Bobby Labonte to intern in PIR ticket department for a day
NASCAR Champ headed to Avondale to sell tickets for SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™

(Phoenix, AZ) – Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber has announced the hiring of two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stars to the PIR ticket sales team. Bobby Labonte and Carl Edwards will join the PIR staff for one day and will sell tickets for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ at the PIR Ticket Office from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21.

“I’ve closely watched the developing careers of both Carl and Bobby and have been impressed. I think they have the right stuff to make a real impact as members of our ticketing staff,” said Sperber. “If they really apply themselves and take advantage of this opportunity, they just might be able find steady work in NASCAR racing.”

The SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ is scheduled to be the first night race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, and fans looking to secure a spot under the lights can purchase their tickets directly from Carl and Bobby beginning at noon.

Driver interaction is limited to ticket sales, and the drivers will only sign autographs for fans purchasing tickets. The PIR Ticket Office is located in Avondale, at 125 S. Avondale Blvd., Suite 200.

Bobby Labonte, the 2000 NEXTEL Cup Series champion, drives the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge for Petty Enterprises and has eight top-10s in 16 career NEXTEL Cup starts at PIR. Labonte is one of the most respected veterans in the sport entering his 15th full season of racing at the NEXTEL Cup level.

Edwards, the driver of the No. 99 Office Depot Ford for Roush Racing, is a four-time winner in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. His record at PIR is notable, with finishes in the top five in both NEXTEL Cup events and both Busch Series events on the one-mile oval in 2006. The 27-year-old also won from the pole in the November 2005 Busch Series event at PIR.

Bright Lights. Big Party. NASCAR at Night! NASCAR action heats up when the lights come on for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ Weekend at PIR, April 19-21, 2007. The party kicks off under the lights for Thursday’s Phoenix 150 NASCAR AutoZone West Series race. Friday night’s fiesta is the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Busch Series race. Then, the action reaches its pinnacle when the cars and stars of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series take the track for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™, the first night race of the 2007 NEXTEL Cup Season. Tickets are now on sale for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ weekend at PIR and can be purchased by calling 602-252-2227, 866-408-7223, or by going online at www.racetickets.com For additional information on the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ Weekend, visit www.phoenixraceway.com or call 623-463-5600.