Lowe's Motor Speedway (LMS) officials vowed Wednesday
to return Winston Cup racing "to the people who made it what
it is today" by offering reduced ticket prices for the three
Winston Cup events held at LMS, according to Jim Utter of
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. The price reduction was unveiled by SMI
Chair Bruton Smith and President Humpy Wheeler as part of
the "Fans First" program, variations of which will appear at
other SMI tracks. The two also "challeng[ed]" other track
owners to "make ticket prices more affordable" and
Charlotte-area hotels to "stop raising prices for race
weekend stays." Smith: "We have come too far and worked too
hard to build this sport to let greed erode any of our fan
base. I'm willing to be the first to do something about
it." Under the "Fans First" program, 1,400 tickets to the
Coca-Cola 600 at LMS will sell for $19, while 2,000 general
admission tickets will be available for $25. Also, starting
with 2001 ticket sales, customers will have 90 days to renew
reserved seats -- a 45 day extension. Customers will also
be allowed to put a 50% deposit with their renewal order and
pay the balance in 180 days (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/24).
