GOLDEN VALLEY, MN -- The 2008 Rally America National Championship Series season will feature nine proven and popular events, as well as the non-points-paying Rally Car Racing competition at X Games 14.

As in previous years, invitations to participate in the X Games will be influenced by driver performance in the Rally America events held prior to the popular action-sports competition, scheduled for July 31-August 3, 2008 in Los Angeles.

The extreme-sports nature of rallying - Rally America competitors reach speeds well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses of gravel, dirt or snow - and the sport's inclusion in the X Games has introduced a new generation of fans, competitors and sponsors to the series.

In addition, as a result of close competition and increased media exposure in 2007, interest in the series is at an all-time high, according to Rally America Managing Director J.B. Niday.

"We expect even more excitement in 2008, and with new competitors from both the U.S. and abroad, the competition will be tougher than ever," said Niday.

"We are looking forward to the return of fan favorites such as Tanner Foust, Travis Pastrana, Ken Block, Matt Johnson and Andrew Pinker with new cars, and also some new competitors and new manufacturers becoming involved."

Defending series champion Pastrana is locked in a three-way battle with his Subaru Rally Team USA teammate Block and points leader Pinker as the series heads to the final round of the 2007 Rally America season, the Lake Superior Performance Rally on Oct. 26-27 in Houghton, Mich.

2008 Rally America National Championship Series Schedule

-- Sno*Drift, Atlanta, Mich., Jan. 25-26

-- Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, Salem, Mo., Feb. 22-23

-- Olympus Rally, Olympia, Wash., April 19-20

-- Oregon Trail Rally, Hillsboro, Ore., May 16-18

-- Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally, Wellsboro, Pa., June 7

-- New England Forest Rally, Bethel, Maine, July 11-12 (tentative)

-- Ojibwe Forests Rally, Bemidji, Minn., Aug. 22-23

-- Rally Colorado, Steamboat Springs, Colo., Sept.13-14

-- Lake Superior Performance Rally, Houghton, Mich., Oct. 17-18

About Rally America
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., Rally America sanctions the premier rally racing series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2007, Rally America will conduct nine National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Wash., to Bethel, Maine. Rally America competitors reach speeds well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses of gravel, dirt or snow. All Rally America National Championship events are broadcast on ESPN2 from July to November in 2007. Additionally, through a partnership with ESPN, qualifying Rally America drivers are invited to compete in the Summer X Games, the annual leading action-sport event that is broadcast live on ABC and ESPN. For more information, visit www.rally-america.com.