sorenson hasn¿t finished outside the top 5 since August. He has led laps at all four superspeedways he¿s raced on ¿ Kentucky, Michigan, Talladega and Lowe¿s Motor Speedway ¿ and managed a win at the Michigan ARCA race, just his second start with the series. In his Busch Series debut at Indianapolis, Sorenson qualified third and finished a solid 13th. During a recent test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Sorenson led the unofficial speed chart, topping even NASCAR veteran Mark Martin, who was practicing for his stint in the ASA 150 at Atlanta. With those stats under his belt, Sorenson will return to his home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway, later this month to do double duty, running both the ASA 150 on Friday, Oct. 29, and the Aaron¿s 312 Busch race on Saturday, Oct. 30.

As if competing for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship wasn¿t enough, Mark Martin announced today that he will compete in three races during the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Martin will return to his roots on Friday, Oct. 29, competing in the ASA 150 for Atlanta-based World Financial Group, with associate sponsorship from longtime AMS sponsor Gresham & Associates. Martin, 45, began his racing career in the American Speed Association (ASA), logging 143 starts, which produced 22 race wins and four titles. Martin will continue logging miles during the Oct. 30 Aaron¿s 312 Busch Series race in his Roush Racing Ford sponsored by Cottman Transmissions. First on the all-time Busch Series win list, Martin already has three victories and two pole positions in Atlanta Busch Series events. On Sunday, Oct. 31, Martin will return to his Viagra Ford for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, the seventh of 10 races in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. The only race that Martin will miss all weekend at Atlanta is the Crown Royal IROC season championship. ¿But I¿ll be working on my champion¿s invite for next year,¿ Martin said with an impish grin.

Over the next four weeks, the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway will be increasingly crowded as teams rush to test at the fastest track in NASCAR. Kenny Wallace led off the testing spree with his No. 00 Aaron¿s Chevrolet on Tuesday at AMS as he prepared his car for the Oct. 31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, the seventh of 10 races in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta is one of a handful of races that Wallace will drive for Michael Waltrip Racing in the team's fledgling NEXTEL Cup effort. His other attempts have been at Bristol and Indianapolis ¿ two tracks vastly different from each other and from Atlanta ¿ which is part of the reason testing at Atlanta is so important for Wallace. ¿Well, obviously, the pressure is on here because we have to make the race on time ¿ we don¿t have provisionals,¿ Wallace said. ¿And to be honest, Atlanta is my worst track. I have been OK here, but I have also been very, very bad here. So we¿re very happy to be here to test.¿

Are you looking for a hotel room for the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend that won't cost a fortune? Then you're in luck, because Atlanta Motor Speedway's official lodging reservation provider, Vroomz.com, has plenty of discount hotel rooms for the fall race weekend beginning at just $64 per night. Vroomz.com does not have a service or booking fee, and it offers a lowest-rate guarantee for the hotel rooms it sells. Vroomz.com offers rooms in a range of prices and quality levels, including several of Atlanta¿s major four-star hotels that are offering rooms at a deep discount. For its hotel booking services, Vroomz.com also accepts cancellations up to 72 hours prior to check-in.

It happens only once a year, and this year¿s day for race fans to drive their own cars around the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway is Saturday, Sept. 25. But there will be much more than just the opportunity to drive your car around the track on Sept. 25, which will be Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s annual open house. The open house will run from 3-7 p.m. and will feature ticket and autographed NASCAR merchandise giveaways, infield and garage access and plenty of show cars to see. Also, new this year will be the Pacemaker 5000, a 5K foot race presented by Henry Medical Center. The race will be held at 5 p.m. and will include two laps around the speedway. Runners will be able to register at pacemaker5k.org for $15 prior to September 20. On-site registration will be available for $20. All runners will receive a complimentary race T-shirt.

