Virginia Festival of Speed Returns to VIR This Weekend Alton, Va. (June 22) Two-wheeled enthusiasts in the Southside Virginia area have a treat in store this weekend, June 24-26, as Formula USA and the Championship Cup Series return to beautiful VIRginia International Raceway for the fifth annual Virginia Festival of Speed. Formula USA is a premier motorcycle road racing organization for professional riders. The Championship Cup Series has been the leader in Sportsman level motorcycle road racing since 1984. The Virginia Festival of Speed will provide a combination of the best sportsman and professional motorcycle road racers going handlebar-to-handlebar at up to 160mph over the 2.25-mile VIR North Course for their share of more than $190,000 in purse and prizes. “VIR is truly one of the favorite venues for the competitors in the Championship Cup Series and Formula USA,” said series promotions manager Ryan Hoyler. “The facility is just beautiful, and the track layout demands that our riders have both finesse and horsepower if they hope for a win. Formula USA events always provide the highest level of competition as pros dash for cash and prizes, and the fans are in for a great weekend of racing.” Jeff Wood has dominated Formula USA this season, as he seems to break lap records and climb to the top of the podium at every track. Wood had to squeeze a little more from his Suzuki last weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway when Robert Jensen’s Yamaha shadowed him almost every race. Jensen, the 2004 Formula USA Champion, stole the checkered flag in the Formula Sportbike event. Fans can expect fierce competition between these two at VIR. The action will get underway on Friday morning with practice sessions for all groups. Racing will start at noon with a 250km race for the FUSA Team Challenge competitors, followed by sprint races for the CCS groups. Saturday’s schedule includes warm-ups in the morning, with seven-lap CCS feature races starting at noon. The day will conclude with 15-minute qualifying sessions for the Formula USA groups. Sunday morning will have warm-ups followed by another group of seven-lap CCS sprint races, with the Formula USA feature races commencing at noon. Tickets for the Virginia Festival of Speed will be available at the gate, priced at $35 for a three-day ticket, $25 for a two-day (Saturday and Sunday) ticket and $15 for a single-day (Sunday) ticket. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult. Ticket prices include onsite parking and pedestrian paddock access. Camping fees are $25 for the weekend. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, which is a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; the VIR Safety and Security Institute, which provides specialized training for U.S. Government and military groups; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room hotel overlooking the track; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. VIR made history from 1957 to 1974 and is doing so again. The renovated original circuit has 17 challenging turns and 130 feet of elevation change. In addition to spectator events, the track is also available to rent for testing, driving schools and club days. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or contact VIR at 434-822-7700. For more information on Formula USA and the Championship Cup Series, visit their website at www.formulausa.com.