March 13, 2007

MARNE, MI -- The list of current NASCAR stars to compete at Berlin Raceway keeps growing. Berlin Raceway and the Premier Racing Association announced today that NASCAR Nextel Cup star Ryan Newman has signed on to compete in the PRA Big Car Series 150-lap race at Berlin Raceway on Wednesday, June 13.

The PRA Big Car Series is in just its second season of existence, but race fans will recognize the series' open-wheel machines from their former life as USAC Silver Crown cars. When the United States Auto Club created a new generation car several years ago, the popular Silver Crown cars were left without a home and nowhere to race. Enter former racer Jason McCord and his partner Jason Smith, a former USAC executive. The two teamed up to create the PRA Big Car Series and put the Silver Crown cars back on the track. The series has the backing of many NASCAR Nextel Cup stars who enjoyed racing in the Silver Crown series on their way to racing's top level - in the 2006 five-race inaugural season for the series, NASCAR racers Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney were among the 43 competitors to buckle in to the PRA Big Car Series.

Back for a nine-race schedule in 2007, the Anderson, Indiana-based PRA series will race at tracks in Georgia, Florida, Indiana, New York and now Michigan.

McCord, who has himself raced at Berlin Raceway, remembers Michigan fans as being some of the best in the country.

"The race fans in Michigan are phenomenal," McCord said. "I'm looking forward to coming back there and bringing a great race to the fans. I grew up racing with a lot of the drivers who have gone on to successful Nextel Cup careers, and we remain friends today. They've been more than willing to help us build this series by racing in it themselves, and they love these big cars so they're enjoying it too. It should be a heck of a show at Berlin Raceway in June!"

Newman, whose day job is racing the #12 Penske Racing Alltel car on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit, is one of those drivers who cut his teeth in the USAC ranks, earning USAC Silver Crown Series Rookie of the Year honors in 1996 and winning the series championship in 1999. The 29-year-old native of nearby South Bend, Indiana, then moved on to ARCA and the NASCAR Busch series before winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year title in 2002 while finishing an impressive sixth place in points. In 2003 he won eight Cup races and finished seventh in points; he landed sixth in points in the next two seasons, 2004 and 2005. Last season's disappointing 18th-place finish was his first outside the top 10, and he's looking to get back into the Chase for the Championship in 2007. Newman raced in - and won - the PRA Big Car Series event last October at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

Mike Strevel, Berlin Raceway's director of race operations, said the combination of Newman and the PRA series is guaranteed to produce a great show for Berlin's fans.

"I'm excited about hosting these traditional open wheel cars at Berlin Raceway," Strevel said. "This type of car is the backbone of NASCAR racing - so many of the current NASCAR stars got their start in this type of car, including Ryan Newman. It's great to see Newman return to his roots and help the PRA series become one of the best open-wheel circuits in the country. We look forward to having both Newman and the PRA series put on a great show at Berlin Raceway."

For more information on the PRA Series, please visit www.praracing.com.

Ticket prices for the June 13 PRA event at Berlin Raceway are $20 for grandstand admission. Children 6 to 12 are half price and 5 and under are free. Gates will open at 12:15 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m. Berlin's Sportsman division will race as part of the evening's program as well.

Berlin Raceway's 2007 season begins on Saturday, April 14 and runs into October. Tickets for all events are on sale now by phone to Berlin Raceway at (616) 677-5000 or online at www.berlinraceway.com. Tickets are also available in person at the Fifth Third Ballpark box office (4500 West River Drive, Comstock Park) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, or at the Berlin Raceway administrative office Monday through Friday (please call ahead for an appointment if going to Berlin's administrative office).