SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) “” Legendary riders Miguel Duhamel and Rich Oliver will be formally enshrined into the Infineon Raceway Wall of Fame during a ceremony in the Winner’s Circle on Saturday of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend, May 19-21.The weekend is presented by Supercuts. This will mark the first two AMA riders to be enshrined into the raceway’s Wall of Fame, which was recently constructed and is situated in the paddock directly behind the main grandstand at start/finish. Duhamel and Oliver will join NASCAR drivers Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin and NHRA Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson in the Wall of Fame, which will be accessible to the public. Race fans are invited to the ceremony, which is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. in the Winner’s Circle and will be hosted by Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway. In addition to being enshrined, Oliver, a five-time AMA 250 Grand Prix national champion, will also be part of the track announcing team over the weekend, and his artwork will be on display during a weekend-long art show. The art show is free to the public and will be located in the Infineon Technologies Business Center, adjacent to the Winner’s Circle in the paddock. “It’s going to be a great weekend for me,” said Oliver, a resident of Auberry (Fresno), who rode for Yamaha primarily during his career. “I’ve always considered Sonoma one of my home tracks and to go back there for this honor is going to be great. It’s also going to be neat to share this with the fans during the open ceremony.” Oliver dominated the 250 Grand Prix class in Sonoma, taking the checkered flag four consecutive years (1994-97). He is the only AMA rider in history to win a feature race four consecutive years at Infineon Raceway. Moreover, he won the Grand Prix title a fifth time in Sonoma in 2003 before eventually retiring from AMA competition. Duhamel (Honda), meanwhile, has built the most prolific career of any AMA rider at Infineon Raceway with nine victories, including five in Superbike, three in Supersport and one in Formula Xtreme. Duhamel has won both Superbike and Supersport in the same weekend a record three times (1993, 95, 98), and he won Superbike and Formula Xtreme on the same weekend in 2004. Both Duhamel and Oliver will be presented with granite plaques etched with each rider’s likeness during the ceremony, and the plaques will be placed into the Wall of Fame. WHAT: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts WHERE: Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 & 121, Sonoma, CA 95476 WHEN: May 19-21. COURSE: 12 turns, 2.22 miles. 2005 WINNERS: Mat Mladin (Superbike, both main events, Suzuki); Tommy Hayden (Supersport, Kawasaki); Jake Zemke (Formula Xtreme, Honda); Aaron Yates (Superstock, Suzuki). SUPERBIKE SCHEDULE: Friday “” Superbike practice, 9:40-10:40 a.m.; Superbike qualifying, 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday “” Superbike qualifying, 9:50-11 a.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown main event #1, 3:50 p.m. (28 laps); Sunday “” Superbike practice, 10:20-10:50 a.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown main event #2, 3 p.m. (28 laps). TICKETS: $10-$65, 12-and-under free, parking is free. 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day.
Duhamel And Oliver To Be Enshrined On Infineon Raceway Wall Of Fame
Duhamel And Oliver To Be Enshrined On Infineon Raceway Wall Of Fame
© 2006, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.