The most famous name in speedway motorcycle racing has been called upon to save the sport at Industry Speedway.

Two-time world champion Bruce Penhall, who became even more famous when he joined the cast of the television show "CHiPS" will return to racing his motorcycle tonight at the Industry Hills Expo Center's Grand Arena.

"He's doing this to help me," track promoter Jeff Immediato said. "I had to think outside of the box. He said in the past he has turned down 25 grand to do this in Europe. He told them, `No means no.' But he said he would do it to help me."

Penhall, who helped Immediato take over promoting the track last year, said Tuesday that he wants to help out his friend and the sport.

"My family said, `Are you insane?' My friends said, `Can you get me free tickets?' " Penhall said. "I wanted to do my little bit to help out. We want people to come out and be happy with what they see."

Immediato said he was seriously considering ending the season early at the speedway, which has been racing on Wednesday nights at Industry for six years.

"I told the riders (on Aug.12) that if they didn't show up, we'd close the doors down," Immediato said. "We had about 24 riders and the count has been dwindling."

Sixty-three riders raced last Wednesday.

"I know times are tough with the economy, but we have to get people here and that's to think outside of the box," he said. "I figured the only way to really

make a huge change now is with the crowd, and the only way I knew was to beg BP to do something he has for 20 years said he wouldn't. Bruce is coming to my aid."

Penhall, who has not ridden a bike since he did a four-lap tribute in England four years ago, will not race against the Division 1 racers.

He will do 15 minutes of hot-lap riding and will have a surprise special event, which he will not even tell Immediato what it involves.

"Hey, I'm 52-years old," Penhall said. "I'm old and I'm a little out of shape. I would need three or four weeks of training and that's not where I'm at. I'm not sharp at all."

Penhall won world titles in 1981 and '82 and immediately announced his retirement from racing.

He said he last did anything remotely close to tonight's racing more than a decade ago. He spent one hour in a closed practice session on Tuesday night.

"Once you know the basics of riding speedway, it's not hard to get right back at it," he said.

"But I'm nowhere near ready to trade elbows with the regular guys. There's a big difference."

Penhall will be joined by 47 other speedway legends, including Rick and Gene Woods, Billy Hamill and Brad Oxley. Hamill, from Monrovia, won the 1996 world championship and the Woods and Oxley have won numerous U.S. titles.

Preliminary racing begins at 7 p.m. with the main events starting at 7:30.

keith.lair@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 4456