Media, fans previews set for this week
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
January 13, 2002
1:58 PM EST (1858 GMT)
CONCORD, N.C. -- Just like other sports, NASCAR has some preseason action prior to the official start of the season.
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David Green signs autographs at Michigan.
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However, unlike those other sports, NASCAR consists of numerous previews instead of actual races.
With testing underway at Daytona, the sense of anticipation for drivers, teams and fans has started for the upcoming season. The week of Jan. 14-19 will be a busy one for those involved and followers of the sport.
The 2002 UAW-GM Motorsports Media Tour, hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway, kicks things off on Jan. 14. The five-day event is an opportunity for all forms of media to get some preseason contact with drivers and teams.
On Jan. 18, the 10th annual Busch Preview will take place at the Merchandise Mart in Charlotte. The Busch Series Ladies Auxiliary puts on the event, which is sponsored by Team Monte Carlo.
On Jan. 19, the T. Wayne Robertson Winston Cup Preview in Winston-Salem will be hosted by R.J. Reynolds. The 13th-annual event will be held at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Tickets are available at the door or at Ticketmaster.
Media Tour activities begin at 8:30 a.m. ET on Monday with a motorsports symposium titled "The Business of Motorsports" hosted by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce.
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Fans get a glimpse of their favorite drivers at the Winston Cup inaugural event at Kansas.
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Dinners, visits to various shops and numerous guest speakers are on tap for the whole week. The media will travel to the headquarters of Evernham Motorsports, Rick Hendrick Motorsports, Penske Racing and Richard Childress Racing.
Friday night is when fans get the first chance to meet their drivers.
The Busch Series Preview begins at 3 p.m. ET and lasts until 8 p.m. ET. The preview will feature show cars, auctions and drivers Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle.
Autographs with drivers take place from 5 to 7 p.m. ET. There are two sessions for the live auction, with the first being from 4 - 5 p.m. ET and then again from 7 to 8 p.m. ET. A silent auction runs from 3 to 7 p.m. ET.
Other drivers expected to attend are Bobby Hamilton Jr., Hank Parker Jr., Andy Houston and Casey Mears. Jay Sauter, Jason Keller, Kerry Earnhardt, Lyndon Amick, Jamie McMurray, and Scott Riggs will join Jeff Green, the 2000 Busch Series champion.
Jack Sprague will be joined by Larry Foyt, Mike McLaughlin, Ashton Lewis, Carl Long, Brian Vickers, Johnny Sauter and Stacy Compton. Look for two-time Busch Series champion Randy Lajoie as well as Joe Nemechek and Christian Elder, to be in attendance as well.
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Infield at Daytona
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Then, fans will take Winston-Salem by storm for the Winston Cup Preview just north of here as more than 20,000 autograph seekers are expected. With the event running from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET, there will be a set schedule as to when drivers will be appearing.
Wristbands for fans to meet a select number of drivers will be distributed on Friday evening at 9 p.m. ET in the Coliseum lobby. All drivers competing in the Winston Cup Series this year are expected to appear on Saturday.
Besides autographs and pictures opportunities, there will be show cars, collectible trailers and various speedway booths set up in the convention center.
All proceeds from the Winston Cup and Busch Series previews goes to various charities.
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