Checkers(R) Takes College Rivalry from the Gridiron to the NEXTEL Cup Gators(R) and Seminoles(R) to compete at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20th
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 26, 2005 -- Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. , Official Burger of NASCAR(R), the Florida Gators(R), and the Florida State Seminoles(R), today unveiled its No. 10 Seminole and No. 45 Gator stock cars that will compete at the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season event at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20th. Scott Riggs will drive the No. 10 Checkers(R) Florida State University Chevrolet, and Kyle Petty will drive the No. 45 Checkers University of Florida Dodge.
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"Checkers/Rally's(R) has enjoyed phenomenal national visibility in this, our first year as the Official Burger and Drive-thru Restaurant of NASCAR," said Richard Turer, Vice President of Marketing, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. "With nearly one in four restaurants located in Florida, our ability to link our position in NASCAR to our already successful relationship with the Gators and Seminoles is very exciting. We continue to see brand awareness rise to new levels. This event will only contribute to our long list of successes in 2005."
This sponsorship is designed to give sports fans one more opportunity to gear up for the intra-Florida rivalry on the football field set for the following week. The Company expects to create excitement due to the tremendous fan cross-over among the two sports.
In September, new collectible No. 10 Florida State Seminole and No. 45 Florida Gator cups will be available at nearly 150 Checkers restaurants in Florida as Checkers kicks-off the second year of its "Pick Your Champ" promotion in Florida.
"As our new sponsor, Checkers/Rally's has been fantastic," said Scott Riggs, NASCAR driver of the No. 10 Florida State Chevrolet. "It's great to be able to take our relationship to a new level with a football tie-in. This is a very relevant program for our fans."
During the unveiling of the new cars at Bristol Motor Speedway, Checkers pledged $5,000 to both Riggs' and Petty's charities: Carolina Donor Services and the Victory Junction Gang, respectively. An additional $5,000 will be donated to the race-within-a-race winner's charity on November 20th.
"This sponsorship allows us some friendly competition, which is always fun," said Kyle Petty, NASCAR driver of the No. 45 University of Florida Dodge. "We are especially grateful to Checkers for their donation to the Victory Junction Gang, our camp for terminally ill children. We look forward to racing the Checkers Gator car at Miami."
University of Florida Gator and Florida State University Seminole 1:24 scale die-cast cars will also be available as part of this program. The die casts will feature Checkers' logo along with the Gator or Seminole logo. The cars can be purchased online at http://www.gatorsnolesracing.com/ or by calling 1-877-212-6017, and are also being sold through school newsletters, newspapers, Web sites, and onsite during university home football games. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of the die casts benefits the scholarship programs at both schools.
In 2004, Florida Checkers locations offered collectible cups and special Gator/Seminole Combo meals as part of its "Pick Your Champ" promotion with a portion of the proceeds going to the schools' athletic scholarship funds. This contribution, combined with a Corporate pledge to each university's food service-related educational programs, brought Checkers' contribution in 2004 to over $125,000.
"On November 20th, UF and FSU will compete on the track, and on the 26th, the teams compete on the gridiron," said Jeremy Foley, Director of Athletics, University of Florida. "This is the first time this rivalry has been promoted through another sporting event like this, and we want to thank Checkers for their outstanding support."
"Checkers has been a great partner for us with its 'Pick Your Champ' promotion in Florida, and the die-cast cars will help raise more funds for our school," said Dave Hart, Jr., Director of Athletics, Florida State University. "Alumni, football fans and race fans can all enjoy the commemorative cars."
About Checkers Drive-in Restaurants, Inc.
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. (http://www.checkers.com/) is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. The Company develops, owns, operates and franchises quick-service Checkers and Rally's double drive-thru restaurants. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR(R). In 2005, the Company received the Nation's Restaurant News Hot! Again Award for its sizzling business performance.
Founded in 1996, MB2 Motorsports has fielded entries in more than 500 NASCAR Cup Series races with notable drivers such as Joe Nemechek, Ernie Irvan, Boris Said, Ricky Craven, Ken Schrader, Scott Riggs, Jerry Nadeau and Derrike Cope. MB2 Motorsports currently fields three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams - Joe Nemechek in the #01 U.S. Army Chevrolet, Scott Riggs in the #10 Valvoline Chevrolet and Boris Said in the #36 CENTRIX Financial Chevrolet. The MB2 Motorsports teams, led by CEO/General Manager Jay Frye, will be moving in September to a new shop in Mooresville, N.C. The new 144,000 square-foot complex will be more than three times larger than its current facility.
Petty Enterprises resides in Level Cross, N.C., a sprawling 60,000-square foot high-tech racing facility. An engineering-based and technology driven company, it is here where the organization houses the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team of Jeff Green and the #45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge of veteran driver Kyle Petty. Founded as Lee Petty Engineering in 1949, Petty Enterprises has seen its growth in stature and prestige blossom in the motorsports world throughout the last century. Dodge, a proven winner in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition, will, for the fifth consecutive season, carry Petty Enterprises into the 2005 season with two entries. It was Dodge that helped Petty Enterprises capture many of its 268 victories along with several of its 10 championships in what is now the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup circuit.
Except for historical information, this announcement contains "forward-looking" and "Safe Harbor" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
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