Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas Honors Dale Earnhardt

Las Vegas, February 13, 2009: Stratosphere to Dim Lights, Host Dale Earnhardt Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament

The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip will pay special tribute to Dale Earnhardt during the month of February, dimming the lights on the Stratosphere Tower on February 18, 2010 in honor of the late NASCAR driver, and hosting the Dale Earnhardt Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament on February 25, 2010.

Stratosphere Hotel LogoThe 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower, one of the most recognizable icons on the Las Vegas Strip, will go dark on February 18, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. PST for a full three minutes, paying homage to Earnhardt's iconic No. 3 Chevrolet. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation logo will be the only light displayed on the dark tower legs, and the hotel marquee will stop all advertising to display a tribute to the seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

The dimming of the Stratosphere Tower will occur simultaneously with a candlelight tribute at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. headquarters. The event in Mooresville, N.C. has been held yearly since the loss of Dale Earnhardt on the last lap of the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001.

The Stratosphere's tribute to the NASCAR legend is the first of its kind; the entire strip of Las Vegas casinos has dimmed its lights before in rare tributes to entertainers such as Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, President Reagan and President Kennedy, but never before has a single hotel dimmed its lights or ceased advertising to honor a celebrity or athlete.

One week later, the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino will host the Dale Earnhardt Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament. NASCAR drivers and fans will participate in the tournament in the Stratosphere Theater of the Stars Showroom at 4 p.m. PST. Kerry Earnhardt, the eldest son of Dale Earnhardt, will host the tournament. The lineup of celebrities slated to participate includes Casey Mears, Matt Crafton, Regan Smith, Aric Almirola, Eric McClure, Todd Bodine, Scott Lagasse Jr., Andy Ponstein, Danny Efland and car owner Tommy Baldwin. Kirk Shelmerdine, former crew chief for Earnhardt will also attend, and NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and TV personality Kenny Wallace will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

Fans can participate by paying the $150 entry fee into the tournament, which will be donated to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation's mission is to continue Dale's legacy through charitable programs and grants that sustain his lifelong commitment to children, education and environmental/wildlife preservation.

In addition to the ability to play poker with the celebrities on hand, fans will also be able to meet their favorite drivers, collect autographs and win cash or valuable driver merchandise. The Grand Prize winner will receive $2,500 in cash, Dale Earnhardt souvenir merchandise and a one year VIP account with iRacing.com, the premier online racing game. Additional prizes include autographed items from Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Hermie Sadler, Jeff Burton, Clint Boyer, Martin Truex, Jr., Marcos Ambrose and David Reutimann. Space is limited to the first 70 people who enter the tournament.

A special hotel room package is available, which includes advance tickets to observe the tournament and get driver autographs for a $20 donation to the foundation on the hotel's website, StratosphereHotel.com. Additional Tickets will be available for a $30 donation at the door. Space limited to the first 500 people.

For more information please call (702) 380-7777 or visit StratosphereHotel.com.