The Indy Racing Experience spent time with and offered rides to several national media last week at the Disney Resort Showcase, including Tony Richards of Washington D.C.'s WHUR 96.3. Media City Audience Reach WZPT Radio Pittsburgh 183,400 WRCH Radio Hartford 196,700 WQAL Radio Cleveland 232,600 WFMS Radio Indianapolis 268,600 WALK Radio Long Island, NY 571, 300 WHUR Radio Washington D.C. 884,000 BostonHerald.com Boston/National 1,116,586 ABC Radio Real Country National 1,151,200 WPAT Radio New York 1,263,700 The Steve Crowley Show National 2,500,000 WWFS Radio New York 2,694,000 The Lia Show National 3,000,000 12 Interviews Total Reach: 14,062,086

Disney Helps "Showcase" the Indy Racing Experience
Indy Racing Experience takes part in weeklong Resort Showcase, hosted by Walt Disney World

ORLANDO (Feb. 15, 2009) – The Indy Racing Experience is one of the newest and fastest attractions in the Orlando area and recently had the opportunity to promote its Walt Disney World® Speedway operation at the 2009 Disney Resort Showcase.

Each year Walt Disney World® holds a Showcase to promote several of its resorts and attractions both inside and outside the Disney complex to travel writers and radio outlets from some of the nation’s top markets.  The Indy Racing Experience was invited to this year’s event, held Feb. 9-13, to take part in radio interviews and give media rides in the National Guard 2-seater at the Walt Disney World® Speedway.

The media blitz began early Tuesday morning at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.  An Indy Racing Experience crew member was interviewed live on several different morning programs, including Indianapolis’ national award-winning country station 95.5 WFMS.  Tuesday also featured live segments with Cleveland’s Q104 WQAL, Long Island’s WALK 97.5, New York City’s Fresh 102.7 WWFS and Pittsburgh’s Star 100.7 WZPT.

The Indy Racing Experience heavily promoted its daily operation at the Walt Disney World® Speedway, located just outside the gates of the Magic Kingdom, but also talked about the upcoming IndyCar Series season as well as races at Indianapolis, Mid-Ohio, Richmond, Texas and Watkins Glen.

On Wednesday, the Indy Racing Experience spent the early-morning hours at the Fort Wilderness Pavilion with WHUR 96.3 host Tony Richards.  The Washington D.C. station, which plays a role in the popular nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, had not known about the Indy Racing Experience until that day.  Upon hearing about the unique 2-seater, the 160 mile-per-hour top speed and 130 mile-per-hour lap average the Indy Racing Experience was running across from the Magic Kingdom, Richards knew he had to take a ride later that day.  The same can be said about Tom Rose, the senior editor of BostonHerald.com.  Rose interviewed the Indy Racing Experience for his Disney Days blog and took to the track later that day with IRE driver and IndyCar Series veteran Davey Hamilton.

Among those who also sped around the Walt Disney World® Speedway Wednesday was Gloria Ruiz, a leading writer for El Nuevo Dia – Puerto Rico’s top newspaper and website.

“The experience was just awesome and wonderful,” Ruiz said.  “I think the people from Puerto Rico would really enjoy doing this Indy Racing Experience because they like these types of cars, they like the speed and the emotions.  I want to go back and do it again.”

Popular deejay Hugo “El Gordo” of 93.1 Amor/WPAT-FM – the leading Hispanic radio station in New York City – took advantage of the opportunity for media rides on Wednesday.  And he enjoyed the ride so much that he invited the Indy Racing Experience to sit down with his morning crew when the Resort Showcase moved to the Atlantic Dance Hall on Thursday.

The same can be said for Allan Camp of The Morning Show with Allan, Mike and Allison on the Lite 100.5 WRCH out of Hartford, Conn.  Camp was invited out to the track on Wednesday and thoroughly enjoyed his ride in the National Guard 2-seater.  In fact, co-anchor Allison Demers was rather surprised with Camp’s reactions to the thrilling ride and talked about it live with the Indy Racing Experience on Thursday’s show.

After speaking to listeners in Hartford and New York City, the Indy Racing Experience went national on ABC Radio’s Real Country with Richard Lee and the Steve Crowley "American Scene" Radio Show, which is transmitted to more than 3 million listeners daily.  Lia Knight, a three-time National Broadcast Personality of the Year, also invited the Indy Racing Experience to sit down and talk about one of Orlando’s newest attractions.  The Lia Show is heard on over 180 stations by 3 million listeners each night from 7 p.m. to midnight.  Knight was so interested in the exciting racing experience that she built time into her busy schedule on Friday to come out an take a ride in the 2-seater.

In addition, Dallas’ 105.7 KRNB also sent out its production crew for a ride and then talked about their experiences at the Walt Disney World® Speedway on Friday.

For a weeklong event in which Disney set to out to “showcase” its resorts and attractions, the Indy Racing Experience proved to be a beneficial partner of the media blitz as well.  Over 10 million listeners from across the country learned of the 3-month old operation, leaving the Indy Racing Experience excited for the increased interest and exposure that is expected to come.

The Indy Racing Experience operates daily at the Walt Disney World® Speedway and opens for both riding and driving experiences at 4 p.m. ET.  Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) 357-5002.

For more information on the Indy Racing Experience, please contact us by phone or submit questions and comments HERE.