IMRRC to honor Chip Ganassi

In August, IMRCC will recognize Chip Ganassi's outstanding career as a racing team owner.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 24, 2014) – Chip Ganassi, who fields teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Verizon INDYCAR and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship series, will be honored on Aug. 7 by the International Motor Racing Research Center at the Corning (N.Y.) Museum of Glass.

Ganassi will receive the inaugural Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for his outstanding contributions to motorsports. Often referred to as the father of American road racing, Argetsinger was a visionary who, in 1948, conceived, organized, and drove in the first post-war road race in America through the roads of Watkins Glen. He brought Formula 1 to Watkins Glen International in 1961 and the circuit hosted the United States Grand Prix for 20 years. He was president of the IMRRC for five years, until his death in 2008.

NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation (parent company of Watkins Glen International), and WGI are the presenting sponsors of the first IMRRC Award Dinner, the proceeds of which will benefit the IMRRC, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to be the world-class leader in the collection of materials representing the documentary heritage of amateur and professional motor racing.

"We are privileged to have NASCAR, ISC and WGI support the IMRRC Award Dinner honoring Chip Ganassi," said IMRRC President J.C. Argetsinger. "NASCAR and its partners have done a tremendous job in promoting world-wide awareness of the sport we've loved for so long. And Chip himself has put his heart and soul into the success of every team he owns, and it shows."

To date, Ganassi's teams have won 17 championships in his 24 years of ownership, including four Indy 500 titles. In 2012, the Duquesne University graduate and former part owner of his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates, was named one of the "50 most influential people in the Auto Industry" by Complex Magazine.

"Chip Ganassi's accomplishments and successes as a car owner have transcended across a wide spectrum of motorsports," said Mike Helton, NASCAR President. "His contributions have positively impacted NASCAR, IndyCar, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and beyond. Chip is an outstanding competitor, savvy team owner and is passionate about his work. The France Family and all of NASCAR congratulate Chip on being the first recipient of the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for outstanding contributions to motorsports."

"Chip Ganassi is a titan in the racing community. His leadership and business acumen have grown Chip Ganassi Racing from a one-car team to a powerhouse in the industry," said John Saunders, President, International Speedway Corporation. "Owning multiple teams across different racing series is no small task, yet he continues to find success at the upper echelons of professional motorsports. Congratulations to Chip on this prestigious honor and on behalf of International Speedway Corporation, I wish him many more years of continued success."

Added Michael Printup, President, Watkins Glen International, “Chip Ganassi is a competitor in the truest sense of the word. You always know that Ganassi teams will be a factor in any race and in any series in which they compete. It’s remarkable to think of the success they’ve found at some of the most historic and prestigious venues in the world. Yet, Chip has done more than just build winners, he has also built professionals. His teams and employees are among the best in the garage to work with and we’re always excited to see them compete at Watkins Glen International. On behalf of the entire team at Watkins Glen International, I’d like to congratulate Chip on this most deserving honor.“

The IMRRC Award Dinner will be held on Aug. 7, the Thursday prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Watkins Glen International, at the Corning Museum of Glass, One Museum Way, Corning, N.Y. 14830. Cocktails are at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $250 per person. To purchase tickets, tables, sponsorship packages, go to http://www.racingarchives.org/special_event.php, or call 607-535-9044. Seats are limited, so it is recommended that reservations be made soon.

Other event supporters include Sahlen Packing Co. Inc., Corning Incorporated, Benjamin F. Edwards & Co., Chevrolet, SCCA, Welliver and Glenora Wine Cellars.

About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) governs the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and follow NASCAR at www.Facebook.com/NASCAR and Twitter: @NASCAR.

About International Speedway Corporation (ISC)
International Speedway Corporation is a leading promoter of motorsports activities,

currently promoting more than 100 racing events annually as well as numerous other
motorsports-related activities. The Company owns and/or operates 13 of the nation's major
motorsports entertainment facilities, including Daytona International Speedway® in Florida
(home of the DAYTONA 500®); Talladega Superspeedway® in Alabama; Michigan International
Speedway® located outside Detroit; Richmond International Raceway® in Virginia; Auto Club
Speedway of Southern CaliforniaSM near Los Angeles; Kansas Speedway® in Kansas City,
Kansas; Phoenix International Raceway® in Arizona; Chicagoland Speedway® and Route 66
RacewaySM near Chicago, Illinois; Homestead-Miami SpeedwaySM in Florida; Martinsville
Speedway® in Virginia; Darlington Raceway® in South Carolina; and Watkins Glen
International® in New York.

The Company also owns and operates Motor Racing NetworkSM, the nation's largest
independent sports radio network, and Americrown Service CorporationSM, a subsidiary that
provides catering services, food and beverage concessions, and produces and markets
motorsports-related merchandise. In addition, the Company has a 50 percent interest in the
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at
www.internationalspeedwaycorporation.com.

About Watkins Glen International
Located within five (5) hours (~300 miles) of 25 percent of the U.S. population, Watkins Glen International is the premier road racing facility in the United States. Mark your calendars for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It™ 355, NASCAR Nationwide Series Zippo 200 at The Glen and Bully Hill 125, August 7-10. Tickets are available by calling 866.461.RACE or at www.TheGlen.com. Keep up with The Glen on Facebook and Twitter. Download The Glen’s free mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.

About IMRRC
The Racing Research Center is an archival library dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports, of all series and all venues, through its collections of books, periodicals, films, photographs, fine art and other materials. For more information about the Center’s work and its programs, visit www.racingarchives.org or call (607) 535-9044. The Center also is on Facebook at International Motor Racing Research Center.

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