Richard Petty Driving Experience Announces First-Ever “Canadian Summer Tour”
May 31, 2011 (Toronto, ON)– Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE), the North-Carolina-based worldwide leader in NASCAR stock car ride and drive entertainment, announced today that it is coming north with a series of dates in July, marking the first-time motorsports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to drive one of “The King’s” cars on a Canadian racetrack.
Richard Petty Driving Experience – named for the 7-Time NASCAR Cup Champion and 2010 Hall of Fame Inductee – will visit three tracks in Ontario and one in Nova Scotia during its inaugural “Canadian Summer Tour”; Kawartha Downs & Speedway (Fraserville, ON), Delaware Speedway (Delaware, ON), Sunset International Speedway (Innisfil, ON) and Riverside International Speedway (Antigonish, NS).
“We’re real excited to bring the Driving Experience to Canada this summer” said Petty, who was on hand for today’s announcement in Toronto. “I know, first-hand, that some of the greatest fans in the world are right here. I loved coming here to race back in the day and I know they’re going to love getting in our race cars.” It was a fitting setting for the announcement, as Petty’s first-ever NASCAR-race took place at Toronto’s CNE stadium in 1958.
“We’ve had thousands of Canadians travel to Las Vegas, Orlando and many other tracks at which we run for the opportunity to drive a Petty race car”, said Mike Bartelli, Chief Marketing Officer of Petty Holdings, LLC and Richard Petty Driving Experience. “We look forward to seeing some of them again, on their home tracks, as well as introducing many more to our unique brand of motorsports entertainment.”
The “Richard Petty Driving Experience Canadian Summer Tour” will kick off on July 9th at Kawartha and includes eleven days on the aforementioned tracks over a nearly three week period, wrapping up at Riverside on July 24th. RPDE will offer the “Rookie Experience,” its signature driving program, and a “High-Speed Ride-Along”, which simulates a NASCAR qualifying run, in scheduled sessions during the tour.
“Having Richard and his guys come here is a big deal,” said Mark Dilley, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Driver and Sunset International Speedway General Manager. “I’m thrilled as a racer, for Canadian race fans, for Sunset Speedway and for my fellow track promoters. This is going to be special”
Reservations for both driving experiences and Ride-Along’s are required and can be made by calling 1-800-237-3889. For complete details, visit www.drivepetty.com/CAN-tour.
About Petty Holdings – Headquartered in Concord, NC, Petty Holdings, LLC owns and operates Richard Petty Driving Experience, as well as other Petty and Richard Petty branded and licensed ventures.
About Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE) – RPDE is the worldwide leader in NASCAR stock car ride and drive entertainment, available at more than 20 major speedways in the U.S. It has base locations in Las Vegas, Orlando, Concord N.C and Kansas City. RPDE also produces and facilitates auto manufacturer ride and drive programs, safe driving programs, mobile marketing events and motorsports-related production services for the television and film industry. Website: www.drivepetty.com