Danny ¿The Dude¿ Lasoski isn¿t a name familiar to all race fans. But after the Oct. 30 Crown Royal IROC season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway, it might be. Lasoski, 45, drives a World of Outlaws car owned by NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. Entering the final IROC event in Atlanta, Lasoski is sixth in points, behind all of the names familiar to NASCAR fans ¿ Newman, Kenseth, Johnson, Harvick, Busch. But only 13 points separate Lasoski from leader Ryan Newman, meaning the World of Outlaws driver is by no means out of the hunt. And if fans catch wind of just how energetic, enthusiastic and charismatic this driver is, he¿ll easily be the sentimental favorite of the crowd. Spend 10 minutes with Lasoski, and you feel like a lifelong friend. You know his hopes, his dreams, his goals, and how much it means for him to be included in the field of 12 all-star drivers from different disciplines of auto racing. After winning the second race of the four-race Crown Royal IROC season, of which he led every lap, Lasoski said he was so excited that he didn¿t sleep for three days. He called it the single biggest thing that had ever happened to him. ¿He puts more effort into winning races than anyone I¿ve ever seen, and I¿ve been testing these (IROC) cars for 28 years,¿ NASCAR veteran Dave Marcis said. ¿He¿s very determined, and it¿s nice to see somebody invited to this series with such dedication. It makes me proud to work with him. And with $1 million on the line, I think it also shows how smart he is.¿

The most extensive SAFER barrier installation at any NASCAR-sanctioned speedway is under way at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Work crews began the installation process Wednesday evening and expect work to continue for approximately three weeks. More than 7,450 linear feet of the steel and foam energy-reducing barrier will be in place for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race events. The SAFER barrier system will be placed outside of all four turns, as well as inside turn 2. The SAFER barrier system is made up of steel tubes and pads of hard foam, which are affixed to a speedway¿s concrete walls to absorb some of the energy that is transferred during a crash. Wray said the wall has already been completely fabricated, and it is being galvanized.

With less than two months left until the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and the excitement about the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup Championship intensifying on a weekly basis, the AMS ticket office has expanded its hours to handle the rush. ¿We¿ve been staying very busy over here,¿ AMS Ticket Manager Kelley Horton said with a tired smile. ¿We love this time of year, but I have to admit this time it¿s been hard to even find time to grab something to eat with all the phone calls and orders we¿ve had coming in.¿ Between bitefuls of cold barbecue and Brunswick stew, Horton said the rush hit a little earlier than normal this year, something she attributes to the excitement of the new championship format. ¿We always get pretty busy right after Bristol, but we¿ve been going all-out for a couple of weeks now,¿ Horton said. ¿With us being the seventh of 10 races in the chase for the championship, people are starting to realize that the championship could well be decided right here, at the fastest track in NASCAR. They don¿t want to miss that.¿

Dear Fans: Have you ever dreamed of taking your family car around the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway? How about running around the fastest track in NASCAR? Once a year Atlanta Motor Speedway gives you a chance to do just that, holding an all-access bash known as the Atlanta Motor Speedway Open House. You¿ll gain unprecedented access to the garage and infield areas of Atlanta Motor Speedway during the Open House, giving you a chance to see the areas where your favorite drivers will set up to run the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 and even have your picture taken in Victory Lane.

This spring, for the first time in the speedway¿s 44-year history, there was not a Georgia driver competing in the NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With Monday¿s announcement that McDonald¿s will sponsor Bill Elliott for two upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup races ¿ Sept. 5 at California Speedway and Oct. 31 at Atlanta Motor Speedway ¿ AMS will once again have a local driver represented. Elliott, 49, has competed in 28 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway during a career that spans three decades. In his last race at AMS, last fall¿s Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, Elliott finished fourth. He has six wins (including the non-points Winston Invitational held at Atlanta in 1986) and five poles at his home track. ¿It¿s always special to be back at my home track in Atlanta,¿ Elliott said. ¿I have a have a lot of fun competing here and many great memories. I look forward to being back there and competing for a win this fall.¿

The installation of the new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier walls at Atlanta Motor Speedway is expected to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 7, in time for testing for the speedway¿s fall race weekend, the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. The project, which is being headed by SMI¿s contruction manager, Randy Wray, will be completed at night to accommodate the daytime track activities already scheduled. Working with the same crew that has already installed the SAFER walls at Lowe¿s Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Wray estimated that the project would take 2½ to 3 weeks to complete. ¿Atlanta¿s going to be largest project we¿ve done, as far as linear footage goes ¿ it¿s about 1000 feet more than any other track,¿ said Wray. ¿That¿s based on the radius of the turns, which is a little bigger at Atlanta and requires a little more wall.¿

In a record season for Thursday Thunder, one that was full of side-by-side action, lots of thrills and spills, and even a William Hung performance, Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s 10-week summer racing series ran full-throttle to the end last week. Near-record crowds delighted in the close battles, which came down to the wire, with all eight divisions deciding champions on the final night Five drivers were first-time champions, while three racing veterans added to their collection of championship trophies. In all, 2004 saw 33 different winners, including 18 first-time winners. Off the track, families were treated to a bonanza of games, eating contests, giveaways and goody bags. Along the way, the rest of Atlanta came to understand what Thursday Thunder regulars already know: Thursday Thunder is one of the most fun and affordable family activities around.

