The schedule features 12 dates at 11 different tracks across nine states.

"The 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series East calendar continues to feature key markets and top racetracks throughout the eastern United States," said George Silbermann, NASCAR managing director of racing operations. "The championship represents a challenging mixture of short tracks, road courses, speedways and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series companion events."

The NASCAR Camping World Series East will make its first appearance at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C., on Saturday, April, 25. The .400-mile oval joined the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series last year.

For the fourth year in a row the NASCAR Camping World Series East season will open at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C. on Saturday, April 11. Rookie drivers have taken home the wins at the half-mile oval the last two seasons – Austin Dillon in 2008 and Joey Logano in 2007.

The NASCAR Camping World Series East will close out the 2009 schedule at Dover International Speedway on Friday, Sept. 25 during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at the “Monster Mile.” Matt Kobyluck clinched his first NASCAR Camping World Series East title at Dover in 2008.

The schedule will once again be highlighted by the annual combination event between NASCAR’s top developmental series – the NASCAR Camping World Series East and West – at Iowa Speedway on May, 17. The race attracted NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne in its first two editions, but was won by a NASCAR Camping World Series regular each year – Brian Ickler (2008) and Logano (2007).

A fixture on the NASCAR Camping World Series East schedule since the Loudon, N.H. track opened in 1990, New Hampshire Motor Speedway will once again be the site for a pair of races on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends. New England native Eddie MacDonald swept both NHMS races in 2008. The 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series East race dates are Friday, June 26 and Friday, Sept. 18.

Other 2009 highlights include:

· The series returns to historic South Boston (Va.) Speedway for the third consecutive year with a Saturday, May 30 date. Kobyluck won the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Series East event at the .400 oval in 2007 and Brian Ickler is the defending race winner.

· The series will return to the Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International for the 14th time on Saturday, June 6. There have been 10 different winners in 13 all-time races at 2.45-mile road course. The event will be part of a weekend of racing that includes the Grand-Am Rolex Sport Car Series.

· Saturday, July 11 will see the NASCAR Camping World Series East return to Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway for the 26th time in series history. Trevor Bayne earned his first career victory at the .625-mile oval in 2008.

· Music City Motorplex in Nashville, Tenn., will welcome back the NASCAR Camping World Series East for the third year in a row on Saturday, July 18. Kobyluck took home the guitar trophy in 2008 with his win on the .625-mile oval.

· Adirondack International Speedway in Beaver Falls, N.Y., will play host to the NASCAR Camping World Series East for the eighth year in a row on Saturday, Aug. 1. Kobyluck has won three of the seven previous races at the half-mile oval, including last year.

· The second road course race of the year will take place at Lime Rock Park on Saturday, Aug. 15 in Lakeville, Conn. Kobyluck, who swept both road course events in 2008, is the defending race winner at Lime Rock, a 1.53-mile course which has held 16 NASCAR Camping World Series East races since 1993.

2009 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES EAST SCHEDULE

Date - Track (Length) - Location
Sat., April 11 - Greenville-Pickens Speedway (.5-Mile) - Greenville, S.C.
Sat., April 25 - Tri-County Motor Speedway (.4-Mile) - Hudson, N.C.
Sun., May 17 - Iowa Speedway (.875-Mile) - Newton, Iowa
Sat., May 30 - South Boston Speedway (.4-Mile) - South Boston, Va.
Sat., June 6 - Watkins Glen International (2.45-Mile road course) - Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Fri., June 26 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-Mile) - Loudon, N.H.
Sat., July 11 - Thompson International Speedway (.625-Mile) - Thompson, Conn.
Sat., Aug. 1 - Adirondack International Speedway (.5-Mile) - Beaver Falls, N.Y.
Sat., Aug. 15 - Lime Rock Park (1.53-Mile road course) - Lakeville, Conn.
Fri., Sept. 18 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-Mile) - Loudon, N.H.
Fri., Sept. 25 - Dover International Speedway (1-Mile) - Dover, Del.

Semi-Monthly Racing Commentary
with LEW BOYD
7/7/08 - EDDIE MCUNDERDOG

NASCAR Welcomes Camping World
As New Series Sponsor For
Its Top Developmental Series

DAYTONA, Fla. (Dec. 15, 2007) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today that Camping World, the country’s largest RV and outdoor retailer, will become the title sponsor for NASCAR Camping World Series beginning in 2008, entitling NASCAR’s top developmental series – the long-standing Grand National Division, East and West Series.

Over the years, this series has helped launch the careers of many future NASCAR stars, including current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standouts Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex, Jr., and David Gilliland, along with two-time championship crew chief Greg Zipadelli. As the new title sponsor, Camping World looks to continue the tradition of developing talented young drivers that aspire to go on and excel in the highest levels of NASCAR racing. Recent enhancements to the series included a schedule with an expanded geographic reach, new competition and cost-containment initiatives such as the new “spec engine” and composite body, and a lowered age-limit to 16 for drivers.

“NASCAR’s developmental series are critical to the future of the sport and Camping World’s participation and commitment is a key to the success of every short track competitor and operator,” said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO. “Camping World is the right sponsor at the right time, providing a national banner over our important developmental tours and the NASCAR stars of tomorrow.”

The NASCAR Camping World Series features cars similar in design and appearance to those cars competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The East Series races in key markets in the northeast, along the Atlantic seaboard, and as far west as Iowa. The West Series features events along the Pacific coast, and several western states, reaching as far east as Iowa, where the two separate series meet for a combined event in May. Both series run at a challenging combination of short tracks, intermediates, road courses, and speedways, with a number of races held in combination with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events.

“NASCAR’s developmental series has a rich history of drivers, race tracks and fans and we are pleased with our new role as the series sponsor during its re-launch,” said Marcus Lemonis, Chairman and CEO, Camping World. “We intend to use our resources to promote and support these type of family activities in which our products are used. We were attracted to this opportunity in order to help establish an affordable venue for both the spectator family and the competitor.”

Camping World currently has extensive involvement in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. It has a primary sponsorship relationship with Kevin Harvick Inc., the race team owned by the former West Series champion and current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star. Camping World’s sponsorship with KHI includes primary sponsorship for NASCAR Nationwide Series entries, as well as 19 races as primary sponsor for the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., a former West Series runner-up.

"Camping World has done a great job raising the level of awareness of their brand through their involvement with their NASCAR sponsorships,” Harvick said. “Fans in RVs travel hundreds of thousands of miles each year to attend races all over the country and they are certainly passionate about the sport of racing. I think it's a natural fit."

“I think it’s great that Camping World is getting more involved in the sport,” Hornaday said. “For them to partner with NASCAR to form the Camping World Series is exciting news. Since I raced in the West series earlier in my career and have sponsorship from Camping World now at KHI, I think they will do great things for our sport. This is a great series that has produced some really good drivers over the years.”

In addition, Camping World has a primary NASCAR Nationwide Series sponsorship relationship with Richard Childress Racing, and race sponsorship with three NASCAR Nationwide Series events (Daytona, New Hampshire and California).