NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series stars Tony Schumacher and Jack Beckman to appear at free fan festival Thursday in St. Louis

MADISON, IL – Gateway Motorsports Park and the National Hot Rod Association will present a free fan festival on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at The Outfield at Mike Shannon’s Steak & Seafood (www.shannonsteak.com) at 620 Market Street in St. Louis. The free fan fest will kick off this weekend’s NHRA AAA Midwest Insurance Nationals, which is the second event of the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ 2015 Countdown to the Championship. The free event will include a driver and rider autograph session, show cars, live music and the opportunity to win race tickets.

The free driver and rider autograph session is scheduled to run from 4:30-6 p.m. The list of NHRA racers who have agreed to participate continues to grow. Fans now will have the opportunity to meet eight-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, 2012 Funny Car champion Jack Beckman, Terry McMillen, Shawn Langdon, Larry Dixon, Jenna Haddock and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Steve Johnson. The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will be represented by Steve Matusek, Charlotte winner Danny Rowe, defending champion Rickie Smith and recent Houston victor Donnie Walsh Jr.

Schumacher’s U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster will be on display at the fan festival.

The NHRA AAA Midwest Insurance Nationals is an NHRA Countdown to the Championship event and is critical to drivers and riders chasing the 2015 title. Pro classes will include Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The St. Louis event is the next-to-last race on the 2015 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series schedule.

For NHRA tickets and information, please visit www.gatewaymsp.com or call (855) 722-3845.