Spencer to carry new paint scheme in Kansas
CONTACT: Nealie Hamilton, Chip Ganassi Racing, (704) 662-9642, nhamilton@ganassi.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2002 SPENCER TO CARRY NEW PAINT SCHEME IN KANSAS CITY No. 41 Dodge to carry Energizer colors MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 17, 2002) - Target Chip Ganassi Racing will feature a new paint scheme for the Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 29. St. Louis-based Energizer will be the featured artwork on the No. 41 Energizer Dodge driven by Jimmy Spencer for this one event. The black and silver trim paint scheme will feature the famous Energizer Bunny® on the hood of the car. Jeff Ziminski, Director of Marketing for Energizer, is excited to have the opportunity to showcase Energizer's colors during the race weekend. "Energizer has been a long time sponsor of racing," Ziminski said. "Like NASCAR Winston Cup Racing, Energizer has enjoyed tremendous growth over the last 10 years. We are confident that the Energizer Bunny will give Jimmy Spencer and the entire Target Chip Ganassi Racing Team the extra power and perseverance to keep going and going and going. . . right to victory lane." Jimmy Spencer has competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series since 1989. He has 30 top-five and 83 top-10 finishes to date, including wins at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. "It's great to have a company like Energizer on board for the Kansas race," Spencer said. "This is the first time they've had primary sponsorship on our Winston Cup car and we're proud to be a part of that. Having the Energizer Bunny riding shotgun with me should give this Energizer Dodge the extra energy to get to the front." Target Chip Ganassi Racing is the only team to field cars in all three major U.S.-based racing series, NASCAR, CART and the Indy Racing League. Over the last seven years, the team has won four consecutive CART championships from 1996 to 1999 and won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 with driver Juan Montoya. The Energizer paint scheme also appeared on the No. 9 Target G Force/Chevrolet driven by Jeff Ward in the Gateway Indy 250 in St. Louis on August 25. Energizer is one of the world's largest manufacturers of dry cell batteries and flashlights. The company's 10,000 employees produce 6 billion battery cells annually, powering people's lives throughout the world. Energizer has been a valued partner of Target Chip Ganassi Racing for over four years. Following a successful career as a driver, Chip Ganassi set his sights on ownership in 1988. The Target Chip Ganassi Racing team earned Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) championships in four consecutive years from1996 through 1999. In 2000, driving for the first time on the 2.5-mile oval in a different styled open-wheel car, Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Juan Montoya blew away the competition in the Indianapolis 500, claiming the title for his team, which had not raced at the famed brickyard since 1995. Ganassi entered NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing in 2000, and with Sterling Marlin currently battling for the championship, Ganassi appears to be building for continued success. XXX <<41energizercar.jpg>> Nealie Hamilton Media Relations Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (704) 662-9642 x1130 / office (704) 500-6068 / cell nhamilton@ganassi.com