Dale Jr Championship could mean free tickets...in Las Vegas

What would a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship by Dale Earnhardt Jr. mean to race fans?

Answer: For 8,888 fans who participate in a unique promotion offered by Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it would mean free tickets to the spring 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at LVMS.

In one of the most extraordinary promotions in sports history, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is offering free tickets to thousands of race fans should Dale Earnhardt Jr. power his No. 88 Chevrolet to the 2008 Sprint Cup title.

The promotion, known as Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot, is sponsored by the South Point Hotel of Las Vegas. Fans can renew their weekend race tickets for 2009 - and be included in the promotion - Wednesday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 17. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entries for the promotion will end at the scheduled start of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 (12:30 p.m. PST)

"Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been the most popular driver in NASCAR for the past five years, and we're excited to give race fans a stake in his quest for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "This promotion is unprecedented in our sport. We've bought the best insurance policy available, so if Dale Jr. is fortunate enough to win the title, we'll be ecstatic for all the fans who receive free tickets to our spring 2009 event."

Said South Point Hotel owner Michael Gaughan: "The South Point has become synonymous with NASCAR, and we're thrilled to be a part of Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot. Our family has been involved in racing for many years, and we have a very strong relationship with Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the entire racing community.

Thousands of race fans stay at the South Point during NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas, so we're excited about the fans' opportunities to take advantage of this creative promotion. We wish the best of luck to Dale Jr. and his legions of followers."

Individual ticket-holders will have five days next week (Feb. 13-17) to renew their Weekend Package tickets for the spring 2009 NASCAR Weekend at LVMS. The people renewing the first 8,888 tickets - reflecting Earnhardt Jr.'s car No. 88 - will be refunded the entire ticket amount for next spring's Sprint Cup event on Sunday of NASCAR Weekend - if Dale Jr. wins the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. As long as the number has not exceeded 8,888, the speedway will continue renewals until the scheduled start of the Daytona 500. The only way to participate in Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot is to call the LVMS Ticket Services department at 1-800-644-4444 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 13-16 and 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. (All times PST.)

Tickets for the 2008 NASCAR Weekend, as well as credentials for the fan-interactive Neon Garage, are still available. Race fans can call 1-800-644-4444 or log on to www.lvms.com.