IndyCar Returning To Milwaukee 2014

KevinWI

KevinWI

Oldest Operating Motor Speedway In The World
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Hearing from a friend who works at an ad agency that ABC Supply has signed on to be the title sponsor for the Milwaukee IndyCar race next year.

It will be held in August and Andretti will still be the promoter but is dropping the "IndyFest" gimmick that tried to tie it into the other Milwaukee summer festivals.

This is literally just breaking.
 
Some information is slowly being updated on the webpage. Dates been announced as August 16 - 17, 2014 (I assume Saturday 16th is practice/qualifying/drinking day and 17th is race day). Official name of the race is ABC Supply Wisconsin 250. Very happy it's coming back but would have been nice if it had its historic date as the weekend after Indianapolis.
 
"Everybody goes to Milwaukee after Indy."
ABC makes sense, the June race was the A.J. Foyt 225 from 2004 - 2009. Looking forward to it, although that means making another trip up north the week after Oshkosh.
 
Press Release! Looks like the IndyFest thing is staying. Having the race on Sunday and having the practice/festival day on Saturday is probably a better idea. I don't know how many people skipped work for "Skip Friday" the last two years.

INDYCAR Racing to Return to Milwaukee for August Event
ABC Supply Company and Andretti Sports Marketing announce plans for the
2014, 2015 ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee IndyFest

MILWAUKEE (October 16, 2013) - Andretti Sports Marketing announced today that they have teamed with ABC Supply Co. Inc. to bring INDYCAR racing excitement back to the Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park on August 16 and 17. ABC Supply Co. Inc. will serve as the title sponsor for the IndyCar Series race at Milwaukee IndyFest for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

In 2012, Michael Andretti committed to the Milwaukee market to rebuild the event and keep INDYCAR racing in the state of Wisconsin, by reviving the open-wheel event at the historic Milwaukee Mile. Andretti Sports Marketing worked diligently in the market and has now set out a two-year plan to build on the success of Milwaukee IndyFest with its partner ABC Supply Co. Inc.

"We're very excited to sponsor the race in our home state of Wisconsin at the historic Milwaukee Mile," said Diane Hendricks, ABC Supply Founder and Chairman of the Board. "We have a large number of associates and customers in the Wisconsin area and are happy for the opportunity to support the oldest and longest operating motor speedway in the world. As a sponsor of A.J. Foyt Racing for almost 10 years, we're thrilled to play a small part in open-wheel racing in Wisconsin."

ABC Supply Co. Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing in the United States and one of the nation's largest distributors of siding, windows and other select exterior building products. Having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2012, ABC Supply Co. Inc. has more than 400 branches in 45 states, employing approximately 7,000 associates nationwide.

"Racing at the Milwaukee Mile, the world's longest running race track, is always exciting. We're thrilled to announce the ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee IndyFest, a new title sponsor and a new date to continue the tradition of IndyCar racing at the Mile," said Kevin Healy, Managing Director for Andretti Sports Marketing. "We appreciate the leadership of Diane Hendricks and ABC Supply Co, Inc. has provided to ensure that an international motorsports event remains in Wisconsin."

In addition to the IndyCar Series, open-wheel feeder series Indy Lights and the Pro Mazda Championship will return for the Aug. 16-17 Festival of Speed that will once again boast an infield midway, beer garden and live music. Tickets to the two-day, family-friendly event go on sale Nov. 13 and will be available online at www.milwaukeeindyfest.com.

For more information, visit www.MilwaukeeIndyFest.com or www.ABCSupply.com.
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Gotta give props to Diane Hendricks and ABC Supply. Just as I was wondering why John Menard doesn't step up and sponsor the race, when he's supposed to be a racing fan but apparently only cares about teams he owns and his kid, another Wisconsin billionaire steps up and puts their company name on the event.
 
Some more information on why they moved the race to August.

The Wisconsin State Fair is held for the first 10 days or so of August. For those unaware, the Milwaukee Mile is on the State Fair grounds (like a lot of old race tracks). The Wisconsin State Fair draws huge numbers (1 million people over 10 days for 2013) and by having the race the weekend after the fair ends, they're going to pound the pavement with marketing and advertising at the fair and say, hey, come back in a week for the IndyCar race. They also blame the Father's Day weekend for the bad attendance.

Apparently, having Milwaukee the week after Indianapolis was always off the table. Sad face :( Sounds like Detroit has that date in writing for the next like 10 years or something.
 
They moved it head-to-head with the Cup race at Michigan, that seems kinda strange to me. They usually don't compete directly against NASCAR but this time the tracks are also only about 200 miles away. Hopefully they bring a lot of spectators back from the fair.
 
Talked to my pop on the phone today, he reminded me that USAC actually held two IndyCar races at Milwaukee for years in the 60s and 70s. One was the historic date after Indianapolis, and another was in early August during the Wisconsin State Fair. So, the State Fair tie-in to the IndyCar race not totally unprecedented.
 
Robin Miller thinks having the race on a Sunday is worse because less people will drive up from Chicagoland because work on Monday.
 
KevinWI said:
Robin Miller thinks having the race on a Sunday is worse because less people will drive up from Chicagoland because work on Monday.
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Having it on Sunday doesn't bother me. I like Robin, but that's a ridiculous notion. The race has always finished with time to meander back to the car and make it home in time for dinner - and I'm an hour west of downtown. It's a lot closer than Indy, and he isn't worried about us for the month of May, is he?
 
Some info on what the Andretti people are doing to promote the Milwaukee race the week before at the State Fair, and why the IndyCar race at the Mile isn't being held during the Wisconsin State Fair like yee old days (1956-1981):

Kevin Healy, managing director of the ABC Supply 250 at Milwaukee Indyfest presented by metro Milwaukee Honda Dealers, was kind enough to answer your question, Jim, and it sounds like IndyCar will be promoted well during the Fair. Healy says: “We did actually talk about the State Fair weekend as a throwback to the old days, but it was a short conversation. A lot has changed since the ’60s and ’70s, not least of which is the economics of the Fair and racing. The fair needs both the revenue they derive from the track and those facilities (parking, exhibit, concerts, tending livestock). The mix of livestock and IndyCar engines would not be something you'd want to witness.

“However, all is not lost: we had a half epiphany. We will have a large display space throughout the Wisconsin State Fair that will promote the event to the estimated 1.1 million fairgoers; the space will include a show car, mock up of victory lane with podium and backdrop for photos, kids interactive area and include activations like driver appearances (RHR will be there August 8th, Sato and others another night), IndyCar days with lots of swag to give away, trophy night (Astor Cup, IndyFest trophy, working on Borg Warner, but…), pro beach volleyball players and other special events. We'll have a dream experience giveaway that people will register for, including a two-seat ride, pace car rides, and other unique experiences. Would love to have Q&A with everyone’s favorite pit reporter – or you, Miller, if Kelli Stavast is not available :). We're working closely with the marketing folks at IndyCar to take advantage of a unique opportunity to connect with a lot of new fans. And of course, we'll have a box office in the display area as well. The Wisconsin State Fair Park is a great partner, we're really looking forward to working with them.”
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RHR is going to be at the State Fair this Friday and I might go to try to get a picture with the Indy 500 champion.
 
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