Racing underway at Kansas Speedway
Category: Sports
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
Hall dominates as Monarchs win first post-season game
by Dan Vaughan Jr., Monarchs
Lincoln, Nebraska —Matt Hall took the ball for the Kansas City Monarchs (1-0) in game one of the West Division Series Wednesday and showed why he was named the starting pitcher on the American Association Post Season All-Star team.
Hall (1-0) tossed seven innings of one-hit shutout baseball as the Monarchs beat the Lincoln Saltdogs (0-1) 5-2 Wednesday night at Haymarket Park in Lincoln.
With the win the Monarchs need one more win in the best of three-game series to move on to the West Division Championship Series.
The Monarchs got on the board in the first inning with two outs on a solo home run from Ryan Grotjohn off Lincoln ace Greg Minier for a 1-0 lead. From there Minier (0-1) scattered four hits until the seventh.
The Saltdogs got a lead-off single from Justin Byrd to start the game, but that was the only hit Hall allowed the rest of the way. After a two-out walk in the third inning, Hall retired the next 13 batters and left the game after seven. The left-hander struck out eight in seven innings.
In the seventh the Monarchs finally got to Minier. With one out, Jan Hernandez and Casey Gillaspie drew walks. Gio Brusa hit a smash to the keystone corner that turned into an infield single to load the way stations for Kansas City.
Pete Kozma hit another smash to third that ricocheted into foul territory and down the left field line for a double to score two runs. With runners at second and third Lincoln went to right-hander Matt Cronin to take over for Minier.
The Monarchs picked up a run on a passed ball on Skyler Weber and their fifth run on an RBI single from Mallex Smith to give the Monarchs a 5-0 cushion.
Brian Glowicki worked around two base runners in the top of the eighth inning to keep the game 5-0. Jameson McGrane came into the game in the bottom of the ninth. The right-hander allowed a lead-off single to Justin Byrd, but struck out Rayder Ascanio for out number one. The Saltdogs loaded the bases on a single from Ryan Long and walk for Jason Rogers. Former Sioux City Explorer Nate Samson knocked in two runs on a single to right to cut the lead to 5-2.
The Monarchs went to the pen and brought Alex Valdez into the game with the tying run at the plate. Valdez struck out Josh Altman and got a ground ball to short from Wellington Dotel to force out Sampson at second, preserve the win and pick up his first save of the post season.
The Monarchs will be off on Thursday as the series shifts to Kansas City, Kansas.
Kansas City was the only team of the four road teams to win its first-round game Wednesday night. The win was the 39th win in franchise history in the post season.
The Monarchs will play the second game of the playoff series against the Lincoln Saltdogs at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.
Tickets to Monarchs playoff games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.