FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 3, 2012
Media Contact: Tony Astran Publicity Manager Seneca Gaming Corporation Phone: 716-501-2066 E-mail: TAstran@SenecaCasinos.com
CHAMPIONSHIP SNOWMOBILE RACING COMES TO SENECA ALLEGANY CASINO & HOTEL IN FEBRUARY More than 200 of the world’s greatest snowmobilers to race in AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series during three action-packed days – February 22-24 SALAMANCA, NY – A new outdoor event is coming to Western New York this February on the grounds of Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel, and it will make spectators’ hearts pump fast. More than 200 of the top snowmobile racers from North America and nearly a dozen countries worldwide will converge in Salamanca, NY, for the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series, presented by Traxxas, from February 22 to 24. The racers will face off in a full-throttle, action-packed series of races that combine big-air jumps and competitive racing. Crews will turn one million gallons of water into snow over a football-field-sized plot of land at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel to create snowmobile tracks with wicked twists and turns, as well as ramps that will send vehicles flying dozens of feet into the air. The weekend is also one of eight nationally-televised events on CBS Sports Network for the 2012-2013 season. Tickets for the event go on sale Monday, Dec. 3, at the Logo Shop inside Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel and online at www.isocracing.com. Ticket prices are $25 for Friday, $25 for Saturday, $15 for Sunday, or a value-priced $30 all-weekend pass. Admission is free for children ages six and younger. Bleachers set up around the track can accommodate thousands of fans, and bright lights will illuminate the track during the evening hours on Friday and Saturday, when the main events take place and are taped for television. The atmosphere will be festive, including food, beverage, gear for purchase in the nearby Seneca Allegany Events Center, jumbosized video screens, autograph sessions and activities for the whole family – including the Traxxas Try Me Track, which allows fans to test remote-controlled trucks on a snow-covered course.
According to Carl Schubitzke, president and race director, International Series of Champions (ISOC) Racing, New York State is a “hotbed” for snowmobile enthusiasts, and Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel is a perfect fit for races. “We’re looking to entertain and welcome people with open arms,” he said. “The speeds and sounds are exhilarating. You definitely won’t get this at home.” Approximately 50 practice, qualifying, and final races will take place each of the three days, including 22 races during both the Friday and Saturday night main events. Amateur racing takes place in the afternoons, culminating in a major race on Sunday. As many as 15 vehicles will be on the track during a race, and individual races are broken down by age, gender, and snowmobile type. This is Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel’s second big venture in the world of snowmobiling. In late October of 2011, Seneca Gaming Corporation and the Seneca Nation of Indians provided a substantial sponsorship to Snow Bounders, Inc., a local snowmobile association, for the construction and maintenance of a new 1.5-mile snowmobile trail that connects Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel to 90 miles of existing trails in nearby Allegany State Park. Snowmobiling is a $1 billion industry in New York State, and there are nearly 17,000 registered snowmobiles in Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties combined. Schubitzke is confident that the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will be a further economic boon for the region. “There’s so much to do throughout the whole experience,” Schubitzke said. “It’s highly entertaining, and there’s never a dull moment. Most of all, I think attendees will be amazed at the speed and athleticism of the athletes. They make the twists, turns, and jumps look effortless.” About Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel is nestled at the foot of the majestic Allegany Mountains along the New York/Pennsylvania border and is located off exit 20 of the Interstate 86 near U.S. Route 219. The property is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Guests can enjoy 2,000 slot machines and 33 table games, seven dining locations, live entertainment and a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotel with 413 recentlyrenovated or brand-new deluxe hotel rooms, a spa and salon, fitness center and indoor pool. Please visit www.SenecaCasinos.com for more information. ###