Joliet’s Race Fan Rally Announces Event Entertainment
Harrah’s Joliet provides two nationally known musical acts

JOLIET , Ill. – June 23, 2009 – The 9 th annual Race Fan Rally in Joliet , IL announced today the signing of two national music acts for the event’s main stage on July 8, 2009 . Cowboy Troy and the Penny Mae Dixon Band will entertain the thousands of race fans in attendance on the newly named Harrah’s Joliet Entertainment Stage. The stage will be located on Chicago Street in Downtown Joliet across from the Rialto Theatre. Last year an estimated 40,000 people packed the Downtown Joliet streets for the kick-off of the Chicagoland race week.

Cowboy Troy has been featured by many national media outlets including the Tonight Show, Rolling Stone, Time, USA Today and he is the co-host of the TV show Nashville Star on USA .

“With the support of Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel we were able to secure two national acts for the main stage entertainment for the first time in the nine year history of Race Fan Rally,” said Tom Mahalik, Vice President, Joliet City Center Partnership. “This event continues to grow every year so it is our top priority to improve the experience for the attendees and upping the level of entertainment will do just that.”

The Harrah’s Joliet Entertainment Stage will not be the only musical entertainment in town. Harrah’s is also offering a concert on its property in downtown Joliet featuring Three Dog Night, a legendary Grammy-nominated band that has been entertaining music fans for four decades. The Three Dog Night concert at Harrah’s is part of the casino’s Summer of Luck concert series with the main act getting underway at 7:30pm .

“Becoming the title sponsor of the Race Fan Rally entertainment stage ties perfectly into our Summer of Luck concert series,” said Doug Lima, Vice President of Marketing, Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel. “Harrah’s Joliet is now providing two distinctly different sounds free for the attendees of Race Fan Rally and visitors of our property.”

The musical entertainment will share the Harrah’s Joliet Entertainment Stage with famous drivers in town for the NASCAR race at Chicagoland Speedway. The official 2009 Race Fan Rally driver lineup will be announced soon.

Another tradition returning in 2009 are the fireworks show also courtesy of Harrah’s Joliet .

“This has been a difficult year economically for a lot of people so we felt that it was very important to provide the people of the Chicagoland area the best event in its nine year history,” added Mahalik. “With the great support of our sponsors like Harrah’s Joliet we will be able to do just that.”

The Joliet Race Fan Rally is a family-friendly festival that is free of charge and open to the public. The Joliet Race Fan Rally includes live bands, driver appearances, show cars and other motorsports exhibits. The 2009 Race Fan Rally takes place in Downtown Joliet, Ill. on Wednesday, July 8 th from 5pm to 11pm . For more information please visit www.racefanrally.com.