Toyota Dealers Help in Saturday Night Salute of Armed Forces at Irwindale Speedway

Special Sports Bottle and Free Soft Drink Fill-Up for Military

Irwindale, Calif. (May 22, 2013) - - The Southern California Toyota Dealers have teamed up with Irwindale Speedway to try to make an already special night just that little bit better for some of America's service people this Memorial Day weekend.

"We'd already announced a $5.00 general admission price for all military service people, active or retired, for Saturday night's NASCAR races, and had set up a number of pre-race tributes and special guest appearances when our friends at the dealer's association offices called," said track President/CEO Jim Cohan. "They indicated that they'd like to treat all the service people who join us on Saturday night to soft drink," he explained.

Quite a soft drink! ... Toyota representatives will pass out some very cool-lookng reusable sports bottles to the first 1000 members of the military through Irwindale's gates on Saturday night. "Each bottle will be accompanied by a coupon that'll be good for a free fountain drink fill-up at any of the track-operated snack bars. The idea is to make these good folks feel right at home here at the Speedway, to thank them in our small way for what they've done, and for what they're ready to do to protect our country," Cohan explained.

The night will be presented by the Event Center's on-site stock car driving school: LA Racing Experience in association with Garden State Fireworks who will mount a fiery aerial salute to the Armed Services at the close of the night's racing.

Members of the famous Patriot Guard Riders will circle the track on their motorcycles, and a number of the young ladies from the "Pinups for Patriots" organization will be on hand to pose with fans among a cadre of military vehicles which will be assembled on the track's infield.

In addition, representatives of the Hollywood Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Ladies Auxiliary, and the American Legion will be on hand and presented to the fans during the opening show. Irwindale Mayor Pro Tem H. Manuel Ortiz will be in attendance on Saturday night as well as Navy Reserve Lieutenant Uriel Macias of Azusa. A true "home town hero" Macias will be shipping out for duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan on May 31. Macias is a long time member of the Azusa city council and, like Mister Ortiz, he's been serving as that town's Mayor Pro Tem as well.

Well-known country and western star Josh Gracin will sing the national anthem. Gracin, who served in the United States Marine Corps, will be flying to Irwindale directly from our nation's capitol following an engagement at the Penfed Foundation Night of Heroes on Friday. The popular singer was an American Idol finalist the second season of that show while he was still serving in the Marine Corps.

Fans are urged to get to the Speedway early on Saturday to take part in the special pre-race ceremonieswhich begin at 6:15pm right after the Speedway's very popular On-Track Autograph Session.

Discount tickets for May 25's NASCAR Slute to our

Armed Forces are available on line right now at: www.irwindaleeventcenter.com [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013pXIVWh-rGLhEHDTfQwu_g71jYFdlb2w3nUB1MiTWrB60qXyZ91Pooe6JOUsk_--aPuvsAu75_nxjoR2m5pNqrWKREvOwLVmev50A9wyPq67F8w1SiLLW0stXiyuuQXqw7d3zEKDx1k=].

IRWINDALE EVENT CENTER | 500 Speedway Drive | Irwindale | CA | 91706

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