Gossage named IRL promoter of the year.

Texas Motor Speedway General Manager Eddie Gossage has been named the Indy Racing League's "Promoter of the Year" for 2001.

The award - a new category this year - was presented to Gossage as part of the IRL's annual awards banquet Sunday night at The Speedway Club. Director of Indy Racing Marketing Matt McCartin presented the award to Gossage.

"This is truly an unexpected honor," said Gossage. "We are flattered to have received this recognition from the IRL and it is a compliment to the staff of Texas Motor Speedway. Nobody in the business works as hard as we do to promote an event and I'm very proud of the job that we do."

"I've been in this business a long time and I can tell you that some of the most exciting races in all of motorsports have been Indy Racing events right here at Texas Motor Speedway. It's very easy to promote a product thats good."

Saturday's Chevy 500 had the closest 1-2-3 finish in the series history. A mere 0.0468 seconds separated the top three finishers with 2001 Indy Racing Champion Sam Hornish, Jr. barely edging out second-place finisher Scott Sharp and third-place challenger Robbie Buhl.

Texas has played host to nine Indy Racing events since 1997, more than any other track, and its innovative promotion strategies have helped the speedway draw the largest crowds in the series outside of Indianapolis.

"Eddie Gossage and Texas Motor Speedway do a first-class job hosting Indy Racing League events," said Brian Barnhart, vice president of operations for the Indy Racing League. "From track preparation to promotion, his staff works very hard to showcase our teams and drivers, and the facility has been rewarded with exciting competition and some of the most remarkable finishes in Indy car history."

The Indy Racing League is slated to return to Texas for two race weekends again in 2002. The Casino Magic 500 is Saturday night, June 8 and the season finale Chevy 500 is Sunday, Sept. 15.