Contact: Brendan Capria
World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series PR
704-795-7223 | bcapria@dirtcar.com

At A Glance: Rich History Valuable for Fans
USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway goes above and beyond the county lines

CONCORD, N.C. – August 1, 2016 – To really gauge the magnitude of a race, numbers must come with it. For USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., there is one outstanding leap in numbers – the attendance for the race has and is expected to supersede the town's 8,715-person population.

Try by a magnitude of almost two. Cedar Lake will see 14,000 in total attendance and counting for the three-day extravaganza from August 4-6. Track co-owner and promoter Bob Kaufman expects 3,000 attendees on Thursday, 5,000 on Friday and 7,000 for Saturday’s 100-lap finale. But to Kaufman, this is nothing unusual. It has been a growing trend in the time the event’s 29-year history.

“[USA Nationals] completely changes what the town is,” Kaufman said. “Hotels have been sold out for a year. I heard comments at the grocery store that they have stocked up for all the campers coming in to buy food. The USA Nationals transforms New Richmond, Wis. – a small town to a big city within days.”

This is all because Kaufman and his dedicated staff are fully invested in offering the total fan experience – from tubing down the Apple River to introducing passionate fans to their favorite drivers. It is a staple for New Richmond townies and for those crossing county lines alike. It is fulfilling for fans of all ages, similar to the racing Cedar Lake Speedway has to offer for living late model legends and the sport's young guns.

Kaufman compared it to Bristol Motor Speedway – usually in a town frozen in daily routines until the races spring into action. That is when the community comes together to complete the total exciting atmosphere. Though, there is a catch for Kaufman in total comparison and it reflects the track’s proximity to all of Minneapolis’ professional sports teams.

Kaufman feels he has more to offer than just the high-adrenaline racing scene, and he will embrace it with arms wide-open. He prides himself that the USA Nationals is similarly impactful to other professional games – the best players in the business competing on the same stage – but at more than half the price. This event offers fans more for less, which makes the event inviting for families, friends and simply for anyone who wants to share the sport’s intensity with the drivers.

“For 45 minutes or less you can go to a baseball game, you can go to the Viking’s brand new stadium or a Wild game,” Kaufman explained. “You’ll spend $7 for a beer, $8 for a cheeseburger, and $80 for your ticket. The other part of it that makes me feel good is we’re able to provide a low-budget form of entertainment. Not everyone can afford an expense like that.”

What Cedar Lake Speedway and the World of Outlaws have to offer fans is why hotels are booked a year in advance. Judy Roettger, the general manager of the AmericINN just eight miles away from the track, sees a new theme of guests around this time of year.

“You can tell the excitement from our guests to the time they check in to when they head to the races,” she said.

What the event offers the drivers is equally as persuading – an offer they cannot refuse. USA Nationals draws such a big large field to begin with because it offers the largest purse of the season for the Outlaws and most other drivers – $50,000-to-win for Saturday's finale. That is the reason why defending champion Shane Clanton grinned ear-to-ear when asked about how big the USA Nationals is for not only the series, but also all the competitors seeking a season-changing payday.

The winnings that are up for grabs are more than one-third of Clanton’s $121,775 winnings so far in 26 World of Outlaws races alone. The amount is also half of Clanton’s check for winning the series championship in 2015. Top dollar draws top competition, which draws top crowds. Clanton said the high-stakes make the event exciting – enough to even make the trip from his Zebulon, Ga. home aside from being a sanctioned race for the Outlaws.

“You’re getting guys who would not normally go up to that area,” Clanton said. “It’s a long ways up there. It’s got to be worth our while for us to go up there, and they put enough money on the line for us to make the trip. That’ll get fans to make the trip, too.”

When Kaufman sees RV’s packed like sardines in the camping lots and fans lined up to enter the racing wonderland, he cannot help but to smile. To him, the track serves the community. It is what brings them together on an annual basis.

“What makes me feel good is you’re doing a lot of good things for the community,” Kaufman said. “There are always people coming from around the country spending their hard-earned dollars in our local community. It’s a great thing to see.”

For ticketing information to the 29th Annual USA Nationals, visit cedarlakespeedway.com.

ABOUT THE TRACKS

SHAWANO SPEEDWAY is a 1/2-mile oval.

Previous A-Feature winners:
2015- Shane Clanton (on July 28)
2014- Darrell Lanigan (on July 29)
2013- Greg Satterlee (on July 30)
2012- Darrell Lanigan (on August 7)
2011- Darrell Lanigan (on August 3)
2010- Billy Moyer (on August 4)

CEDAR LAKE SPEEDWAY is a 3/8-mile oval.

Previous A-Feature winners:
2015- Jonathan Davenport (on August 1)
2014- Jimmy Owens (on August 2)
2013- Tim McCreadie (on August 3)
2012- Darrell Lanigan (on August 4)
2011- Josh Richards (on August 6)
2010- Scott Bloomquist (on August 7)

WORLD OF OUTLAWS CRAFTSMAN® PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF CRAFTSMAN CLUB®

Contingency Award Program Increases Cash Payouts to Teams by More than $100,000 Annually, Representing the Single Largest Increase in World of Outlaws History in over a Decade

CONCORD, N.C. - August 1, 2016 - With the 25th anniversary of Craftsman Club right around the corner this October, the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car and Late Model series are amping up the celebration with the addition of the Craftsman Club Fast-Five Contingency Program. Across the course of a 92-race season with $600 awarded at every event, the Sprint Car Series cash payout will increase by $55,000; while $1,100 paid out each night across 45 events in the Late Model Series will generate a bump of nearly $50,000 in cash awards. 

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will award $100 to the five highest finishing Platinum Team drivers in the qualifying Dash race - now called the "Craftsman Club Dash" - which determines the top starting positions for the Feature race; while the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series will award $200 to the five highest finishing Platinum Team drivers in the Feature race - now the "Craftsman Club Feature" - which determines the overall race champion. The highest finishing local drivers who do not compete with World of Outlaws on a regular basis in each Sprint Car Series Craftsman Club Dash and each Late Model Series Craftsman Club Feature will also receive a $100 cash award.

"Our Craftsman Club members are passionate about working on their cars and even racing them during Outlaw competitions," says Tom Park, President of Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard. "It's only fitting that a contingency program rewarding the top performing Outlaws and our members should carry the Club name."

"It takes a special breed to be an Outlaw, and we are excited to reward our full-time travelers through the Craftsman Club Fast-Five program, while also recognizing the top-performing locals at every World Outlaws event," says World Racing Group CMO Ben Geisler. "Racers at all levels are driven by the desire to win, but a little extra cash never hurt anyone's feelings."

Since its inception in 1991, the Craftsman Club has offered members exclusive deals on America's best-selling tools at Sears. Now 25 years strong, Craftsman Club is a bustling online maker community for gearheads, builders, DIYers, and weekend warriors to get inspired, gain insider knowledge, enter to win prizes, earn points, and share projects, tips, and conversation with like-minded makers. And, of course, they still get member-exclusive deals and rewards.