"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A RACE!"

The Tunica Air Racing Association has just announced the commitment and the lineup for the inaugural Tunica Air Races, scheduled for June 02, through June 05, 2005. The event will be held at the Tunica Municipal Airport at Tunica, Mississippi. Crowd views of the race course, as well as a view of the terminal are included in the photos below, they are clickable for larger view.

Unlimited Class Confirms Participation in 2005 Tunica Air Races

The air racing participants for the Tunica Air Races and Air Show are official with the final commitment from the Unlimited class, who will be joining the T-6 and Formula One classes on June 2-5, 2005 at the Tunica Airport in Tunica, Mississippi.

"The class is honored to be invited to participate in this new event," said Art Vance, president of the Unlimited Class. "We are enthusiastic about racing and working with Jeff Landers to make this an annual event."

The following Unlimited aircraft and pilots have confirmed their participation in the air races:

• Michael Brown- Grumann Tigercat "Big Bossman"
• Dennis Sanders- Hawker Sea Fury "Argonaut"
• Brian Sanders- Hawker Sea Fury "Dreadnought"
• Dan Vance- flying Michael Brown’s Hawker Sea Fury "September Pops"
• Stu Dawson- Hawker Sea Fury "Spirit of Texas"
• Jimmy Leeward- P-51 "Cloud Dancer"
• Hoot Gibson- flying Mike Keenum’s Hawker Sea Fury "Riff Raff"
• Ron Bucarrelli- P-51 "Precious Metal"
• John Bagley-P-51 "Old Yeller"
• Joe Thibodeau- P-51 "Crusader"
• Dan Martin- P-51 "Ridge Runner"
• Sean Carroll- Yak3 "Russian Roulette"
• Brandt Seghetti- P-51 "Sparky"
• Bob Button- P-51 "Voodoo"

Art Vance will be flying the pace plane, a P-51 named "Speedball Alice."

"I have also been in contact with the "Strega" and "Miss America" race teams in hopes that they will also want to come to Tunica and take part in the races," added Vance.

"We are thrilled to have the best pilots in the world fly in the fastest aircraft in Tunica," said Jeff Landers," president and CEO, Tunica Air Races and Air Show. "Working with such a professional as Art Vance, we are destined to make this the next great race."

One of only two events of its kind in the world, the Tunica Air Races and Air Show will introduce the fastest motorsport in the world to the South. The Races will bring together some of the world’s most accomplished air racers to compete for the Tunica Cup, and will feature the Unlimited, T-6 and Formula One aircraft racing classes. It will be an incredible week of exciting racing, great competition and fun for aviation enthusiasts and families alike.

If you are visiting this site for the first time and are unfamiliar with any of the racers listed below, please enter the name of the pilot or airplane into the search box on this page to learn more about the race planes and pilots.

For more information visit tunicaairraces.com