With eight championships on the line, the finale of the Thursday Thunder series at Atlanta Motor Speedway series ended with a bang Thursday night, especially in the hotly contested Outlaws division. Tina Johnson (Senoia) led the chase for the championship by a scant one point heading into the final night, and had built a hefty lead early in the race. But Fayetteville¿s Trey Maughan wasn¿t ready to give up without a fight, as he followed Ryan Jernigan (Hickory, N.C.) to the front to challenge her. With four laps to go, Jernigan was mounting a challenge for the lead, and Maughan was right behind him. As Jernigan moved high to pass Johnson, the two made contact, sending Johnson spinning, her championship hopes dashed. Maughan scooted by as the other two cars connected and held on for the win and the championship.

Three summers ago, Reed Sorenson was one of the hottest young drivers at Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s Thursday Thunder, cruising to his first Pro division championship at his home track. This weekend, Peachtree City¿s Sorenson will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut at Indianapolis Raceway Park with Ganassi Racing, the team that has signed him as a development driver. Sorenson will also return to his home track this fall to compete in both the Oct. 29 ASA 150 and Oct. 30 Aaron¿s 312 Busch Series race. ¿It seems like a long time ago that I was racing Legends cars, but I know it wasn¿t,¿ Sorenson said. ¿A lot has happened in the last couple of years.¿

With one race to go, the racing action heated up in the chase for the championship during Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s Thursday Thunder. Several division titles are still wide open, as only one points leader managed to win during Thursday¿s Mid-State RV Faster Pastor night presented by J93 (Atlanta) and FM 99 (Macon). In the Young Guns division, Ryan Gandee (McDonough) won his second race of the season. But the big story of the night for this division was when Jason Magagna, the points leader heading into the night, suffered heartbreak on lap five when his car broke. Magagna ended up in 12th place, putting him 14 points behind the new leader, Daniel Moore, who finished fifth. Chase Moody (Griffin) finished second and positioned himself just two points out of the race for the championship. Ryan Rudy (Hampton) finished third despite a first-lap mishap.

Rick Gandee doesn¿t need to race to know what it¿s like to drive fast. Now a detective lieutenant with the Clayton County Police Department, Gandee spent 13 years on patrol. Some of his worst memories recall high-speed chases and wrecks, including one that he still bears the scars of. Nine years ago, Rick Gandee was run over by his own police cruiser. Gandee, a part-time Outlaws driver and father/crew chief of Young Guns competitor Ryan Gandee, earned the unfortunate distinction almost a decade ago following a high-speed chase through south Atlanta.

The invasion is coming: Atlanta mascots are about to take over Atlanta Motor Speedway for this week¿s Georgia Power Mascot Mania night at Thursday Thunder presented by z93. After the excitement of William Hung last week, some of the most recognizable mascots in Atlanta will be at AMS to participate in the celebrity mascot obstacle course race during the night¿s intermission activities. On hand to race ¿ as well as pose for photos and sign autographs ¿ include Freddie Falcon, Skyhawk, Homer, Papa John¿s Pizza Slice, Arby¿s Oven Mitt, Speedy Beaver and AMS¿ own Monkey Wrench.

William Hung wasn¿t the only thing banging Thursday night during Papa John¿s William Hung Night at Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s Thursday Thunder. In addition to singing his hit song ¿She Bangs¿, Hung signed autographs and entertained the crowd by performing two other favorites, ¿We Are the Champions¿ and ¿Can You Feel the Love Tonight.¿ But there was also plenty of banging on the track. In the Young Guns division, a vicious crash on lap two made the large crowd gasp as three cars piled into each other on the backstretch. All drivers were OK, but their cars were done for the night. That settled down the rest of the field, which battled cleanly for the remainder of the 20-lap race. In the end, Ryan Gandee (McDonough) held off last week¿s winner, Ryan Rudy (Hampton) for his first career Thursday Thunder win. Chase Moody (Griffin) ended up third.

For Atlanta-area William Hung fans, the big day is here ... Hung will be live TONIGHT at Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s Thursday Thunder. Known best for his heartfelt and energetic performance of ¿She Bangs¿ on this year¿s American Idol competition, Hung will sign autographs for 30 minutes after the gates open at 5:30 p.m. and sing several songs throughout the night of racing. Thursday Thunder, a 10-week summer racing series, showcases some of the best young racing talent in the country each week. But there is also much more at this family-oriented weekly event, including ticket merchandise giveaways, games, prizes and special guests like Hung.

There were fireworks on and off the track for Thursday¿s huge crowd at Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s Thursday Thunder racing series, as more than 4,000 fans were treated to a full night of racing capped off with a spectacular fireworks show. Former Chargers and Semi-Pro champion Bubba Harry put an end to points leader Chris Dilbeck¿s dominance this season by leading wire-to-wire in the Don Bell Signs Pro division. Dilbeck had won four straight races this season and was threatening to pull out another one in the final laps, but Harry managed to hold him off for his first win in the top class. Dilbeck (Hampton) managed a second-place finish, and Beau Slocumb (Juliette) finished third.

Last season, after just five weeks in the Semi-Pro division of Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s Thursday Thunder, Douglasville¿s L.J. Cover moved up to the series¿ top division, the Pro class. His competitors questioned the move. Race officials even wondered quietly if he was trying to move too fast. But Cover, who had won one race and racked up three DNFs (did not finish) in the first five races of last season¿s Semi-Pro competition, decided he would rather run at the back of the Pro division than wreck every week. ¿I had a choice ¿ I could keep tearing up equipment, going home early, getting almost no laps in with the Semi-Pro division,¿ Cover said. ¿Or I could follow the Pro drivers around a couple weeks, stay out of trouble and learn as much as possible. We decided that was a much better game plan.¿

Known best for his heartfelt and energetic performance of ¿She Bangs¿ on this year¿s American Idol competition, William Hung will make a special appearance July 15 at Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s Thursday Thunder. Hung will sign autographs for 30 minutes after the gates open at 6 p.m. and sing several songs throughout the night of racing. Hung, a civil engineering student at UC Berkeley, became an American icon after his January performance on American Idol. Judge Simon Cowell blasted Hung for his off-key singing and jerky dance moves, but fans loved the quirky and sincere singer.

Atlanta Motor Speedway will kick off the long Independence Day weekend with a bang, hosting one of the first fireworks displays in the Southeast on Thursday, July 1, at the Kicks 101.5 FM First Fireworks night at Thursday Thunder. Another record crowd is expected for the 15-minute fireworks display, which will be held at dark, or around 9:30 p.m. But before that, there are sure to be fireworks on the race track, as more than 75 competitors from around the Southeast will compete in eight different racing division. The July 1st celebration at Atlanta Motor Speedway is the perfect solution for families. While the children play entertaining games on the concourse ¿ such as rock climbing and coloring contests ¿ the adults will be thrilled by the excitement of Legends, Bandolero and Roadster racing. Plus, we¿ll cap the night off with the spectacular fireworks show.

Wayne Flick is a dedicated dad. Each week, he drives the 600 miles from his hometown of Carmel, Ind., to see his son Tyler race in the Chargers division of Thursday Thunder. Last week, Flick was looking forward to a nice respite from driving. Tyler¿s stepdad, Doug Bawel ¿ co-owner of the No. 77 NEXTEL Cup car driven by Brendan Gaughan ¿ offered to fly Wayne to Georgia for the race. Bawel was already headed down for business, and he was happy to have a companion to travel with. But instead of a peaceful flight, Wayne Flick said he saw his life flash before his eyes as the plane¿s windshield cracked at 26,000 feet. ¿I thought, ¿Hm, I¿m going to die,¿¿ Wayne Flick said. ¿But thank goodness the pilot knew what he was doing. He stayed very calm and guided the plane down as quickly as possible ¿ but not too quickly, or the whole windshield would have blown out.¿

The third week of Thursday Thunder at Atlanta Motor Speedway welcomed Eagle 106.7 FM¿s Rhubarb Jones and his March Across Georgia to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, while fans enjoyed a full night of action-packed racing. Atlanta Motor Speedway officials donated $1 for every paid adult admission Thursday, and drivers from the Young Guns division walked through the grandstands with their helmets to collect money. After collecting money, the Young Guns climbed into their cars and headed to the Thunder Ring. Entering the night second in points, Daniel Moore of Griffin captured the first win of his career. He held off Ryan Gandee (McDonough) and Jason Magagna (Cumming).

