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DODGE BECOMES PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE NASCAR
WEEKLY RACING SERIES |
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 13, 2001) - The National Association for
Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today announced that Dodge has become the
presenting sponsor of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series (NWRS), the
nation’s premier grass-roots stock car series. The multi-year agreement
is effective immediately.
“The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series is an integral part of NASCAR,” NASCAR
President Mike Helton said. “The series provides an excellent starting
point for NASCAR’s future stars as well as a home for thousands of
competitors. The reach of the series is nationwide and offers Dodge, as
a presenting sponsor, many tremendous marketing opportunities.”
Dodge has renewed its involvement with NASCAR in recent years. Following
several years in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the manufacturer
returned to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series this year after a 16-year
absence. The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge is another
step in the manufacturer’s motorsports marketing involvement.
“Anyway you look at it, this is an ideal addition to our racing
activities,” said Jim Julow, Vice President of Dodge Global Brand
Center. “On one hand, the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series provides Dodge
Dealer partners with additional race sponsorship, hospitality and
promotional opportunities for their customers and employees. And on the
other, it opens the door to even more ways to leverage our return to the
NASCAR Winston Cup Series and work with other NASCAR sponsors.”
The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge is contested at
America’s leading weekly short tracks. Events are held on dirt and
asphalt tracks as weekly competitors strive to reach local, regional and
possibly national recognition, and earn their portion of a $1.7 million
point fund, the highest posted awards for any short track racing series.
Many competitors in NASCAR’s three national series - Winston Cup, Busch
and Craftsman Trucks - began their careers in the NASCAR Weekly Racing
Series. That list includes last year’s national series champions: Bobby
Labonte (Winston Cup), Jeff Green (Busch) and Greg Biffle (Craftsman
Truck).
“The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge offers competitors
throughout the nation many great opportunities,’’ said Chris Boals,
director of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series. “A competitor can begin to
develop a solid career in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, eventually
moving through our regional touring program and into one of the national
series. Competitors also have the opportunity to compete for a piece of
the most lucrative point fund in weekly short-track racing. This
season’s national champion alone will earn over $160,000.”
The series also represents nearly 90 of the finest short track racing
facilities throughout America.
"The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge is visible
throughout the country, giving Dodge and its 3,000 dealers nationwide an
opportunity to showcase this series at the outstanding facilities that
are involved," said Steve O’Donnell, director of series marketing for
NASCAR.
"Dodge has always been known for its commitment to marketing in
motorsports. We’re confident the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented
by Dodge will serve as an excellent complement to the brand’s NASCAR
Winston Cup and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series participation. Dodge will
be able to reach thousands of competitors and fans in new territories of
the country through the excellent competition that defines the NASCAR
Weekly Racing Series.”
The NWRS champions banquet is at the Peabody Hotel and Resort in
Orlando, Fla., on Friday, Nov. 16. Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn.,
will be crowned the 2001 national champion. Competitors accumulate track
points each weekend throughout the season, beginning after Jan. 1. They
are rated in the Competition Performance Index (CPI) against rivals in
their respective regions until regional champions are decided in
September, after an 18-week season. Regional champions then are
recalculated against one another to determine the national champion.
Each champion receives a significant portion of the $1.7 million in
posted awards as well as being honored on-stage at the champions
banquet.
The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge began its current
format in 1982 when the first NWRS national champion was crowned. Prior
to 1982 state champions were crowned in the series. In 1982, 30 tracks
participated in the series with Tom Hearst of Muscatine, Iowa, winning
the first national championship; 19 drivers have been crowned national
champion, with the champions representing each region of the country and
both dirt and asphalt tracks. The 2002 season will be the 20th
anniversary of the NWRS in its current format.
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