CONCORD, N.C. — Charlotte Motor Speedway is giving competitors one million reasons to show up for what will be the largest event in the history of Legends racing July 15-17 at the quarter-mile oval located on the frontstretch at the 1.5-mile superspeedway.
The event, which will draw grass-roots racers from across the country, will carry a $1 million purse with $250,000 expected to be paid to the winner in a class where racers routinely race for a couple hundred bucks to win.
“We’re going to have up to 1,000 cars enter,” said Marcus Smith, CMS president and general manager, during last week’s NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. “It’s going to be an amazing show. I can’t wait to see what happens.”
The announcement is one of many in recent weeks for U.S. Legend Cars Int’l (formerly 600 Racing), the Harrisburg, N.C., manufacturer of Legends Cars, Bandoleros and Thunder Roadsters, and comes on the heels of a major marketing campaign launch for the company, which included print advertising ads in National Speed Sport News and USA Today among other publications.
Officials also revealed a $200,000 point fund for 2010, which will award 10 times the number of competitors compared to previous seasons.
U.S. Legend Cars and Charlotte Motor Speedway are both owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
“I think that’s exciting for anyone to race for a million dollars,” said NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan, who began his racing career in Bandoleros. “I’ve learned that Marcus and Mr. Bruton (Smith), you guys like to do things that are big and exciting. This is just another thing on that list of exciting things that you guys are going to make happen.”
Falling on an off-weekend for Sprint Cup competitors, Ragan plans to attend the event, which will likely draw other Legends cars graduates, including Joey Logano, Reed Sorenson, and Kurt and Kyle Busch.
Details about the race, its format and the purse structure are still being decided and will be announced as they are available from www.uslegendcars.com.
Registration for the event will be online beginning today (Jan. 27).