February 16 , 2007
INVESTORS, MOTORSPORTS ENTHUSIASTS GEAR UP FOR 2007 SEASON Year Expected To Bring Success for Team Owners, Drivers, Consultants and Family

MOBILE, AL – Six of the 19 investors of the Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway, are involved with motorsports racing.  Gulf Coast Entertainment, L.L.C. has a solid foundation in racing with the involvement of investors Rick Skelton (Grand Am Pro Cup/Koni Challenge driver and owner), Armando and Mimi Fitz (NASCAR Busch Series team owners), Kelley Earnhardt Elledge (General Manager of JR Motorsports), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (JR Motorsports owner and Nextel Cup driver), and Kerry Earnhardt (consultant, driver and test driver).

Hyper Sport, which competes in the Grand Am Cup and Koni Challenge Series, got its season underway at Daytona International Speedway in late January.  The Rick Skelton-owned team won the pole award in the Fresh From Florida 200 in the Grand Am Cup opener and finished second in the race.

“Finishing second in the season opener was a real encouragement for the team.  That was the largest sports car field ever assembled in the United States, so feel that was a major accomplishment,” said Skelton.  “In the Koni Challenge Series, I’ll race with co-driver Patrick Dempsey in the No. 55 car.  I believe we are a favorite to compete for the championship.  We’ll also compete in select Rolex and Busch Series efforts in conjunction with Fitz Motorsports.”

Fitz Motorsports, which is owned by Armando and Mimi Fitz, will field the No. 22 in the NASCAR Busch Series. 

“We are excited to continue our relationship with Supercuts and Family Dollar, which will split primary sponsorship in the NASCAR Busch Series this season,” noted Armando Fitz.  “We welcome the experience and talent of Nextel Cup driver David Stremme, who will be driving a handful of races for us.” 

In addition, the organization will compete for the Busch East Series Championship with 2006 Rookie of the Year, Ruben Pardo.  Fitz Motorsports will also field two cars in the Desafio Corona Series in Mexico.  One entry will be driven by Ruben’s brother Carlos Pardo.

“A new venture for us this year is the Grand Am series. We partnered with fellow investor Rick Skelton and his Hyper Sport team, which allows us to share technical knowledge and marketing initiatives,” added Fitz.  “We look forward to a fun, successful season all around.”

JR Motorsports is prepared to begin its season with the season-opening NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., the team will field the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the Busch Series for the 2007 season with driver Shane Huffman.
The JR Motorsports team celebrated the new year by moving into a new, state-of-the-art 66,000-square foot facility in Mooresville, N.C. The new building houses all of JR Motorsports operations under one roof.

In addition to fielding the Busch team, JR Motorsports operates the No. 88S Champion Chevrolet in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series with driver Richard Boswell, and the Nos. 71 and 73 R&B Chevrolet late model stock cars with drivers Scott Young and Curtis Truex Jr.

"The growth and opportunity that we are experiencing here at JR Motorsports is really incredible," said JR Motorsports General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Elledge. "It's impressive to see how the new building is already allowing our teams to work better together to enhance performance for the new season.  We expect 2007 to be a breakout year for JR Motorsports."

Behind the wheel, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will compete for his first Nextel Cup championship.  After finishing fifth in the 2006 campaign, he expects to again be a contender. 

Elder brother Kerry Earnhardt will serve as a test driver and communication liaison in 2007.   "I'd be lying if I said I don't miss racing,” he says.  “This time of the year is always exciting for everyone, sort of like the first day back to school.  It's exciting to be doing what I'm doing with a top tier team in NASCAR.  This is truly a great opportunity for me.”

Kerry’s youngest son was recently signed to a developmental contract with one of NASCAR’s premier teams.  “I'm very happy Jeffrey will be racing at a new level as well,” added Earnhardt.  “I'm very anxious to get his program underway.  It will be exciting for me watching him mature in the next few years and truly take his career to the next level. I'm happy I can be there for him.  There are a lot of talented teenagers out there today that will bring the sport a great new brood of drivers tomorrow.  With all the changes that occur in any given sport, it is the athletes themselves that make the fans remain committed and loyal to the sport they have grown to love."

Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway is a property of Gulf Coast Entertainment, L.L.C.  The entertainment complex is planned to house four racing venues, retail shopping, restaurants, an RV resort, and other venues such as music theaters.  The investors plan to open the complex for racing in the fall of 2009 and to be fully operational in 2010.