WINE COUNTRY BECKONS USAC SPRINTS & MIDGETS; CALISTOGA HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Calistoga Speedway will be THE place to be this weekend as the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and USAC Western Midgets present the "Louie Vermeil Classic," the first non-winged Sprint race at the legendary northern California dirt oval in more than 20 years! Race fans will not only get a taste of the best Sprint car racing America has to offer, but they'll also have an opportunity to wet their taste buds with the Napa Valley's finest wine samples.

The wine tasting will be offered by 11 different California wineries. That will occur between 1 and 5 pm on Saturday and tasters will receive a free commemorative Louie Vermeil Classic wine glass and a raffle ticket.

WRA vintage Sprint Cars and Midgets will be on display and participating wineries include: Rosso & Bianco (member of Coppola Wineries), Summers Estates, On The Edge Winery, Caymus Vineyards, Bennett Lane Winery, Chateau Montelena Winery, Saviez Wines & Estates, Zahtila Vineyards, Tudal Winery, William Harrison Winery and Tedeschi Family Winery.

Dick Vermeil, 1999 NFL Coach of the Year, will be on hand to greet fans at the tasting. The raffle tickets will make one eligible for prizes including autographed prints of Bubby & Tony Jones, Dick Vermeil autographed footballs, Dale Earnhardt Jr. prints, autographed items from Mario Andretti and numerous bottles and Magnum bottles of some of Napa Valley's finest wines.

Event programs and t-shirts will also be on sale at the wine tasting event, plus there will be live music.

Saturday's autograph session (2-5 pm) includes racing legends Billy Anderson, Tim Green, Leroy Van Conett, Bill Deschamps, Jimmy Boyd, Rendy Boldrini, Wally Pankratz, Lee James, Jimmy Oskie and Jimmy Sills, plus active competitors Brent Kaeding, Damion Gardner, Jesse Hockett, Daron Clayton, Rip Williams and Cory Kruseman.

Cars take to the race track at 5 pm Saturday.

Live music is again on tap Sunday at Calistoga, with a 3-5 pm autograph session featuring Johnny Anderson, Green, Van Conett, Boldrini, Boyd, Mike Andreetta, Oskie, James and Sills. A complete program of Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint and USAC Western Midget racing will close out Sunday's activities at Calistoga Speedway.

The "Louie Vermeil Classic" is sure to be a highlight of the 2008 USAC racing calendar. Don't miss it!