Girls Have at It: The Women of NASCAR go Toe-to-Toe in Better Half Dash Bandolero Race Before Bank of America 500

Participating in the press conference from Atlanta Motor Speedway were, from left to right, Michelle Gilliland, Nan Zipadelli, Angie Skinner, Trisha Mears, Patricia Driscoll, Ashley Allgaier, Jami McDowell, Melanie Self, Shannon Koch, Wendy Venturini, Jacquelyn Butler, and Billy Mauldin.

 Charlotte Motor Speedway announced today that the Better Half Dash, featuring the women of NASCAR and supporting Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children's Charities, would take place before the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 15.

Katie Kenseth, Angie Skinner, Kelley Earnhardt Among Those to Participate


CONTACT: Scott Cooper, 
Cathy Hein 
(704) 455-3209


 -- For Immediate Release

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 3, 2011) –
The guys will step aside as the ladies put on the firesuits for an all-out, girls-have-at-it battle when the inaugural Better Half Dash gets underway at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the Bank of America 500 pre-race activities on Oct. 15.



The charity race, supporting Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) and Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC), will pit the women of NASCAR against each other in Bandolero cars provided by U.S. Legend Cars International on the speedway’s frontstretch quarter-mile oval.



Participants already entered in the Better Half Dash include Katie Kenseth, wife of 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth; Angie Skinner, wife of 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner; and SPEED television personality Wendy Venturini. Additionally, Kelley Earnhardt, general manager and co-owner of Junior Motorsports, will wave the green flag for the event.



“Matt was pretty excited when he heard I was going to race,” said Katie Kenseth. “This is an exciting event for a great cause and an opportunity for the girls to ‘have at it.’ I think you’ll see most of us are just as competitive as the men. Hopefully the other ladies will have a lot of fun racing for second place.”



The Better Half Dash will start at approximately 2:30 p.m. EDT and will be 25 laps in length, with a competition caution set for Lap 15. There will be two chances at a green-white-checkered finish. Caution laps will not count. Starting order will be determined by random draw prior to the race.



While the better half is toiling away in the driver’s seat, the other half has the option to serve as crew chief or spotter for the race, but drivers and crew members are not permitted to make any engine, chassis or suspension modifications. They can, however, give advice.



“I have already started my research into how to drive,” said Angie Skinner. “My husband’s response was you let off the gas and turn when you feel you are too tight. But then I said, ‘How much do you let off and how long?’ He responded, ‘If you knew that you’d be a professional race car driver.’ Can I have a different ‘other half’ for this race please?’



The Better Half Dash purse will be paid to the driver’s charity of choice, with $5,000 going to the winner’s charity, $3,000 for the second place finisher and $2,000 for third. Fans will also have the opportunity to donate $10 to MRO and SCC through the completion of the Bank of America 500 by texting “MOTOR” to 20222.



“What a great and exciting opportunity to help support and raise money for MRO & SCC,” said Better Half Dash racer Trisha Mears, wife of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Casey Mears. “MRO has been such a huge part of our racing lives and SCC is a very rewarding charity that has helped no many children throughout the years. I’m looking forward to raising money and having fun in the racecar. And can someone ask Katie Kenseth if she can drive in reverse?”



“MRO is extremely thankful to partner with Speedway Children's Charities on this event and thankful for the support of Charlotte Motor Speedway and the drivers who are participating,” said Billy Mauldin, president of MRO. “We’re so excited to be a part of this fun event, it’s time to give these ladies the chance to show the guys they know a thing or two about racing.

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Two Better Half Dash practice sessions are scheduled for Sept. 26 and 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.



Drivers currently entered are Ashley Allgaier, Jacquelyn Butler (David Ragan), Patricia Driscoll (Kurt Busch), Michelle Gilliland, Kenseth, Shannon Koch, Jami McDowell, Mears, Melanie Self (MRO), Skinner, Sabrina Simpson (Joey Logano), Venturini (SPEED) and Nan Zipadelli.



Updates on the race and entrants can be found at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.



Fans can purchase two frontstretch tickets to the Bank of America 500, with the best views of the world’s largest HDTV, for just $99. Tickets for all October races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).



For more information on the October races and other events, connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.