SpeedwayEXPO '09 will feature a diverse group of special guests


SALISBURY, MA--One of the most interesting groups of racing characters
ever assembled will help kick off the Northeast racing season in style at
the Big E in Springfield. Check out this star-studded lineup:

Steve Park--This Long Island native was a standout in the modified
division before getting "the call" to drive a Busch car for Dale Earnhardt
Sr. in 1996. That led to the Cup Series, where Steve earned two wins with
DEI, including an emotional win at Rockingham a week after Earnhardt's
shocking death at Daytona. Steve returned to the Camping World East Series
in 2008.

Matt Kobyluk--Last year he became the first Native American to win a
NASCAR championship, taking four wins and the title in the Camping World
East Series. A member of the Mohegan Nation, Kobyluk is sponsored by
Mohegan Sun.


Ricky Craven--At age 15 he won Rookie of the Year at Maine's Unity
Raceway, starting him along a path that led from ACT to Busch North to the
Busch Series, and eventually to Cup racing. His two career Cup wins
include a dramatic paint-swapping duel with Kurt Busch at Darlington in
2003.

Mike Stefanik--He was handpicked for stardom by no less than Richie Evans,
and he's lived up to the billing, with eight Whelen Modified Tour
championships and more feature wins than any other driver in Tour history.
Named one of the top 10 NASCAR modified drivers of all time in 2003.

Bones Bourcier--The nationally acclaimed writer returns to New England,
where he fell in love with racing during the heyday of the modified
division. He has co-authored books with Cup star Tony Stewart and safety
pioneer Bill Simpson, and has also compiled biographies of his childhood
heroes, Richie Evans, Bugsy Stevens, and Eddie Flemke.

Ted Christopher--One of the most versatile drivers in New England,
Teddy has won in modifieds - including his first NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour championship last year - SK's, midgets, late models, supermodifieds,
and has also run Busch, Sprint Cup, and even Rolex 24 races at Daytona.
And he's just as free-wheeling with his opinions as he is with his racing.

Dave Dion--He's collaborated with radio personality Dave Moody on a
critically acclaimed autobiography called Life Wide Open. It's a fitting
description of this late model legend's career, as he has barnstormed the
East Coast with his band of brothers, always in their signature Fords.


Renée Dupuis--She climbed the ladder from quarter-midgets to modifieds,
and in 1999 became the only woman ever to win a modified feature at
Riverside Park. She is also the first woman to record a top-10 finish on
the Whelen Modified Tour, where she remains a consistent competitor.

Vaughn Gittin Jr.--One of the country's top talents in the sport of
drifting, Gittin provides a unique perspective at this year's XPO:
sideways.

Chris Castagna--This Virginian is one of the bright young lights in the
Jetta TDI Cup, a grassroots road-racing series that features
diesel-powered Volkswagens.


Corey Dripps and Mike Spaulding--These dirt-trackers are serious winners
in the United States Modified Touring Series. And, as you will see, they
also know how to have a seriously good time.

Coupons ($5 off) for discount admission to SpeedwayEXPO will soon be
available at more than 160 participating Sunoco dealers throughout New
England. Tickets can also be purchased in advance to save $5 off the price
at the gate ($16 for adults, children 10 and under free). These
money-saving tickets are available at 978-465-9099 x 103 (ask for Barbara)
or online at SpeedwayEXPO.com.

Produced by Speedway Illustrated  Magazine and sponsored by Sunoco,
SpeedwayEXPO will be at the Big E, in West Springfield, MA, Feb. 27 -
March 1, 2009.  It is the largest event for drivers, teams, tracks, and
racing vendors in the Northeast. SpeedwayEXPO will launch the 2009 racing
season with more than 200 new race cars and old favorites, and hundreds of
exhibits for drivers, crews, and fans from a dozen states and Canada.
Thousands of enthusiasts pack more than 130,000 square feet of exhibit
space to take part in seminars and demonstrations; see retailers of racing
gear and memorabilia; and meet today's and yesterday's racing celebrities.

For the latest information on SpeedwayEXPO presented by Sunoco and to sign
up to receive the free SpeedwayEXPO '09 E-newsletter, visit
SpeedwayExpo.com.

Last Updated on 01/26/09
By George Campbell or Greg Fish
Email: neracing@neracing.com