There were a lot of firsts during the second week of Thursday Thunder at Atlanta Motor Speedway presented by Bellamy-Strickland and J93.3. Mahlon Winstead (Williamson), Chris Roger (Kannapolis), Kyle Fowler (Smyrna), Jason Magagna (Cumming) and Jim Egloff (Griffin) all earned their first career victories in the 10-week summer racing series, while one local pastor claimed bragging rights in the Faster Pastor race. There were also a few familiar faces in Victory Lane, as past champion Skip Nichols and returning Outlaws racer Tina Johnson both won their first races of the season in front of a crowd full of new fans on hand for the 2nd annual Fastor Pastor race. The Fastor Pastor race, featuring local preachers from Sharon Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Locust Grove and Bethany Baptist Church, took a twist before it even got started. The three pastors were thrown a last-minute surprise when their Legends cars were substituted with beat-up demolition-derby type cars. They took the change in stride, beating and banging throughout the six-lap race. Rev. Gary Lewis of Sharon Baptist in McDonough emerged the winner of the heated grudge match, but the real winner of the night was the Helping In His Name Ministries Food Pantry, which received a large donation after Thursday¿s races.

There will be three preachers racing next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but the winner will be a food pantry. Gary Lewis, pastor of Sharon Baptist Church (McDonough), Craig Bowers pastor of First Baptist Church of Locust Grove, and Chuck Sheppard, associate pastor of Bethany Baptist Church (McDonough), will race each other this Thursday, June 10, in the 2nd Annual Faster Pastor Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s Thursday Thunder, the speedway¿s weekly summer racing series. The pastors will be lined up according to the amount of food donated to their buckets on the night of the race. The preacher with the largest amount of canned food donated will start first; the preacher with the least amount will start last and give the night¿s invocation. All donated food will be given to Helping in His Name Ministries food pantry, a non-profit organization that provides temporary emergency help to those who find themselves in need.

Last year¿s Thursday Thunder champions started off the 2004 season with a bang, with three defending champs returning to win their division races. Mark Wallace (Griffin), Casey Roderick (Lawrenceville) and Trey Maughan (Fayetteville) all defended their titles with resounding wins and a challenge to the other competitors. Wallace earned the Tanger Outlet Center Masters win, holding off division veteran Randy Thornton (Oxford) and Skip Nichols (Albany). It was the ninth career win for Wallace, who is a consultant to the No. 77 NEXTEL Cup car driven by Brendan Gaughan. Roderick also picked up where he left off last season, winning the Atlanta Dental Team Bandits race by coasting to the win over newcomer Zachary Stroupe (Iron Station) and Kyle Fowler (Smyrna). Maughan, who graduated from Starr¿s Mill High School last week, moved into the Outlaws division this season after winning the Young Guns title last year. He took the new competition by storm, holding off Sean Cassidy (Martinez) and Jody Pilkenton (Griffin). In the Don Bell Pro division, last year¿s runner-up Chris Dilbeck, another recent high school graduate, earned his first win of the season. He held off Beau Slocumb (Juliette) and Andy James (Morrow) to establish himself as the man to beat this season. Griffin¿s Chase Moody earned his first career Thursday Thunder win in the Young Guns division as he outraced Daniel Moore (Griffin) and Bre Sharp (Fayetteville) to the checkered flag.

Atlanta summers heat up each Thursday with Thursday Thunder, Atlanta Motor Speedway¿s 10-week Legends, Bandolero and Thunder Roadster racing series. One of the most affordable family activities in Atlanta, Thursday Thunder is a bonanza of games, contests, giveaways and exciting racing. The 2004 season is set to kick off its seventh year of competition on June 3. Tickets are just $5 for adults and $1 for children 6-12 (children under 6 are free) for each evening of fun and grass-roots racing on the paved quarter-mile track at AMS, the Thunder Ring. Drivers from age 8 to 68 come from all over the nation to battle each night in eight different classes for the right to be called champions at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But the racing is only part of the fun and excitement at Atlanta Motor Speedway. On the concourse, there will be weekly themes and contests, exciting intermission activities and merchandise and ticket giveaways. Group parties and children¿s birthday parties are also available during Thursday Thunder.

The last time Reed Sorenson raced at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he was in a Legends car circling the tight quarter-mile track in front of a local crowd of about 2,000. Thursday, Sorenson took his first laps around the 1.54-mile quad-oval track in a race car at about 170 mph preparing for the Oct. 29 ASA 150, which could draw upwards of 75,000 fans. My, how times change. ¿It¿s a whole lot different being on the big track,¿ said Sorenson, 18 and a senior at Woodward Academy in Atlanta. ¿This is pretty exciting for me to be back at my home track, testing a full-size race car.¿ Sorenson posted the sixth-fastest lap of the day ¿ and the fastest speed of the day¿s third session ¿ recording a lap at 169.869 mph (32.637 seconds). He tested with 27 other American Speed Association (ASA) racers, including Travis Kittleson, who posted the quick lap of the day at 171.386 mph (32.348 seconds).

Did you miss the special tribute to R.J. Reynolds, as they concluded their 33-year sponsorship of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series? Then you¿re in luck, because the Speed Channel will air this one-hour prime-time television event, allowing America to experience the once-in-a-lifetime musical tribute direct from Lowe's Motor Speedway. Join us as legends of country, rock and racing pay tribute to R J. Reynolds for their 33-year relationship with NASCAR¿s top series. Speed Channel will host this special at two different times: Sunday, May 2 at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 9 at noon

The stars of NASCAR will return to Atlanta for one of the final races in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup Championship, the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. The racing will be red-hot, as every point could mean the difference between the championship and second place. The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend will start off with the fastest qualifying session in NASCAR as it moves under the lights for Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night on Friday, Oct. 29. Following qualifying will be the return of the American Speed Association (ASA), featuring some of the young drivers in the country, in a 150-mile shootout. On Saturday, Oct. 30, the Busch Series drivers will return for the Aaron¿s 312, a race featuring the drama of 12 extra miles. With the season winding down, the Aaron¿s 312 is also a key event in the heart of the Busch Series championship battle. Immediately after the Aaron¿s 312 will be the exciting season finale of the International Race of Champions (IROC), a race made up of the best 12 racers in the country from all disciplines of racing. They will all come together to battle for the championship and the $1 million purse to the winner. The weekend will culminate on Sunday, Oct. 31, with the running of the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, when the NEXTEL Cup drivers will be scrapping for every position on track, and every point in the race for the championship.

Danny Lasoski could barely contain his excitement as he stood in the garage at Atlanta Motor Speedway Tuesday watching the Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) series test drivers as they prepare the cars for their Oct. 30 season finale. Fresh off a stunning upset victory last Friday over the other household names in the IROC series ¿ Harvick, Newman, Johnson, Kenseth ¿ Lasoski led the entire race to become just the second World of Outlaws Sprint Car racer to win an IROC race. The first was Kinser, who won at Talladega in 1994. ¿Winning that race was probably the single best thing that¿s ever happened to me,¿ Lasoski said. ¿And that¿s saying a lot. I¿ve won the Knoxville Nationals three times, which is like the Daytona 500 or the Indy 500 for us in the World of Outlaws, but winning the IROC race, I¿ve gotten more response than anything else. I¿m still elated ¿ I probably still haven¿t slept more than three hours a night since the win.¿ Part of Lasoski¿s elation comes from his determination to succeed at all levels of racing, much like his World of Outlaws owner Tony Stewart. Lasoski is present at every IROC test, often beating the IROC officials to the track, according to test driver and NASCAR veteran Dave Marcis. ¿He puts more effort into winning races than anyone I¿ve ever seen, and I¿ve been testing these cars for 28 years,¿ Marcis said. ¿He¿s very determined, and it¿s nice to see somebody invited to this series with such dedication. It makes me proud to work with him. And with $1 million on the line, I think it also shows how smart he is.¿ The IROC drivers are competing this year for a record purse of $1 million to the champion, which will be crowned at the Oct. 30 race in Atlanta. Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman are currently tied for first with 33 points, while Lasoski and Jimmie Johnson are tied for second with 32 points.

