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Grand National Vintage Cars Return To The Mile
Prelude to NASCAR Truck events on Friday, June 24
MILWAUKEE (June 15, 2005) – The familiar paint schemes and body styles
of USAC Stock Car and NASCAR legends return to America’s Legendary Oval with
the Grand National Vintage Racing (GNVR) group, who will be on-track in their
classic stock car-bodied racers on The Milwaukee Mile Friday, June 24.
The green flag drops on the “Paulie’s Pub 25” at 4:00 p.m., showcasing
the popular GNVR teams and drivers of cars that closely resemble cars driven
by stock car legends. This is the second straight year GNVR has taken an
active role during The Milwaukee Mile’s NASCAR weekend.
Stock car driving legends Norm Nelson, Roger McCluskey, Fred Lorenzen, and
Dave Marcis were among those who captured the imagination and admiration of
thousands of race fans attending stock car races during the 1950’s, 60’s
and 70’s at The Milwaukee Mile.
“The Grand National Vintage Racing event last year was a real treat, and we
welcome them back again this year,” said Gary Girard, Milwaukee Mile general
manager. “We invite the generations of stock car racing fans to come
and enjoy a full day of racing on Friday, June 24, including a chance to
re-live the sights and sounds of decades of great stock car racing at The
Milwaukee Mile.”
Following NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice sessions from 11:00 a.m.
until 2:00 p.m., GNVR practice sessions begin at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24,
culminating with an expected field of 25 cars racing in the “Paulie’s Pub
25.”
“It’s special to have our friendly neighbors at Paulie’s Pub at 81st and
Greenfield increase their involvement at The Milwaukee Mile by sponsoring this
exciting addition to a great weekend,” Girard stated.
The owners and drivers of the Grand National Vintage Racing group have
painstakingly brought back to life the visual look of the 1968 Plymouth
Roadrunner driven by Richard Petty, a ’69 Ford Torino Talladega driven by
David Pearson, a ’64 Ford Galaxy driven by Junior Johnson, a ’60 Ford
Starliner of Ned Jarrett, and a ’63 ˝ Ford Galaxy of Tiny Lund. The
car bodies are mounted on modern-day chassis, allowing for the latest in
safety technology for the drivers to compete safely at relatively high speeds.
Ken Gilbert, spokesman of Grand National Vintage Racing helped organize last
year’s event, and has gained support for GNVR’s involvement at The
Milwaukee Mile.
“Our guys put a lot of time and effort into their cars, and to get to race
on the ‘Mile where there is so much stock car racing history with the likes
of Racine’s Norm Nelson enjoying so much success there,” said
Gilbert. “Our guys put on a great show last year, and we expect more
cars and some great racing.”
The GNVR on-track activities Qualifications for the “Toyota Tundra Milwaukee
200” NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at The Milwaukee Mile will commence at
5:30pm, and the green flag of the 200-miler set for 8:00pm.
Tickets are available for both Friday and Saturday event days, featuring the
“Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200” NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday
night, and the “SBC 250 NASCAR Busch Series event on Saturday night, June
25. For tickets, call (414) 453-8277, or visit www.milwaukeemile.com.
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