In an effort to increase attendance for its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekend in early September, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles said that the track will "host a USAC dirt track race" to kick off race weekend, according to Jim Ayello of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. In recent years in a late July slot, attendance for IMS' NASCAR weekend has "nose-dived from the hundreds of thousands that used to attend to 40,000-50,000." Boles is "hopeful this latest venture -- in combination with others -- will help reverse a troubling trend." The near-quarter-mile race will be "inside of Turn 3 and is scheduled for either the Thursday or Friday of race weekend." IMS plans to "make an official announcement with final details, including the event name, title sponsor and date, early next week." Boles said that the track is "planning to add enough bleachers to seat 5,000 spectators around the track." IMS began "bringing dirt into the track" yesterday morning. Among the dirt track race’s "biggest attractions could be NASCAR stars with short-track racing roots," including Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/20).