Atlanta Motor Speedway will install the new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier walls prior to the Oct. 29-31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, AMS President and General Manager Ed Clark announced today. The speedway's parent company, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. has placed Wes Harris, SMI vice president of development, in charge of the project for all SMI tracks. Exact dates for the installation have yet to be determined, but construction on the steel-and-foam walls is not expected to begin until late summer. The project is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. The SAFER barrier system is made up of steel tubes and pads of hard foam, which are affixed to a speedway¿s concrete walls to absorb some of the energy that is transferred during a crash. The SAFER wall project began in the fall of 2000 and remains an ongoing safety initiative among NASCAR, the Indy Racing League, Dr. Dean Sicking and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Ted Musgrave returned Tuesday for his second day of a two-day test at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he continued to search for the right combination for this No. 1 Mopar Dodge. Musgrave finished eighth in the March 13 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 but left Atlanta very displeased with his truck. Before continuing with the rest of the 2004 schedule, Musgrave wanted to return to Atlanta to figure out where his team went wrong. ¿All the changes made to the trucks in the offseason really made our notes pretty obsolete,¿ Musgrave said. ¿We needed to start over and get a good baseline, and Atlanta¿s a great place to do that, because you can get a good overall feel, a good aero feel - it¿s a great test track.¿ Musgrave continued to find more speed during Tuesday¿s test, turning a lap of 176.504 mph (31.41 seconds) around the high-banked 1.54-mile track in the morning hours. Musgrave tested both his own truck and the truck of his teammate, Andy Houston.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally etched his name in the Atlanta Motor Speedway record book, winning Sunday's Golden Corral 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt joins two other members of his family who have already written themselves into Atlanta Motor Speedway history. His father, Dale Earnhardt, won nine races in Atlanta, more than any other drivers in history. His brother, Kerry, won the 2001 ARCA race.

"It was a big deal to win the Daytona 500 and The Winston, but it was a big personal victory to win here," Earnhardt Jr. said.

• Pit Notes
• Photos / Panoramics
• Lineups / Results

Ken Schrader has a big weekend planned at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Not only is Schrader expected to make his 600th career start in the Golden Corral 500 this Sunday, but he will also be competing in the March 13 Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman Truck race, the only driver doing double duty this weekend ¿I¿m excited about the trucks racing at Atlanta,¿ Schrader said. ¿There is a lot of renewed interest in the truck series this year with the entry of Toyota and the return of Jack (Sprague) and Mike (Skinner). It¿s good for the series to be there. ¿I ran the truck race at Charlotte last year so I think we have an idea of what we need (for the Atlanta race). Obviously it¿s going to be fast, but I think it will be very racy. I think we can use all of the track.¿

After three races with the new spoiler rules and tires, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers are giving the new package a passing grade. But even they have said that the true test won¿t come until this weekend in Atlanta. ¿At Las Vegas, it was hard to test, because the performance of the tires has typically fallen off anyway, but I think the new package is working,¿ Tony Stewart said. ¿My gut feeling is that our package is better and it's going to make the racing better for the fans and they're going to actually get to see us be able to race and not have to worry about fuel mileage." And that¿s exactly why the changes were made ¿ to improve the racing. Instead of playing the fuel mileage game in the pits, the drivers will be in charge of their own destiny.

Being one of two women competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Tina Gordon usually knows what question is coming when a reporter approaches: Are you treated any differently because you¿re a woman? Gordon laughs and says emphatically that no, she doesn¿t get treated any differently. No sugar in the fuel tank, no slashed tires. As if to prove her point, fellow competitor David Starr approaches at that moment, engulfing Gordon in a big bear hug. ¿It¿s like that with all of the guys,¿ Gordon said. ¿I don¿t know how many times David has taken me out on track to show me the line before practice starts. Or how many times Robert Pressley has come over, taken time out of practice, to help me. All of them have been great to me.¿

Atlanta Motor Speedway officials are reminding fans that golf carts and ATVs will NOT be allowed onto the Atlanta Motor Speedway property for any race weekend, including the upcoming March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend. All golf carts and ATVs brought to the speedway will be impounded upon entrance to the AMS grounds and returned upon exit. The only exclusions to this new policy are for handicapped patrons using a single-passenger purpose-built motorized scooter. This policy was enacted because of the danger the golf carts and ATVs pose to both the drivers and other patrons, and it will be strictly enforced. As in the past, fans will be allowed to carry coolers or personal bags on property, and should expect to have their bags searched upon entry. No glass is permitted on speedway grounds.

