KEATON EARNS INAUGURAL POWERade FAN NATIONALS VICTORY

Contacts:    Anthony Vestal         Susan McDermott                    Melissa Layton   

NHRA                       The Coca-Cola Company        Weber Shandwick                                                                                                                                                                                626/250-2425           404/216-4340                          314/552-6785 - (o)

                                                                            314/914-1397 - (c) 

 

 

EVAN KEATON DRIVES HOME A VICTORY TO BE CROWNED INAUGURAL POWERADE FAN NATIONALS SERIES CHAMPION

                          

Evan Keaton, 16-years old from Kettering, OH, Took to the Wheel of a Funny Car Simulator and Beat Out 24 Finalists During the Course of the Weekend to Claim the Championship Title

 

POMONA, Calif., November 6, 2005 - Most NHRA fans dream of the chance to race behind the wheel of an NHRA Funny Car and hit 300 MPH in less than five seconds.  For Evan Keaton, from Kettering, Ohio, this dream became a reality today when he powered a simulated Funny Car to victory and became the official title holder of the POWERADE Fan Nationals Series.

 

 Primed behind the wheel, Keaton tore down the virtual ¼-mile boulevard and beat out 24 finalists to claim victory at the Pomona Raceway.  Each finalist took their turn in custom painted POWERADE Mountain Blast and Fruit Punch Funny Cars, equipped with high-performance, hydraulic racing simulator systems that create a realistic experience for the competing fans.

 

"Unbelievable - that's the first word that comes to mind.  I truly felt like a real Funny Car driver today and it's great," Keaton said.  "I had my dad with me as my crew chief to give me inspiration, and just before the race I talked to Tony Schumacher and he told me to just clear my head and stay calm.  I took his advice and now I'm thrilled to be the first-ever POWERADE Fan Nationals Champion."

 

The inaugural season for the POWERADE Fan Nationals Series, the competition allowed NHRA fans the chance to compete against one another in Funny Car simulators at 23 Dragways over the course of the regular racing season. Similar to NHRA drag racing rules, contestants were eliminated in a series of qualifying races throughout the weekend until one ultimate POWERADE Fan Nationals Event Champion was crowned.  

 

"Because POWERADE is the official fuel of the NHRA, we opted to fuel the excitement of fans this year since they are what ultimately drive the sport of drag racing," said Michelle Grech, POWERADE brand manager, Coca-Cola North America. "We were able to give fans a chance to really live the Funny Car experience and go for their own NHRA championship title." 

 

Each of the 23 Event Champions and two "Wildcard Winners", who were selected online through the POWERADE Pick the Winner promotion and through a local Pomona radio promotion, won a trip for two to the 41st Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona.  There, finalists competed in a series of side-by-side races in one of two Funny Car simulators to claim one of the top 16 qualifying positions.  Today, each of the 16 qualifiers went head-to-head for the win and Keaton raced his way to victory to ultimately claim the title of POWERADE Fan Nationals Series Champion.

 

"The buzz about the POWERADE Fan Nationals competition has been a huge highlight for the fans this season," said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. "It's great to have the finals back at Pomona where we started."

 

 

About the NHRA

 

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. In 2005, NHRA will have presented 23 national events through its NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Sportsman Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

 

About the Coca-Cola Company

 

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's best-known brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, visit www.coca-cola.com.

 

 

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