Mayors Race To Kick-Off Friday Night Drags
FORT WORTH, Texas (July 8, 2011) – Newly-elected Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne took to a different kind of mayor’s race Friday evening as the two dignitaries helped kick off the third season of Friday Night Drags presented by SCION at Texas Motor Speedway.
The competition was met with excitement as both mayors placed a bet on the special drag races. Price wagered Fort Worth barbeque for Van Duyne and the Irving City Council, while Van Duyne offered seats from the former home of the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Stadium, to Price and the members of the Fort Worth City Council. In the end it was Van Duyne’s SCION tC edging Price’s SCION tC in the third of the best-of-three races to win the Mayor’s Cup trophy.
Van Duyne, who earned her second crown in as many days as she was officially sworn in as mayor of Irving on Thursday, was ecstatic about earning the victory.
“It feels good, and let’s face it, Mayor Price put on a really, really strong race and that second race there was
like hairs [between us], so obviously it feels good,” Van Duyne said. “If I had the opportunity I would come back.”
Developed in 2009, Friday Night Drags presented by SCION was put in place to help curtail illegal street racing in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Since the program started, 742 different drivers have participated and a record 227 racers competed during the season finale in 2009.
With both mayors targeting goals to improve their communities, both spoke highly of the efforts of Friday Night Drags presented by SCION to help curb illegal street racing in the Metroplex.
“It’s very dangerous for kids and it’s very illegal,” Price said of street racing. “It’s not just dangerous for those kids driving, it’s dangerous for other citizens who have to encounter it. So we need to encourage all of them to come to Texas Motor Speedway. Everything’s here if they need anything – they will be well protected because the necessary safety equipment is here. It’s just a great opportunity for drivers.”
“Hats off to Texas Motor Speedway for taking the initiative to do something like this for the community,” Van Duyne said. “I really think it’s a great thing for the community and being mayor, obviously one of our top priorities – our top priority – is the safety of our public, and this program is exactly spot on with what we need.”
Friday Night Drags presented by SCION runs for six consecutive weeks with the season finale set for Aug. 12. Racers accumulate points during the six weeks, competing in five different divisions (ATI Mission Driven Tuner, Street Bandit, Sportsman, Street Outlaw, Black Smoke Warrior) with the driver that has tallied the most points in each division crowned the champion.
Fans can enjoy the excitement of Friday Night Drags presented by SCION every Friday for just $7 or they can pick up a special “2 for 1” coupon at participating Roanoke businesses. Participating businesses can be found at www.texasmotorspeedway.com.
