Race fans start your paintbrushes! Everyone is invited to a Painting Party at Merritt Speedway this Saturday April 25th from 10 a.m. until the cows come home.
“We’ll be cooking out and doing a lot of prep work for opening night,” Track Promoter Rick Ancel said. “We’re adding a new VIP Party Deck on the back of the Bailey Tower and have a good days work ahead of us on Saturday. Anyone that wants to come out is more than welcome.”
Ancel attributes Merritt’s award winning facility to weekends like this.
“A big part of Merritt’s success is due to the true Merritt supporters,” Ancel said. “We have a lot of weekends like this one coming up, where friends and families can come out and have a good time, cook out and help with the track. We couldn’t do it without them.”
The VIP Party Deck will be a great space for companies to bring employees and customers for a night of Fun and Excitement in a private area.
“Some VIP spaces are still available,” Ancel said. “So it’s not too late for any companies that would like to purchase Party Deck packages.”
To contact Rick or Rod Ancel for more details, readers should visit the website: www.Merritt-Speedway.com.
Speaking of the track website. Over the winter months the Merritt Staff spent a lot of time updating the site.
“We added over 11,000 photos,” Rick said. “If you drove at Merritt, or your favorite driver drove at Merritt, you’ll find a picture on our site.”
There are a few new attractions at Merritt including a new camping area in The Plateau, “Dirty Girl” rides to the infield to watch a race, and Autograph Alley and Pit Stop Challenge.
“Camping is free every weekend, with a paid pit-pass,” Rick said. “The campsites in The Plateau give fans an opportunity to get up close and mingle with the drivers in the pit area. There will be a small fee for camping on Woodpick 100 weekend, but the campsite is open to everyone all season.”
Some fans did get the opportunity to take the “Dirty Girl”, 6 seater dune buggy, over to the infield last year.
“We started it last year,” Rick said. “So it’s pretty new and a lot of people may not know about the opportunity. For a small fee, fans can ride the buggy to the infield and watch a race. We’re the only track that provides this service at this time.”
Another Amazing feature at Merritt is Autograph Alley.
“We’ve added a section in the grand stands where the top three finishers of each feature event can pull up within a foot of the fence and sign autographs,” Rick said. “For the price of a general admission ticket, fans can come face to face with their favorite drivers on any given Race Day.”
The Pit Stop Challenge may not be ready for opening night on May 9th, but in a few weeks fans will want to be looking for it.
“In the back of the grandstands we’ll have the side of a Late Model set-up,” Rick said. “Fans will be able to change two tires with and impact wrench for times. Prizes will be awarded to the best times of the evening!”
Merritt fans will also be happy to know that the T-Shirt Launcher is a “go” again this season.
“The Launcher is always a big hit,” Rick said. “We shoot free t-shirts into the grand stands all through the night.”
Lots of great changes promise even more excitement for race fans all season at Merritt Speedway. The Merritt Staff is looking forward to a great Paint Party on Saturday and an awesome racing season in 2009! Hope you can come!
