From the waters of Lake Norman

To the asphalt of Lowe’s Motor Speedway
This will be a weekend to remember!

The word is out and the registrations are coming in… September 19, 20 and 21 Poker Runs America will host what will surely be one of the most memorable events in the 20 year history of the Poker Runs America circuit – an all-inclusive weekend of excitement on the water, and on the speedway – rooms, meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and even a ride in a nascar - style stock car at the famous Lowe’s Motor Speedway are part of the package!.

The venue for this weekend of Poker Run excitement, Lake Norman, North Carolina, is one of the most beautiful inland lakes in the country, with 520 miles of upscale shoreline; with a location in close proximity to the largest collection of high performance boats and cars in the country.

From your local upscale Marriott Hotel room, to your welcoming package, to all the parties with drinks included, to the fantastic food, to the poker run itself, and last but not by any means least, your opportunity to drive alone in a nascar -style race car for eight laps at potentially 140-plus mph on the famous banked Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  If you don’t want to drive, you and your crew can “ride-along” with a professional driver.

It all starts Friday afternoon as volunteer Poker Runners donate their time and their boats to take selected local children for a ride-of-a-lifetime in support of the Charlotte area Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina. 

Friday afternoon and early evening as the poker runners arrive and sponsor displays are set up at our host on-water facility, Midtown Sundries, one of the hottest spots on all Lake Norman, the same Make-A-Wish Foundation will be the “charity of choice” for a giant silent and live auction destined to raise tens of thousands of dollars given the quality and value of donated gifts.  At the same time, a live band will entertain our welcoming party and start off the weekend festivities with more fun than most people can handle.

“Safety is our main concern,” says Bill Taylor, President of Poker Runs America," and this APRA sanctioned event has been specially designed to be ideal for the waters of Lake Norman”

Saturday’s run on Lake Norman will see some of the very hottest and biggest V-bottoms and cats in all of North America. After the run, we’ll party at Midtown Sundries on the water and determine the first winner of Poker Runs America’s Lake Norman Poker Run where one lucky participant will cart away several thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.

Boat launching and trailer parking is provided just down the road from Midtown Sundries at Blythe Landing, one of several excellent government-built and operated facilities on the lake.

How can you visit Charlotte, the epicenter of all that is NASCAR, without experiencing the thrills of the track? Get ready to don a fireproof driving suit on Sunday before noon, receive instructions both on and off the track, then squeeze in through the window of a real nascar-style race car, clip the netting in place, and set off to create your own personal track record complete with certificate.  Poker Runs America has arranged this complete package for you through one of the finest and best-known driving schools in the land - Richard Petty Driving Experience. 

If you think you can handle all of this fun and excitement in one weekend, then get set and get entered for the first-ever Poker Runs America Lake Norman Poker Run – but don’t hesitate – this event is limited to 45 boats, and entries will be processed on a first-come first served basis.  Enter on the web, www.pokerrunsamerica.com, or simply call the Poker Run Hotline, 1-800-354-9145, ext. 252. 

Thanks to the tremendous support of local Poker Runners and businesses, including Kenny Dean, who has spent many hours with Poker Runs America staff, visiting the various venues for this event,  and Joy Schou of One Marina Place, who is organizing the Friday evening Charity Auction in support of the Charlotte Area Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina, the first Annual Poker Runs America Lake Norman event will be one of the highlights 2008 Poker Run Tour!