FW: MOPAR NAMES GRAND MARSHAL, HONORARY STARTERS FOR NHRA MOPAR MILE-HIGH EVENT
NEWS RELEASE July 12, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TEAM MOPAR CONTACT: Misha Geisert J.R. Thompson Company (317) 432-4110 MoparPR@aol.com MOPAR NAMES GRAND MARSHAL, HONORARY STARTERS FOR 27TH ANNUAL MOPAR MILE-HIGH NATIONALS Center Line, Mich. - Mopar is pleased to announce the Grand Marshal and the Honorary Starters for the 27th Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. Mopar legend Buddy Martin of the Sox & Martin duo will preside as Grand Marshall on Sunday, while Dennis, Debbra and Cody Parker will serve as the official starters of the event on Friday night. Martin represents half of the famous Sox and Martin duo that took the NHRA, IHRA and AHRA Super Stock and Pro Stock divisions by storm in the 1960s and early 1970s. He will attend the upcoming Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals event for the first time in several years. Martin will be reunited with the 1968 Super Stock HEMI Plymouth Barracuda that Ronnie Sox piloted during the 1968 and 1969 racing seasons. Sox won the 1969 NHRA U.S. Nationals Super Stock championship behind the wheel of the well-known machine. The Parker family will be honored as a tribute to Clint Parker, who passed away on September 8, 2005. A ten-year employee of Bandimere Speedway, Parker worked his way through various positions to become a member of the marketing staff. He succumbed to injuries he received while heroically attempting to put out a fire in the basement of an office building at Bandimere Speedway last fall. His mother and brother both work as part of the Bandimere Speedway team, while all three family members participate in Pro ET bracket racing at the facility. The Mopar Big Block Party will kick off the event at 6 p.m. MDT in downtown Golden, Colo., on Thursday, July 13. There is no charge for admission. Mopar will host an open press conference on the stage from 6:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. MDT, followed by a MoPowered wedding, in which newly ordained minister Gary Scelzi will lead a Mopar-crazed couple in taking their vows. Ron Capps and Angelle Sampey will look on as the duo's best man and maid of honor. An autograph session featuring more than 20 of the top drivers and crew chiefs in the NHRA will take place at the Mopar Big Block Party. The autograph session is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. MDT. Headlining the entertainment for the Mopar Big Block Party will be Chicago's best cover band, Maggie Speaks. The fabulous foursome of David Calzaretta, Blake Cooper, Shawn Sommer and Samir Varma will again appear on Chi-town's behalf, as their gigs have included the coveted "Taste of Chicago" event. Featuring a play list that ranges from AC/DC and Aerosmith, to Nelly and Matchbox 20, partygoers are sure to find their musical tastes covered by Maggie Speaks. For more information regarding Mopar or Bandimere Speedway, log on to www.mopar.com, www.moparspeed.com or www.bandimere.com. Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® vehicles. -30- ------ End of Forwarded Message