Madison, IL. - An earthquake originating near the Illinois-Indiana border early Friday morning was felt throughout and Midwest, causing minor damage in the St. Louis area. Gateway International Raceway, located across the Mississippi River from the Gateway City, was not affected by the quake that is said to have ranged between 5.2-5.4 on the Richter scale.

NOPI and the All Harley Drag Racing Association are hosting separate events at GIR this weekend with both promotions continuing as planned. NOPI will be featured inside the oval track, racing on the 1.6-mile road course, while the AHDRA's Gypsy Rendezvous Nationals will take over the NHRA-sanctioned dragstrip.

"I think most people in the area were definitely surprised this morning when Mother Nature gave them an early wakeup call," said GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki, "but from what we're hearing in the early reports, damage is minimal and thankfully, no one has been seriously hurt.

"We've fielded some calls from folks asking if we're still open for business and we want them to know both shows are still going on as planned and tickets are still available!"

Ironically, it was an earthquake that paved the way for Gateway International Raceway to be built. Back in 1811, an earthquake originating from the New Madrid faultline was powerful enough to "re-zone" the property from riverbottom to swampland. A century and a half later, the land was dry enough for the original St. Louis Raceway Park to be built in 1967, with Gateway International Raceway opening in 1997.

For more information on AHDRA's Gypsy Rendezvous Nationals, visit AHDRA.com. For info on NOPI, visit NOPI.net.

Gateway International Raceway is hosting the NHRA POWERade Series O'Reilly Midwest Nationals May 2-4, PINKS: All Out June 27-28, the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series event July 19, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ASA Late Model Series Sept. 6. For ticket information to these and the more than 200 other events at GIR this year, call 866-35-SPEED or visit GatewayRaceway.com.