UAW-DaimlerChrysler to Sponsor NASCAR Winston Cup Event at LVMS
19 October 2000
UAW-DaimlerChrysler to Sponsor NASCAR Winston Cup Event at LVMS
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 18 The United Auto Workers and
DaimlerChrysler, two groups steeped in motorsports tradition, have acquired
title-sponsorship rights to the NASCAR Winston Cup event at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway. The race, set in 2001 for March 4, will be called the
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400.
The announcement was made today at the Showcase Mall beside the MGM Grand
overlooking the famous Las Vegas Strip.
The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 will be the third NASCAR Winston Cup event of
the 2001 season and the fourth annual event at LVMS. It will begin at
11:30 a.m. Pacific Time and will be televised by FOX Sports.
"Today's announcement marks a landmark day in the history of Las Vegas
Motor Speedway," said Chris Powell, LVMS executive vice president and general
manager. "Our partnership with the United Auto Workers and DaimlerChrysler
sets Las Vegas Motor Speedway apart from other facilities. UAW is a group
rich in history and tradition in motorsports. DaimlerChrysler is one of the
world's most innovative and recognizable automobile manufacturers. Together,
we will make the UAW-Daimler-Chrysler 400 on March 4, 2001, the best NASCAR
Winston Cup event yet in Las Vegas.
UAW, which has 1,086 local unions nationally ranging in size from fewer
than 100 members to locals with more than 15,000 members, has been a sponsor
since 1995 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte.
"We are really excited about our commitment to NASCAR Winston Cup racing
in 2001 and the opportunity to sponsor one of the top races of the year," said
Nate Gooden, vice president and director of UAW-DaimlerChrysler. "We have our
annual meetings here in Las Vegas in the winter and summit training meetings
in the fall, so we felt the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 was an ideal opportunity
to link the UAW-DaimlerChrysler name with both Las Vegas and NASCAR. It's a
great match."
DaimlerChrysler announced in the fall of 1999 that it was returning to
NASCAR Winston Cup racing beginning with the 2001 season with its Dodge
Intrepid. The Dodge brand had a successful run in the early days of NASCAR,
amassing 160 victories and two manufacturers' titles with drivers such as Lee
and Richard Petty, Buddy Baker and David Pearson.
More recently, DaimlerChrysler has enjoyed motorsports success in many
areas. The Dodge Ram has posted several triumphs in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck
Series. The Dodge Viper has become the top American endurance car of all
time, having won the last three FIA championships, the last two 24 Hours of
Le Mans competitions in class, and the 1999 American Le Mans Series title.
Dodge's Neon racing program has been the most prolific grassroots program in
Sports Car Club of America history with 31 national championships. Racing
partner Mopar took its first World of Outlaws series title in 1999.
"In addition to our title sponsorship of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, we
are extending our at-track presence as well," said John Franciosi, senior vice
president of employee relations for DaimlerChrysler. "Our race track exhibit
provided by UAW-DaimlerChrysler/NTC will provide race fans with the
opportunity to interact with our Winston Cup racing efforts next year. The
sponsorship and our racing efforts show how committed UAW-DaimlerChrysler is
to achieving excellence on the race track and in the workplace."
The NASCAR Winston Cup event at Las Vegas annually draws a crowd of more
than 130,000 people with another 20 million watching worldwide on television.
In 1999, the race garnered a 6.0 television rating, second only that year to
the Daytona 500.
The Orleans Pole Day for the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 is set for
Friday, March 2. The Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series event will be
Saturday, March 3. There also will be three nights of the Pennzoil World of
Outlaws at LVMS's half-mile dirt track on March 1-3.
Jeff Burton won the past two NASCAR Winston Cup events at LVMS. The
Virginia native pocketed $1,358,965 for his victory this year, including the
$1 million Winston No Bull 5 bonus. In 2001, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon,
Terry Labonte, