From a press release:

Formula USA Announces Test & Tune Days, Houston Raceway Park April 25-26

AURORA, Ill (Thursday, April 11, 2002) – Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division announced today that Formula USA and Houston Raceway Park are cooperating to provide two days of testing for production based motorcycle dirt trackers prior to the Foremost Insurance Houston Half-Mile, round 1 of the Formula USA National Dirt Track Series, presented by Drag Specialties.

With bonus money offered by Formula USA along with contingency by several motorcycle manufacturers for production chassis motorcycles, several riders and teams are rapidly preparing for the 2002 Formula USA National Dirt Track Series presented by Drag Specialties. The Formula USA Production Based Chassis bonus for select series events including the season opener in Houston is a total of $5,000 with $2,000 going to the highest placing production chassis.

Mike Kidd, vice president of Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division, said, “Our vision for the growth of dirt track motorcycle racing is simple; race what the dealers actually sell. Having motorcycles on the track that spectators can relate to will certainly help grow the sport and we are fortunate to have our opener with a promoter that is willing to work with us while developing our new class structure.”

Aftermarket racing chassis has been the choice of professional dirt track riders for decades. However with the new lightweight versatile 4-stroke racing motorcycles on the market, Formula USA is creating a class structure to increase support to dirt track racing and to increase spectator attendance. Although the future will call for production chassis only, the 2002 season will see aftermarket racing chassis and production chassis competing together.

Bob Moran, Formula USA dirt track director, said, “I believe we have done our homework and developed rules for a very competitive and interesting season. This test will be very beneficial for everyone to insure competitive racing throughout the year.”

The Formula USA Test & Tune Day in Houston will be exclusively available and free of charge to riders entered in the Foremost Insurance Houston Half-Mile event.

Formula USA Test & Tune schedule:

Thursday, April 25th
3:00PM – Gates Open
4:00PM – Tech Inspection
6:30PM – Riders Meeting
7:00PM – Practice
9:00PM – Practice Concludes

Friday, April 26th
12:00PM – Gates Open
1:00PM – Tech Inspection
2:30PM – Riders Meeting
3:00PM – Practice
5:30PM – Break/Track Preparation
7:00PM – Practice
9:00PM – Practice Concludes

The Foremost Insurance Houston Half-Mile, season opener of the Formula USA National Dirt Track Series, takes place Saturday night April 27th at Houston Raceway Park. Kids can see it all for just $5, and adult tickets are $18 in advance and $2 more the day of show. Tickets for the Houston Half-Mile can be purchased at Houston Raceway Park, by calling 281-383-7223, your local Ticketmaster outlet, or online at www.dirttrack.com.

Houston Raceway Park is located east of Houston in Baytown, From downtown Houston take Interstate 10 east towards Beaumont. Take the Hwy. 146 exit which is exit #797. Take a right on Hwy. 146 and go to the first stop light which is FM 565. Take a left on 565 and Houston Raceway Park will be on the left side about 3 miles.

For more information, visit www.houstonraceway.com or www.dirttrack.com.