News Article

SPEED's PINKS All Out Invades GIR This Weekend

June 24, 2008

SPEED, the definitive network for auto racing and the automotive lifestyle, will be shooting an episode of PINKS All Out at Gateway International Raceway this weekend just outside St. Louis, where almost 450 racers have clamored for a shot at their ’15 minutes of fame’ and more than $ 18,000 in cash and prizes, including a new NAPA tool chest.

The second season of PINKS All Out presented by NAPA, which began shooting last November in Tucson, Ariz., has traveled across the country in 2008 to ever-increasing crowds. Upwards of 25,000 spectators jammed into Atlanta Dragway this past May, while Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio hosted more than 34,000 people during the most recent shoot earlier this month. Will Gateway be the third-straight 20,000+ television shoot?

“From the moment tickets for PINKS All Out went on sale here at Gateway International Raceway, they have been selling fast,” said Lenny Batycki, Gateway International Raceway Vice President & General Manager. “PINKS All Out has brought the same kind of intensity and excitement to Gateway that (host) Rich Christensen brings to the show itself. We, and our customers, are looking forward to a great event this weekend.”

Gateway holds a special place in PINKS lore. It was at GIR that the local Tosto Brothers – Tim and Todd – battled it out after midnight, in what turned out to be one of the best episodes in the original show’s history. As witnessed by that show, the racing community in and around the St. Louis area is a vibrant one.

“Gateway’s ‘Midnight Madness’ was the first such Test ‘n Tune that (Executive Producer) Stephen Pullin and I originally checked out when we were first considering the viability of the PINKS All Out format two years ago,” said Robert Ecker, SPEED VP of Programming & PINKS All Out Executive Producer. “Coming back to this track at this moment in time when we are experiencing such incredible response to the show and the live event just feels right; everyone on the team is psyched and energized for what promises to be a memorable weekend at this terrific facility.”

PINKS All Out, hosted by creator and executive producer Rich Christensen, is the network’s most popular lifestyle show with more than 2.5 million viewers per week. The show, produced by Pullin Television out of Los Angeles, invites local racers to run their cars ‘All Out,’ during two time trial sessions, while show technical advisors Nate and Adam Pritchett select the closest grouping of elapsed times to make up the PINKS All Out 16. Any racer who tries to guess the elapsed time or ‘sandbag’ (running slower to fit within a certain elapsed time category in order to gain an advantage) will be disqualified from the competition.

PINKS All Out, called the ‘Woodstock of Drag Racing,’ by Summit Motorsports Park President Bill Bader, Jr., is an entire days worth of on-track racing and off-track activities, culminating at dusk in the running of the final 16. As part of the midway, the SPEED Mobile Theatre will be on hand providing air-conditioned entertainment and autograph sessions, while on track fun will include a jet-powered truck, wheelstanders and a variety of professional drag racing equipment. For those unable to attend, www.SPEEDtv.com will be providing a live video feed from the track on Saturday.

Season Two of PINKS All Out on SPEED is set to premiere July 17 at 9 p.m., ET, with the Gateway shoot airing on Sept. 11 at 9 p.m., E.T.

Gates open on Friday for the PINKS All Out Test n’ Tune and Saturday for the actual shoot at 8 a.m. C.T., both days. For more information, log onto www.gatewayraceway.com or www.SPEEDtv.com.

SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 78 million homes in North America , SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority. 

Friday, June 27, 2008

8:00 AM – Racer Gate Opens

8:00 AM – Will Call Opens

10AM - Registration and Tech begins

Noon- Spectator Parking Lots Open

1PM – Spectator Gates Open

3PM - Test and Tune begins

9PM - Test and Tune ends

9PM – Racer Gate closes

10PM – Secure Track

Saturday, June 28, 2008

7AM – Racer Gate Opens

8AM – Will Call Opens

9AM – Spectator Parking Lots Open

9:30 AM – Spectator Gates Open

10:00 AM- Rich’s Driver’s Meeting

11:00 AM – Time Trials Begin

12:00 PM – Tech and Registration Ends

2:30 PM – Second Set of Time Trials Begin

6:00 PM – Deliberations Being (exhibition runs after quiet time)

Sunset – Begin PINKS All Out Final 16