Stars Set to Shine at Inaugural Pennzoil 400

MIAMI (Nov. 11, 1999) – The stars will shine this weekend for the long-awaited debut of NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing in South Florida. Just like a Hollywood premier, Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Kmart and Saturday’s HotWheels.com 300 at Miami will be attended by Arnold Palmer, Jay Leno, Orlando Hernandez, and many other sports and entertainment celebrities.

Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer will be the Grand Marshal for Sunday’s inaugural event. Television star Jay Leno will drive the pace car, leading the field on the parade lap.

On Saturday, "King" Richard Petty will give the command to start engines for the 1999 NASCAR Busch Series finale. Waving the green flag will be his son, Kyle Petty.

Enjoying the racing from pit road from the world of baseball will be Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, star pitcher for the World Champion New York Yankees, and his brother, former Florida Marlins World Series MVP, Livan Hernandez. The duo will be following the debut of the Hispanic Racing Team, along with veteran Indy Car driver Roberto Guerrero and his brother, 2000 HRT driver Jaime Guerrero.

Famed professional fisherman Hank Parker, host of an angling show on TNN, will be rooting for his son, Hank Jr., in Saturday’s HotWheels.com 300. Joe Gibbs, who coached the Washington Redskins to a pair of Super Bowl victories, will be in the pits overseeing his two NASCAR Winston Cup teams in the Pennzoil 400 presented by Kmart.

A limited number of two-event tickets are still available by calling (305) 230-RACE. Speedway officials, along with local and state law enforcement agencies, are requesting that people with tickets plan to arrive early and review the traffic plans for alternate routes. For additional information, visit the Speedway’s new official web site, www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com.