From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

NASCAR, NHRA Highlight Diverse 2004 Schedule at Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. – The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will highlight a diverse 2004 main-event schedule at Infineon Raceway that also includes the best in sports cars, motorcycles and dragsters.

The Big O Tires 2004 Racing Season will again be headlined by the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, June 25-27, the highest-attended single-day sporting event in Northern California. Robby Gordon, who swept both NASCAR road-course races in 2003, returns as the defending champion in his Cingular Wireless Chevrolet.

The NEXTEL Cup weekend will also feature the NASCAR Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series, as well as the popular Motorock Trans-Am Tour, which will run its feature immediately following the Dodge/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 27.

The racing won’t be limited to the excitement of NASCAR, as the unmatched speed and power of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will also invade Infineon Raceway for the 16th straight year with the FRAM Autolite Nationals, presented by Supercuts, July 30-Aug. 1.

Other premier events include the AMA Kawasaki Showdown, featuring the best in motorcycle racing on the 12-turn road course, April 30-May 2, as well as the Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma American Le Mans Series, July 16-18. The Grand Prix will showcase some of the world’s most exotic sports cars, including Porsche, Audi, Ferrari and Corvette. The event is presented by the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa.

Other events on the main-event calendar for 2004 are the Ferrari Challenge (March 20-21); 18th annual Wine Country Classic Vintage Car Races (June 5-6); and the Team Superstores NHRA Summernationals Division 7 Drag Races (July 2-4) over Fourth of July weekend.

In all, there will be eight great weekends of main-event action planned on both the twisting road courses and world-class quarter-mile drag strip. The eighth event scheduled for the 2004 season will be announced during a press conference in December.

Race fans and competitors will also see plenty of facility enhancements, mainly designed to ensure competitor safety. It continues the raceway’s comprehensive modernization plan, which began in September, 2000. Hillsides at Turns 1 and 6 (Carousel) have been graded, giving racers additional runoff, and the bridges at both turns will be replaced. Moreover, the road course has been fully repaved.

“We’re excited about the terrific lineup of events on our 2004 schedule,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway. “Our fans will have a chance to see the top competitors across the spectrum of motor racing. We’re also excited to unveil the latest facility improvements that will further enhance the raceway experience.”


2004 MAJOR-EVENT SCHEDULE:

* Ferrari Challenge: March 20-21
* AMA Kawasaki Showdown, featuring the Supercuts Superbike Challenge (Sunday main event). There will be main events on both Saturday and Sunday. The weekend is presented by Cycle Gear: April 30-May 2
* TBA: May 14-16.
* Wine Country Classic Vintage Car Races: June 5-6
* Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup: June 25-27
* Team Superstores NHRA Summernationals Division 7 Drag Races: July 2-4
* Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma American Le Mans Series, presented by Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa: July 16-18
* NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals, presented by Supercuts: July 30-Aug. 1.

For ticket information, please call 800-870-RACE (7223), visit www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Nov. 21.