Fans eager for NCTS race at Gateway Int'l Raceway

After a three week layoff, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is finally returning to action this weekend.

Gateway International Raceway, the site of Sunday's Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200, is ready for the arrival of the drivers and fans. GIR is located in Madison, Ill., but is only five minutes from downtown St. Louis.

The top new attraction for spectators and families this year is the Coca-Cola Family Fun Festival in Gateway's Expo Row.

The festival is an eight-station play and interactive area for youngsters.

Kids can try out the display when Gateway opens its doors for the weekend at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday. On the track, the day's events will be highlighted by the NCTS drivers Bud Pole Qualifying session.

This is the fifth time Gateway has played host for a Truck Series race. Past winners include Rick Carelli (1998), Greg Biffle (1999), Jack Sprague (2000) and Ted Musgrave a year ago. Musgrave will be back to defend his title, but the fan favorite will likely be Ken Schrader.

Schrader is a native of Fenton, Mo., and a veteran star of the Winston Cup Series who competes on a limited basis in the Truck Series.

Actually, Musgrave and Schrader will not be the only drivers competing at Gateway's 1.25-mile oval Sunday. The RE/MAX Challenge Series will have a race at 1:30 p.m. ET, followed by the NCTS race at 4 p.m.

Gateway is also using Sunday to celebrate patriotism, namely honoring the men and women who serve the country at Scott Air Force Base in a pre-race ceremony.

Scott Air Force Base is 20 minutes from Gateway and is the home of the 375th Airlift Wing. More than 22,000 workers and their families live or work at Scott.

Also during the pre-race ceremony, which Gateway is dubbing a "Salute to Heroes," over 100 area young men and women will enlist in the Air Force.

If fighting traffic to get to the track is a big concern, fans shouldn't worry.

Fans can take the Metro Link to Emerson Park Station and get a free shuttle every 15 minutes to Gateway International Raceway's front door.