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Parnelli Jones Classic At The Mile
Milwaukee, Wis. (August 8, 2005) – For the first time since 1960, the potent
National Sprint Car division of the United States Auto Club (USAC) returns to
The Milwaukee Mile. Fittingly, the race will be named after racing
legend Parnelli Jones, who won the last USAC-sanctioned sprint car race at
America’s Legendary Oval in 1960.
Jones has graciously allowed track officials to name the Saturday August 27
event at The Milwaukee Mile the “Parnelli Jones Classic.”
“I always enjoyed coming to The Milwaukee Mile and I’ve had a lot of
success there,” Jones recalls.
“One of the biggest thrills of my career was the day I drove into The
Milwaukee Mile track to find some kids had written ‘Parnelli’s Highway’
on the crash wall in turn four. I guess they did that because I had won
so many races there,” he said modestly.
The California racing legend drove with great skill for decades in all types
of racecars and off-road vehicles. Jones won in stock cars, Indy cars,
sprint cars and in a 100-mile midget car race at The Milwaukee Mile, reeling
off an amazing seven straight stock car race wins between August 1963 and June
1965 at America’s Legendary Oval. He also won the 1963 Indianapolis
500.
2004 USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series champion Jay Drake, Josh Wise
and dozens of brave open wheel drivers will practice and qualify at The
‘Mile on Saturday morning August 27, with the green flag waving on the
30-mile “Parnelli Jones Classic” at 12:30 p.m. CST that same afternoon.
On the action-packed August 26-28 weekend, the USAC Sprint Car teams join five
stock car divisions, all competing for the Governor’s Cup in their
respective division. Sunday’s action will be headlined by the NASCAR
Autozone Elite Division, Midwest Series’ 200-mile contest.
In excess of 150 entries are expected in four divisions of grass roots stock
car racing over the weekend, drawing from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana
and Illinois. The historic mile oval will be for many the largest track
they will have competed on.
Wisconsin short track legend Dick Trickle will drive his own car in the Sunday
afternoon MARS Super Late Model 50-lap race, adding to the weekend’s
excitement.
For the first time, the USAC Sprint Car division joins the other two USAC
national touring divisions on the 2005 Milwaukee Mile schedule.
Florida’s Dave Steele captured gold in the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown
race, and Wise bested a strong field of USAC National Midget Car Series
competitors in July, when both series ran in conjunction with the IRL IndyCar
Series.
The Sprint Car Series is the fastest of the three divisions, which will
provide open wheel-to-open wheel competition at over 120 mph.
For money-saving weekend ticket packages, and Saturday race day tickets
ranging from $10 - $20, call (414) 453-8277. Tickets are also available
for purchase 24-hours a day by visiting the speedway’s website,
www.milwaukeemile.com.
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