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WDRL ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT FOR TELEVISED RACES
National sports network to air four series events later this year
GILMAN CITY, MO. (Sept. 17, 2006) - The WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late
Model Series has reached an agreement to have four of its popular racing events
later this season televised nationally.
The events will be produced by Short Track Network of Atlantic, Iowa, and will
be aired on Burbank, California-based Vision Sports Entertainment Network
(VSEN-TV).
The agreement paves the way for delayed coverage of the Sept. 22 series event at
I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.; the Sept. 29 WDRL event at Lakeside Speedway
in Kansas City, Kan.; the series event at West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty,
Iowa, on Oct. 7; and the season-finale at Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa,
on Oct. 21.
"The WORLD Dirt Racing League is excited about having these races televised, and
we are anxious to work with VSEN-TV and Joe Pate of Short Track Network,"
commented WDRL founder and president Jim Wilson. "We have a lot of very good
drivers who race with us, and this will give them a chance to display their
talents and abilities on a national stage.
Added Wilson, "This television package will also be a great benefit to our fans,
as it will enable many of them to see WDRL events at additional venues."
According to the agreement, the "Midwest Speed Zone" WDRL broadcasts will be
aired on VSEN-TV on a delayed basis during the month of October. The programs
will be one-hour in length and are tentatively scheduled to be aired on Tuesday
nights, with a rebroadcast being aired on Saturday
mornings.
WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series announcer Tom Lathen will
handle the play-by-play duties on all four broadcasts, with racing columnist
Chris Williams providing the color commentary.
"I'm very excited to take these first steps in bringing the WORLD Dirt Racing
League to national television," commented Joe Pate, president of Short Track
Network and producer of "The Midwest Speed Zone." "Our family-run operation has
worked very hard over the last three years to help bring grassroots racing to
the next level."
Added Pate, "After talking to Jim Wilson, Nancy Wilson and Tom Lathen of the
WDRL, I am confident 'The Midwest Speed Zone' will be featuring a first-class
racing organization. We all have agreed that we will make this the best dirt
track racing show on television."
According to Pate, the four Vision Sports Entertainment Network broadcasts in
October will pave the way for an expanded WDRL television schedule in 2007.
"Our goal is to broadcast possibly 15 to 20 WDRL races on VSEN next season," he
said. "We are anticipating a great response from race fans and sponsors and that
will allow us to continue to increase our coverage of the series over the next
few years."
PolyDome Products, a manufacturer of polyethylene calf nurseries and bulk grain
storage bins, as well as a limited line of consumer-related products, will
sponsor the broadcasts. The Litchfield, Minnesota-based company has been the
title sponsor of the WDRL since 2003.
"Dick, Carla and Dan Johanneck (of PolyDome Products) have been great supporters
of our series, and Nancy and I are both extremely pleased they have decided to
partner with us as sponsors of these televised broadcasts," noted Wilson.
"Their sponsorship of these race broadcasts will help their company showcase
their line of quality products in front of a very large and extremely loyal
audience."
The Vision Sports Entertainment Network currently reaches nearly 30 million
homes in 28 states, with negotiations underway with additional cable systems to
provide the upstart network coverage in additional markets throughout the
Midwest and across the country.
Short Track Network was founded by Joe and Stacy Pate in 2003 and specializes in
the broadcast and videotaping of dirt track racing events throughout the
Midwest.
For more information on WDRL or the latest PolyDome Late Model Series schedule,
check out the WORLD Dirt Racing League's Web site, www.worldraceleague.com.