Category: News

Kansas Speedway enhances fan experience for Sept. 9-11 race weekend

Kansas Speedway has made some upgrades to the venue just in time for the Hollywood Casino 400 presented by Barstool Sportsbook.

Fan amenities and certain locations within the track have been reconstructed to enrich the overall fan experience for the Sept. 9-11 weekend.

“These changes are all about bringing our passionate fans even closer to the excitement than ever before,” Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren said in a news release. “Fan experience is such a huge part of what we do here at Kansas Speedway, and we truly want to make the upcoming race weekend one that everyone will enjoy and remember.”

The Midway is among many locations throughout the venue to undergo changes. Previously, the Midway was located outside ticket gate B, and has remained largely unchanged since 2001. Now, the Midway will be located inside ticket Gate B, allowing fans to enjoy all the merchandise and vendors within the gates of the Speedway. This also brings fans closer to the interactive displays and experiences that are available during the race weekend.

The Midway will feature various entertainment acts and driver questions and answers throughout the weekend on the Trackside Live stage. The traveling VAU Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall will also be on display in the Midway, accompanied by a mahogany battlefield cross sculpture. The exhibit is part of a weekend-long tribute to the nation’s service members and first responders, in honor of Sunday’s day of remembrance.

Like the Midway, the WISE Power FanWalk hasn’t seen many upgrades since the early 2000s, however, the upcoming race weekend at Kansas Speedway will provide increased fan access to drivers and teams. The new Garage Experience, offered ahead of Sunday’s race, will significantly enhance the FanWalk by granting up-close views of the NASCAR Cup Series garages and the cars within them. Fans can peer inside as the crews tweak, test and tune all the different aspects of their race cars ahead of the action.

The Red Carpet Driver Walk is another new addition to the WISE Power FanWalk. On Sunday, prior to the Hollywood Casino 400 presented by Barstool Sportsbook, fans can line the Red Carpet with their sharpies at the ready, as the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series make their way to the 1948 VIP room in the media center.

The WISE Power FanWalk ticket is $15 on Friday and Saturday and only valid with grandstand ticket or RV admission. Fans can access the FanWalk on Sunday by purchasing a pre-race pass, priced at $75 and free to season ticket holders.

The Hospitality Village, a premier destination for large groups attending races at Kansas Speedway, also has a new location, just inside the Gate C entrance. The previous village site, the GEICO Turn 1 Terrace, will be converted into an additional campground featuring 16 new terrace spaces, all with an exceptional view overlooking the 1.5-mile track. It will also include 40 non-terrace spaces.

The weekend gets rolling on Friday, Sept. 9, with the Kansas Lottery 200, the last race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs’ Round of 10.

The racing continues Saturday with a doubleheader, featuring the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Kansas Lottery 300 and the ARCA Menards Series’ Kansas Lottery 150.

Then on Sunday, following a pre-race concert by country music star and U.S. army veteran Craig Morgan, and a performance of “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood, drivers from the NASCAR Cup Series will compete in the Hollywood Casino 400 presented by Barstool Sportsbook – the penultimate race in the Playoffs’ Round of 16.

Admission to the pre-race concert is free with purchase of ticket to Sunday’s race. For more details on the recent upgrades to the Kansas Speedway fan experience and additional ticket information, visit www.kansasspeedway.com.

Schedule at Kansas Speedway:

Kansas Lottery 200, Camping World Truck Series, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.

Kansas Lottery 300, NASCAR Xfinity Series, 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10.

Kansas Lottery 150, ARCA Menards Series race, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10.

Hollywood Casino 400 presented by Barstool Sportsbook, NASCAR Cup Series race, 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Pre-race concert by Craig Morgan at noon Sunday.

  • Story from Kansas Speedway

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves crosses party line — again — to endorse Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — Former two-term Republican Gov. Bill Graves affirmed Thursday a cross-party endorsement of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Graves, who served as Kansas governor from 1995 to 2003, said in a statement he would urge Kansas voters to reelect Kelly in November.

“In 2018, I broke party lines to support Governor Kelly because Kansas needed a steady hand at the wheel to put Kansas back on the map,” Graves said. “Over the last four years, Governor Kelly has done just that. She is a common-sense leader who continues to govern from the middle to get things done for Kansans.”

Kelly is in a contest with Republican nominee Derek Schmidt, the state’s attorney general; Libertarian Seth Cordell; and state Sen. Dennis Pyle, who is running as an independent. Schmidt’s candidacy has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump and former Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, both Republicans.

Graves, who also was secretary of state in Kansas from 1987 to 1995, said Kelly was “the only candidate who can bring both parties together to deliver for Kansans.”

Kelly said she appreciated Graves’ support and shared his dedication to public service, fiscal responsibility and education.

“At the end of the day, all Kansans, regardless of political party, want the same things: safe roads, a balanced budget and high-quality schools,” Kelly said.

Schmidt and Kelly appeared Wednesday night at a question-and-answer forum sponsored by the Kansas Chamber with other statewide political candidates. The two candidates for governor are scheduled to debate Saturday at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson and Oct. 5 at an event organized by the Johnson County Bar Association.

Schmidt said he would welcome the opportunity to expand the debate schedule to appearances on television and in Garden City and Johnson County.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

See more at https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/former-gov-graves-crosses-party-line-again-to-endorse-democratic-gov-kelly/

KCK police officer charged with felony

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said today that felony charges have been filed against a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer.

Officer Deotis Brown was charged in a domestic violence case involving physical violence with an adult romantic partner, according to Dupree. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated witness intimidation were the charges filed.

Charges first were filed in Jackson County, Missouri, on Saturday, he said. These include three counts involving a domestic incident.

Then after the witness came forward about another incident in February in Wyandotte County, charges were filed Thursday in Wyandotte County, according to Dupree.

The officer has been placed on suspension without pay, according to Chief Karl Oakman. He will be suspended without pay pending the outcome of the trial or the process. If he is convicted, he will be terminated, Chief Oakman said.

Dupree said domestic violence is a real concern. Sometimes victims are afraid to come forward. He encouraged victims to come forward and get help before it’s too late.

Chief Oakman said as with any crime, no one is above the law and everyone will be held accountable. Also, officers could be victims of crime and there is an opportunity for them to come forward as well, he said. He said the police department is reaching out to do what it can to help alleviate this type of violence in the community.

Thirty-four percent of the homicides in Wyandotte County this year were domestic-related, Chief Oakman said.

Brown has been employed with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department since 2017. Bond was set at $40,000 in the Wyandotte County case, Dupree said.