CONTACT: Matt Kentfield, 51 Sports

Bill Elliott to Start Engines for SpeedFest 2009 at Lanier

NASCAR Champion to be Grand Marshal for Feature Day of SpeedFest Weekend Jan. 25^th

BRASELTON, GA (January 19, 2009) – As if the star-studded fields of the top Super and Pro Late Model talents weren't enough for SpeedFest 2009 weekend at Braselton, Georgia's Lanier National Speedway, SpeedFest and Lanier officials have announced that hometown hero and NASCAR Champion Bill Elliott will be the grand marshal for SpeedFest's feature events on Sunday, January 25^th, at Lanier.

Elliott will make the call to fire engines before watching his Bill Elliott Driver Development driver Casey Roderick take to Lanier's 3/8-mile surface for double duty in the Pro and Super Late Model features on Sunday with a chance at a big payday for winning both features.

"I'm very happy to be involved with Lanier and their SpeedFest activities this weekend," said Elliott. "It's always fun when we come to Lanier with my son Chase in his Legends Car, but I'm usually wearing the crew chief hat so I am busy getting his car ready and focusing on him. It will be nice to have some time at SpeedFest to meet with the fans and to support Lanier and the grassroots racing that drives our sport.

"I'm especially eager to watch Casey run in both races. It will be his first Super Late Model start and he's up against some big names. He's had some great runs this year, and we're all hoping for another strong finish that might attract some sponsorship interest so we can really get him going this year."

Having a NASCAR Champion, and hero to many racers and race fans, at Lanier National Speedway to take part in the first major Late Model event in the Southeast has made SpeedFest even more of a can't-miss for fans in the region and beyond.

"It's always exciting to have Bill here, especially for SpeedFest," said Terry Roberts, General Manager of Lanier National Speedway. "Bill is an icon in the sport, and he's never forgotten where he came from. That's very important in this sport. On a personal level, I'm excited because I've been a big Bill Elliott fan for years.

"The track is excited to have Bill here for SpeedFest weekend. The fans are excited because they'll have a chance to meet and talk to him. Everyone's really looking forward to this weekend and now to have Bill and his family here for SpeedFest has made the event just that more special."

SpeedFest 2009 weekend will kick off with an open practice day on Friday, January 23^rd, at Lanier National Speedway for all Pro and Super Late Model competitors. More practice and qualifying events for both divisions will take place on Saturday, January 24^th, with the 200-lap Super Late Model and the 100-lap Pro Late Model events going green on Sunday, January 25^th.

Entry forms for the Super Late Model portion of SpeedFest weekend are currently available on both craracing.net and lanierspeedway.com, as well as Speed51.com, the official website of SpeedFest 2009.

Entry forms for the Pro Late Model portion of the weekend are available at lanierspeedway.com, as well as Speed51.com

For more information on SpeedFest 2009, be sure to check out speed51.com, craracing.net and lanierspeedway.com. If you have any questions regarding the event, please call the respective series or track representative.