NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 29, 2007

Kansas Speedway Wants Casino

"We submitted our Hard Rock Hotel and Casino proposal this morning to the state," said Kansas Speedway President Jeff Boerger. "We believe our proposal will increase tourism to the state of Kansas and also have a large economic impact on the city, county and state.

"We also anticipate the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will place an even greater national demand on our tickets at Kansas Speedway and encourage local fans to purchase their tickets now to enjoy some of the best racing in the country."

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino would cost more than $670 million, and include retail and entertainment outlets.(kansasspeedway.com)

Yeley To Raffle Off Helmet and DLP HDTV

One lucky fan will win the 56-inch Samsung DLP HDTV, and another will win the Chili Bowl helmet. Tickets will be on sale online until Jan. 4, 2008, and will also be available at the Chili Bowl Jan. 8-12. The drawing will be conducted before the feature race on Saturday, Jan. 12. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and the non-profit Jake Owen Raborn Foundation.

“I’m excited about the raffle,” Yeley said. “Last year we raised $10,000, so we’re hoping to top that this year. I need to thank my sponsor, DLP HDTV, for donating the 56-inch Samsung DLP HDTV. It’s a fantastic TV that someone will really enjoy having in their home. Another lucky fan will have the chance to win the helmet I’m going to wear in the Chili Bowl, and hopefully we’ll have a lot of success so the helmet becomes a valuable piece of memorabilia.”

After competing in the Chili Bowl Nationals, Yeley will turn his attention to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, when he will compete for Hall of Fame Racing driving the No. 96 DLP HDTV Toyota.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization.

The Jake Owen Raborn Foundation was founded in 2006 and is dedicated to financially supporting families enduring pediatric cancer, as well as providing financial support to organizations and facilities that care for families enduring pediatric cancer. The foundation is named in memory of an extraordinary child, Jake Owen Raborn, who died of a rare liver cancer in October 2006 at just four years of age. Yeley met Raborn in June 2006 during a visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.