Iowa-Based Johnson Racing Team Looking To Make Big Splash at Des Moines Toyota AMA Arenacross Series

The Privateer Team’s Racers Getting a Lot of Help From “Mom & Dad,” According to Team Manager Chad Simonton

AURORA, Ill. (October 31, 2007) – A true Iowa-based Toyota AMA Arenacross privateer team, Johnson Racing, is looking to make a quick and noticeable impact on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series this weekend when the tour opens its competition season on Friday at Des Moines’ Wells Fargo Arena.

Led by the 2005-’06 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series’ Rookie of the Year, Illinois’ Kevin Markwardt, the team also features two Iowa District 22 standouts in Colin Hickman (Des Moines) and Ryan Simonton (Waukee).

Riding a patchwork set up of bikes including Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki, the team will rely on sponsorship assistance from a source many Toyota AMA Arenacross Series racers are highly familiar with – Mom & Dad.

“As a team we have no outside help heading into Des Moines,” said Johnson Racing team manager Chad Simonton. “We’ll be riding everything from Kawasaki green to Honda red and Suzuki yellow – which made painting the trailer tough (laughter). But hey, we’ve got nobody to impress but ourselves this weekend in Des Moines.”

Johnson Racing will also field a couple bikes for Sunday’s Toyota AMA Arenacross Series amateur novice class races. The color of the bikes? “Yamaha blue, of course,” said Chad Simonton.

Tickets for Nov. 2-4 Toyota AMA Arenacross at Wells Fargo Arena are available through www.arenacross.com, at the Wells Fargo Arena Ticket Office, online at www.dahlstickets.com, all Des Moines-area Dahl’s Grocery Stores or charge by phone at 1-866-55-DAHLS. Fees and handling may apply. Show times are Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 12:00. Doors open Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday tickets are $20 for all Gold Circle seats, $16 for Mid Level seats/$8 for kids Mid Level seats. Sunday tickets are $16 for adults, $8 for kids. All seats $2 more day of show. Note: Kids = children ages 2-12.


About Toyota AMA Arenacross Series

In its 24th year, the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series, owned by Live Nation, is the premier indoor motocross series in the U.S. playing to sold-out arenas nationwide. Information on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series events may be found at www.Arenacross.com. Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues® music venues and prestigious locations such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses or concerts near you, please visit our website at www.livenation.com.

About AMA Racing
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.