MADISON — Camping World Truck Series is returning to Gateway Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 13, for another round with Ameren for the Drivin' for Linemen 200.
NASCAR took a break from running at Gateway with the Camping World truck series and Xfinity series schedule from 2010 until 2014. But with hopes to build on the successful return to the St. Louis region last year, the NASCAR truck series race will return to the 1.25-mile NASCAR Speedway to bring awareness of the important role the nation’s electrical linemen play in safely restoring power to America’s homes and businesses.
“There are many parallels between a professional truck race and the work utility crews do every day,” said Richard J. Mark, President of Ameren Illinois. “Effective communication, utilization of the latest technology, and a commitment to safety are all critical, whether it’s winning a race or keeping the lights on. That’s why we think the Drivin’ for Linemen event is the perfect way to recognize all Ameren employees and the industry professionals for their hard work and dedication.”
Last year, motorsports fans from 27 states traveled to the St. Louis region to see some of the best professional racing in the world. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is an increasingly competitive series that continues to grow in popularity.
The NASCAR race at Gateway Motorsports Park will be the eighth of 23 national truck series races on the calendar for 2015.
“Our 2014 race marked the historical return of NASCAR to St. Louis,” Gateway Motorsports Park owner and President Curtis Francois said. “Thanks to civic leaders like those at Ameren, this region can enjoy motorsports at the highest levels. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to host a national NASCAR event and also raise important awareness to the men and women of the electrical industry who do so much to keep us safe and to keep our lives moving forward.”
The 2014 truck race at Gateway offered NASCAR fans exactly what they wanted — plenty of drama. Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, who drives in the Xfinity series, overcame early-race setbacks and avoided late-race trouble to capture his second career win in his first race in St. Louis.
For tickets for the June 13 Nascar Camping World Truck series “Drivin for Linemen” 200, visit www.gatewaymsp.com and click on the tickets tab for NASCAR tickets or call (618) 215-8888.
Employing more than 8,500 personnel, Ameren serves 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers across a 64,000-square-mile service territory. For information, visit Ameren.com.
The vision for the new Gateway Motorsports Park is to create a racing lifestyle that attracts enthusiasts, professionals, amateurs and car lovers by harnessing the energy and passion of the thousands of Midwestern racing fans.
Located five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering nearly 200 acres, Gateway is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the region. Gateway encompasses a quarter-mile NHRA-sectioned drag strip, 1.25-mile NASCAR Speedway, 1.6-mile road course, a state-of-the-art Karting facility and a new 14-acre, multipurpose dirt off-road venue.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice begins at 9:30 a.m. and concludes at noon. Great Clips will sponsor pre-qualifying and post-race live music. Pole qualifying begins at 4:45 p.m. with pre-race ceremonies starting at 6:30 p.m. The green flag will wave for the second annual Drivin’ For Linemen 200 at 7:30 p.m.