| MICHIGAN
INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Sunday,
August 16, 2009 on ESPN
Residents
take advantage of 99-cent gas in Livonia
Photo
credit: www.mispeedway.com
LIVONIA,
Mich. -- People in Michigan haven’t seen
gas prices at 99 cents per gallon since the early 1990’s.
However, with the help of CARFAX and Michigan International
Speedway, a gallon of gas was less than a buck Thursday
morning in Livonia, Mich.
For three hours
(6 to 9 a.m.) thousands of area residents took advantage
of the promotion, which was held in support of the “Show
Me the CARFAX Race Weekend,” which takes place at
MIS with the NASCAR Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 on Saturday,
August 15 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CARFAX 400
on Sunday, August 16.
With about
6,800 gallons pumped in a three-hour period, many residents
and race fans drove away happy filling up their gas tanks
for $20 or less.
“I was
the second person in line and have been waiting at this
station since 1:35 a.m. this morning,” Tony Penev
of Farmington Hills, Mich. said. “This is the first
time in my life I’ve ever filled up for 99 cents
per gallon. I figured that if I got here early enough
I would have a good chance to get the cheap price. It
was worth the wait.”
When CARFAX
and MIS representatives arrived at the gas station at
5:30 a.m. hundreds of cars were already lined up awaiting
the great deal, which saved folks approximately $1.50
per gallon (gas was $2.49 per gallon at most surrounding
stations). The promotion was not scheduled to start until
7 a.m., but racetrack and Carfax representatives decided
to get started early because of the traffic backups along
8 Mile and Middlebelt Roads – two major arteries
in Livonia, a suburb of Detroit.
Several participants
ran out of gas throughout the morning, requiring speedway
and Carfax staff to push cars to the pumps. Maurice Simpson’s
Buick Regency was bone dry by the time he showed up at
the station.
“I guess
I ran it a little too low. It’s been on ‘E’
for a while now,” Simpson said, pointing to his
gas gauge. “I really need to save a few dollars
right now.”
The 2009 gas promotion is the third year Carfax and MIS
have partnered to support Detroit-area drivers in advance
of the NASCAR events at the Brooklyn racetrack.
“This
year’s pump tour seems a little more significant
than in year’s past,” MIS Director of Communications
Sammie Lukaskiewicz said. “Not only is Carfax sponsoring
the entire NASCAR weekend at MIS, which is exciting for
us, but it just seems Michiganders — Detroiters
especially — need a break and a little extra something
to brighten their day.”
Tickets are
still available for the Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 and
Sprint Cup Series CARFAX 400 for as low as $40. For additional
information, call the MIS Ticket Hotline at 800-354-1010
or visit MISpeedway.com.
Nestled in
the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan
International Speedway is the Great Escape, a venerable
NASCAR national park where fans can get away and enjoy
the very best in racing and camaraderie. It’s the
love of racing and the thrill of a great time for race
fans and drivers alike.
Source:
Michigan International Speedway
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To
order tickets:
Call
the MIS Ticket Hotline
(800)
354-1010 or (517) 592-6672
Order
online 24/7 at www.MISpeedway.com
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