NASCAR and Wal-Mart to Continue in Fourth Season of Fan Days

NEW YORK--Jan. 2, 20046, 2004--The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and Wal-Mart have teamed-up for the fourth consecutive year for NASCAR Fan Days at Wal-Mart to be conducted at more than 2900 Wal-Mart stores nationwide. More than 600,000 customers of all ages are expected to participate in remote control car races across the country at the world's largest retail chain.

NASCAR Fan Days will coincide with the start of the 2004 NASCAR season, beginning February 2, 2004 and lasting through February 22. During this period, NASCAR Fan Days partners' products will be featured in Wal-Mart stores across the country.

Each Wal-Mart store will support NASCAR Fan Days on February 7th with "NASCAR Race Day at Wal-Mart powered by Duracell," a one-of-a-kind remote control car-racing event that will be the 'biggest race day ever.' From 12pm-4pm on Saturday, February 7th, kids of all ages will be able to race NASCAR remote control cars in Wal-Mart toy departments nation wide.

NASCAR Fan Days will be supported in-store with special features on the Wal-Mart TV Network and Wal-Mart Radio, exclusive NASCAR driver interviews on Wal-Mart Radio, along with point-of-sale. In addition, fans and customers can go to walmart.com throughout the month for more information.

Participating partners in the promotion include Gillette, Duracell, Oral B, Coca-Cola, Nabisco, Kraft, Levi's Strauss Signature, Kodak, ConAgra Foods, Prilosec OTC, Martha White, Hungry Jack, The Wiggles, Springs Industries, Dan River, Wincraft, and the Northwest Company.

"The NASCAR Fan Days Promotion provides Gillette with a wonderful opportunity to build momentum for its brands with race fans as the NASCAR season kicks off," said Rob DeMartini, general manager, grooming, The Gillette Company. "Given our recent multi-year marketing and promotional agreement with NASCAR, we look forward to further extending our presence in the sport through this great association with Wal-Mart."

The pairing of the world's largest retailer and the #2 rated sport on TV is designed to bring NASCAR's large, dedicated and brand loyal fan base to Wal-Mart's local retail settings. Consumer research shows NASCAR fans' strong attraction to Wal-Mart stores. In a Spring 2002 Simmons National Consumer Survey, 4 of 5 NASCAR fans (89.1%) shopped at a mass retailer in the 3 months prior. Furthermore, NASCAR fans are more likely to shop at Wal-Mart than any other mass retailer (107 index). Wal-Mart is the only mass retailer among Kmart and Target to enjoy increased preference among NASCAR fans (109 index), according to Simmons.

"This impactful program with the world's largest retailer will provide NASCAR sponsors and other participating brands a platform to drive sales, while giving fans of all ages the opportunity to 'play' NASCAR, "said Brett Yormark, NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Marketing. "NASCAR fans shop at Wal-Mart. Now we are bringing the sport to life in their retail setting, while helping a group of NASCAR sponsors to connect to NASCAR fans and connecting with new customers."

In the most recent survey of sports properties, conducted by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, NASCAR ranked No. 1 in the areas that sponsors rate as the most important in determining their marketing decisions: the sport's future prospects; responsiveness to customers; fan relationships; and value provided for the money. NASCAR internal research shows that its fans are three times as likely to try and purchase its sponsors' products compared to companies not involved in NASCAR.

NASCAR reaches every corner of the country with 2,200 racing events in 36 states at more than 110 tracks. NASCAR is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla, with offices in New York City (Corporate Marketing), Los Angeles (Broadcasting Media and Entertainment), and Charlotte, N.C. (Licensing and Aftermarket).