Ultimate Fan Experience Continues at Ford Championship Weekend for Winner of 'Race to the Dream'

HOMESTEAD, Fla., Nov. 14, 2006 -- For Matthew Walker, this year's NASCAR Season finale, Ford Championship Weekend, takes on a whole new meaning.

Walker, from Forest Grove, Oregon, is the 2006 winner of the "Race to the Dream" Ultimate Fan Experience after out-driving eight other contestants over a three-day racing experience at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

When Walker first received the call he was a finalist, it took some time for reality to sink in. "It didn't really dawn on me until we started seeing pictures on the computer and getting stuff in the mail," said Walker. "That started building up the excitement. And then when the plane tickets showed up, it was cool. I was ready then."

Crowned on Monday, Walker's ultimate fan experience continues, as he will receive VIP treatment during the upcoming Ford Championship Weekend at the track. Among other activities, Walker will receive VIP all-access passes to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ford 200 on Friday, drop the green flag for the NASCAR Busch Series Ford 300 on Saturday, and have all-access passes to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Ford 400 on Sunday where he will serve as an honorary crew member with Ken Schrader's No. 21 Motorcraft team, and join other VIPs on stage for the presentation of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup to the 2006 series champion.

Walker and eight other contestants had earlier registered online and were chosen at random through a weekly drawing then competed against each other in a unique driving experience at Homestead-Miami Speedway. First, the contestants drove the speedway's high-banked oval behind the wheel of NASCAR Ford stock cars with instruction from Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure. Next, they showcased their on- and off-road precision driving skills on the track's road course in production F-150s and high-performance Ford F-150s. Contestants were eliminated from the competition until only one -- Matthew Walker -- remained.

"I felt pretty confident that I could drive, I just wasn't sure I'd be able to handle the speeds in the corners, but I did," said Walker. "I felt almost natural."

Bill Wynne, North American Marketing Manager, Ford Racing Technology, was present as Walker got out of his car at the end of the day. "You can see that he's just beaming. It's an experience of a lifetime, and that's the way that we wanted to put it together. And now he gets yet another experience on top of it with the whole Ultimate Fan Experience at Ford Championship Weekend next weekend."

Todd Eckert, Truck Marketing Manager, was also impressed with Walker's driving ability. "Matthew did a great job -- consistent all the way through, and that's really the key, much like many of the races are when there's a point system involved, consistency usually wins the day and that certainly did for Matthew this weekend."

Walker is a huge Matt Kenseth fan and looks forward to meeting him during Ford Championship Weekend, hopefully after Kenseth wins the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship.