Press Release
2008 SPRINT SOUND & SPEED PRESENTED BY SUNTRUST
SELECTED NASCAR, GRAND-AM ROLEX SERIES OWNER/DRIVER QUOTES
Release date: January 7, 2008
Contact: True Speed Communication
Laz.Denes@TrueSpeedCommunication.com
NASHVILLE (Jan. 4, 2008) – The following are quotes from key NASCAR and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series team owners and drivers participating in the third-annual Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust, set for Jan. 12 at Nashville’s Sommet Center. The event is a unique, interactive fan festival that brings together top-name country music artists and racing celebrities for a full day of autographs, Q&A and storytelling sessions, sponsor and show car displays, all capped by a concert featuring Grammy-winning and multi-platinum-selling recording artist Alan Jackson and special guest Taylor Swift, with Jason Michael Carroll and a performance by The Wrights. Proceeds from the event benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum.
Participating celebrities (as of Jan. 4) in The Backstage Garage Pass Festival, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST on Saturday, Jan. 12, in the Sommet Center:
SOUND – Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Marty Roe and Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio, Danielle Peck, Bucky Covington, Richie McDonald (former lead singer of Lonestar), Jason Michael Carroll, Craig Morgan, Josh Gracin, Bryan White, Adam and Shannon Wright (The Wrights), Duane Allen, Ray Stevens, Julie Roberts and Jamey Johnson.
SPEED – Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli, Michael Valiante, Dave Blaney, David Stremme, Richard Childress, Clint Bowyer, Scott Wimmer, Juan Pablo Montoya and Brad Coleman.
Tickets, available through TicketMaster (www.ticketmaster.com) or the Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust website (www.soundandspeed.org), are for The Backstage Garage Pass Festival, .50 for The Country Concert featuring Alan Jackson and special guest Taylor Swift, with Jason Michael Carroll and a performance by The Wrights, or .50 for both the festival and the concert.
Selected Quotes from Participating Racing Celebrities:
RICHARD PETTY – Petty Enterprises, Seven-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion:
“Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust has really grown into a big-time festival. It’s hard to believe that this is only the third year. They have done a great job in making it better and better each year. It comes from the people that organize this deal. Bringing all of these athletes and entertainers together is a lot of work. But it’s a natural combination because they both appeal to a lot of people and sport and music always bring people together. The best part is that it all goes to two good causes in the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. I know the Petty family is honored to be a part of this event each year.”
KYLE PETTY – Driver, No. 45 Petty Enterprises Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“From everyone at the Victory Junction Gang Camp, I want to say how truly blessed we are to be associated with Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust. I think it’s one of the top festivals in the country. Where else can you go to see Alan Jackson and Diamond Rio and Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip? And we are all here for the benefit of others. That is the coolest thing. Sound & Speed really combines three of my passions. They are racing, country music and raising money. I’m fortunate enough to have had some success in each of them. But the amount of success we’ve had with this festival has been amazing.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR. – Driver, No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“This is a special event, and I’m proud to take part in it. I was able to attend a few years ago, and it was a lot of fun seeing all the fans, as well as hanging out with some of the guys away from the track. We don’t get that opportunity too often. I hope we are able to generate a big response again this year, and raise money for Victory Junction Gang Camp.”
JAMIE McMURRAY – Driver, No. 26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“I’ve been to Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust both last year and the year before, and I have to say they keep getting better each year. Kyle Petty and his entire organization do such a good job of hosting the drivers and making us feel like a big part of the show. I’m a big fan of country music, so this is an event that I know I’ll do this year and years to come. It’s a great opportunity to help out the Victory Junction Gang Camp and have a good time, all in the same weekend.”
DAVE BLANEY – Driver, No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“This is the first time I’ve had the chance to be involved with Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust and I’m happy to be a part of it. The event sounds like a great opportunity for fans to meet their favorite NASCAR drivers away from the race track and take in some country music, all the while benefiting great causes like the Victory Junction Gang Camp. It looks to be a weekend full of fun for everyone involved and I’m looking forward to it.”
MICHAEL WALTRIP – Driver, No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“Nashville is absolutely one of my favorite cities in the whole world, so any chance I can go, I go. I am so glad to be invited back to this year’s Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust event. It is a great event for race fans, as well as country music fans. I am a huge fan of country music, so it’s great to be able to come to Nashville to not only meet and spend time with my fans, but to be a fan myself. I also really enjoy meeting the artists and hearing the great music. So to experience all of it, as well as help one of my favorite charities – the Victory Junction Gang Camp – makes this event one of my favorites. I remember when I got to drop the puck at the (Nashville Predators) hockey game (last year)! It was a lot of fun, so I can’t wait to participate in this year’s event.”
DARRELL WALTRIP – Three-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and FOX NASCAR Television Analyst:
“I think this is a great event that marries two things that are near and dear to a lot of people’s hearts, and that is country music and cars. It’s really a modern-day version of the old Preview up in Winston-Salem. And it’s a lot like Fanfare, which is a popular country music tradition here in Nashville. I’m really looking forward to this Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust event because I feel it’s going to be the best one, yet. There are a lot of people who can’t wait for Daytona to come around. Well, this will give those people a head start on getting their first taste of the new racing season.”
CLINT BOWYER – Driver, No. 07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“I’m excited about going to Nashville for Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust. It’s a great opportunity to participate in an event that pairs some of country music’s and NASCAR’s biggest names. It’s fun to get back in the groove of mingling with race fans before we go back to work in Daytona. I’m a huge Alan Jackson fan so, hopefully, I’ll get a chance to meet him and maybe hang out for a little while. Nashville is a great town and it’s in my sponsor Jack Daniel’s backyard. I’ll be pretty hard-pressed not to have fun. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to help Kyle Petty and Victory Junction Gang Camp. Kyle and the entire Petty family have given so much of themselves to make life better for children who don’t have a lot to smile about. It’s really a privilege for me to participate in such a worthwhile event.”
MAX ANGELELLI – Driver, No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac, 2005 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Champion:
“I’m very excited because Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust has always been a great experience with the atmosphere, and the music that we do not have at home in Italy. That type of music, with all those personalities all in one place, is really something to enjoy. The opportunity to meet the country music performers and hearing them live, I think it’s great. I can’t wait. It’s a different kind of music for me. I enjoy it. And those NASCAR guys are stars and they deserve all the attention they get. It’s all good. It’s fun to be able to meet all the racing fans and spend time with the NASCAR guys.”
WAYNE TAYLOR – Owner/Driver, No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac, Three-Time Sports Car Racing Champion:
“It’s Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust, and it’s something that our team sponsor, SunTrust, supports in a big way since its very beginnings. So that makes it very special for Max (Angelelli) and I, personally. We’ve enjoyed seeing all the sponsor and driver support from the NASCAR community. The money goes to two very good causes. It’s become a permanent part of our racing program, now. We’ve gotten to know more people as a result of our participation. And it’s obviously an incredible opportunity for SunTrust to do something special for two very important communities where it does business – motorsports and country music.”
RYAN NEWMAN –Driver, No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“What Kyle and Pattie (Petty) do for the kids at Victory Junction Gang Camp is incredible. I love going out to the camp in the summer to fish with the kids. It’s a magical place, and I’m more than happy to come to Sound & Speed every year to support it.”
DAVID STREMME – 2007 Driver, No. 40 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“I was there last year and had a lot of fun with everybody who turned out. I’ve told all my friends here (in Charlotte) and other drivers that they’ve got to go this year. Getting to go to Nashville and spend a little relaxed time there before the season gets started is always exciting. Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are the beneficiaries, so it’s all going to good causes. I’m just excited about it. It’s relaxing for me. It’s kind of something I had already planned on and was hoping I’d get invited back. Last year, I actually left with Brad Paisley’s hat, and I hope to leave with a guitar this year. I’m definitely a country music fan. Getting to do some signing and Q&A with the fans is something I’m really looking forward to. It’s all really cool.”
SCOTT WIMMER – Driver, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series for Richard Childress Racing:
“I am really excited to be a part of this year’s Sprint Sound and Speed Presented by SunTrust event. It’s great that country music and NASCAR drivers can come together to raise money for two great causes – the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. I am looking forward to getting out there with the fans and hopefully it will be a successful weekend for these two charities.”
www.soundandspeed.org
For more information about the 2008 Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust, fans are welcome to visit www.soundandspeed.org. Media can find a complete rundown of event information and backgrounders, performer and racer bios, and information regarding event sponsors and charities in the Media Center at www.truespeedcommunication.com.
ABOUT VICTORY JUNCTION GANG CAMP – The mission of the Victory Junction Gang Camp is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment. Founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie in honor of their late son Adam, the Victory Junction Gang Camp is a year-round facility serving children, age seven to 15. Victory Junction is an independent not-for-profit organization. Each camp in the Hole in the Wall Gang Association has its own board of directors and founders, including actor Paul Newman. In 2002, Victory Junction Gang Camp was named the proud charity of NASCAR and now is joined by other charities as part of the NASCAR Foundation Family of Charities. The NASCAR Foundation continues to pledge its support through a comprehensive media campaign. In addition, many of the teams, owners, drivers and track owners support the camp with individual contributions.
ABOUT COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME® AND MUSEUM – The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The Museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the Foundation also operates CMF Records, the Museum’s Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B, and Hatch Show Print. More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.com or by calling (615) 416-2001.
ABOUT SPRINT NEXTEL – Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving about 54 million customers at the end of the third quarter 2007; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
ABOUT SUNTRUST – SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. As of September 30, 2007, SunTrust had total assets of 5.9 billion and total deposits of 5.9 billion. The Company operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states and a full array of technology-based, 24-hour delivery channels. The Company also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the Company provides mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage, equipment leasing and capital markets services. SunTrust’s Internet address is suntrust.com.
Nashville Superspeedway is owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD), a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate three tracks in three states, and present several hundred motorsports events each year. This includes 14 major, national events which include races sanctioned by NASCAR and the NHRA. Dover Motorsports, Inc. also owns and operates Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., and Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo. For further information log on to www.DoverMotorsports.com. This release may contain forward-looking statements based on management’s beliefs and assumptions. Such statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause results to vary materially. Please refer to the SEC filings of DVD for a discussion of such factors.
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