Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group
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The Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG) was a sanctioning body for an American off-road racing stadium series that took place inside stadiums. Some events were televised, including on TNN. [1]
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[edit] History
Thompson raced trucks in through the desert in the SCORE International series. Thompson said that he was seen "by nothing but cactus and jackrabbits." [2] He reasoned that he needed to bring the desert to the people.
The body and series were established by Mickey Thompson in 1979. The first event was held in the Los Angeles Coliseum. The body also sanctioned motorcycle races called Supercross. The stadium series survived Thompson's 1988 murder, but ended in 1991. The body went bankrupt in 1996.
[edit] Bankruptcy case
The bankruptcy case was reopened in 2001. The corporate management, including Mickey Thompson's son Danny Thompson (who owned 97.5% of the stock) and Mickey Thompson's sister Colleen Campbell, were accused of massive improprieties. They allegedly failed to list Anaheim Stadium and Supercross business assets on the bankruptcy schedules, and only listed worthless off-road racing events. A Federal Court determined that one year profits just the Supercross events amounted to $17 million. These unlisted assets were made directly to MTEG shareholders, outside the bankruptcy. [3]
[edit] Notable drivers
- The all-time stadium series winner Ivan Stewart has seventeen wins and three championships.
- Steve Millen - 1986, 1988, and 1989 stadium series champion.
- Jimmie Johnson - stadium series
- Walker Evans - stadium series
- Casey Mears - stadium series