Sales continue to be strong for the March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but tickets still remain for the upcoming race weekend. Fans can purchase three-day weekend ticket packages for as little as $59 or single-day race tickets for as little as $25. ¿This has been one of best weeks we¿ve had in recent years,¿ Ticket Manager Kelley Horton said. ¿We¿ve been swamped all week long and actually had to bring some extra help in.¿ Horton said that for fans waiting to purchase their tickets to the March 14 Golden Corral 500, a very limited number of the primo tickets remain in Champions and Earnhardt Grandstands. Most of these seats, which offer great views of the entire track and the pit action, range from $85-100 and are in the lower rows. A more diverse cross-section of seats remains in the Petty Grandstand in turn 4, which also offers views of the entire 1.54-mile track, as well as part of the pits. Tickets in this area are $85.

A limited number of reserved camping spaces remain for the March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. There is still room left in the Legends campground, which features wider, more luxurious 25¿ x 45¿ camping spaces. The Legends campground is made up of rows named for some of the best in NASCAR racing, such as Allison Ave., Baker Blvd., Cale¿s Curve, Darrell Drive, Elliott's Edge, Fireball Fairway, Gordon Gorge, Harry¿s Hollow, Irvin Inlet, Jarrett Junction, Kulwicki Knoll and Labonte Lane. The Legends Campground is adjacent to Entrance E and is conveniently located near Gate 2 for East Turn Grandstand access, or near Gates 1 and 15 for frontstretch entrance. Spaces in this reserved lot are $125 and are going quickly.

GEORGIA POWER QUALIFYING DAY (Friday, March 12)
NASCAR's best drivers will hold their breath through the high-banked turns of the 1.54-mile quad-oval, gunning for a pole position at NASCAR fastest track. Georgia Power Qualifying Day kicks off the action-packed race weekend.

EASYCARE VEHICLE SERVICE CONTRACTS 200 (Saturday, March 13)
The spring race weekend will heat up on with the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200. A mix of NASCAR veterans and young guns will battle on the high banks of Atlanta for the first time in history.

GOLDEN CORRAL 500 (Sunday, March 14)
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series invades Atlanta each March for this 500-mile event, which has a reputation as one of the most exciting events of the year. In 2003, Bobby Labonte beat out four-time series champion Jeff Gordon by a little over a second to take the checkered flag for the sixth time on the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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Golden Corral 500 Schedule

Ask a race fan what the fastest track in NASCAR is, and they¿ll pause. Then they¿ll throw out a couple of tracks ¿ Talladega and Daytona usually. It shouldn¿t come as a surprise ¿ but often does ¿ that Atlanta Motor Speedway is the fastest track on the circuit. In fact, Atlanta Motor Speedway is the fastest mile-and-a-half NASCAR track in the world. And to help race fans remember that, Atlanta Motor Speedway is rolling out a new advertising campaign beginning this week that will feature the raceway¿s new slogan: Real Racing. Real Fast.

A statement from Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway, regarding NASCAR's points changes and new system for determining the NEXTEL Cup champion:

Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today that the speedway has finalized the addition of a Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) race to its 2004 fall race weekend schedule. The 100-mile event, which will feature 12 drivers from different disciplines of auto racing, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30, as part of the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend. The Atlanta IROC race will be the championship event of a four-race schedule, which will include stops at Daytona, Texas and Richmond. The series champion will receive a record $1 million purse following the finale in Atlanta. ¿It¿s great to have the IROC series return to Atlanta,¿ said Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark, recalling two IROC races held at Atlanta in 1979 and 1980. ¿It will be another great addition to what is already a tremendous racing weekend for the fans. We look forward to working with (IROC president) Jay Signore and the folks at IROC to produce a great finale to a great series. I¿m sure the $1 million payoff in Atlanta will produce a considerable amount of intense action and drama.¿

AMS Track Rules and Regulations

Because of the high demand for the specially priced Three-Day Thriller Ticket for last fall¿s Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway officials have brought the package back with a new low price for next year¿s March 12-14 Golden Corral weekend. This special discount package will allow fans to see all three days of the Golden Corral 500 weekend for just $59. This limited offer at an unheard-of low price will include: · One reserved Weaver grandstand ticket (rows 11-25) for the March 14 Golden Corral 500, when fans will watch defending March race champion Bobby Labonte battle Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and the rest of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers. · One unreserved Champions grandstand (frontstretch) ticket for the inaugural EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck race on Saturday, March 13. Some of the best up-and-coming drivers in the country, as well as a handful of wily NASCAR veterans, will take on the high speeds and the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway for the first time in history. · One unreserved Champions grandstand (frontstretch) ticket for the Friday, March 12, Georgia Power Qualifying Day. The $59 Three-Day Thriller ticket will be available while supplies last and can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.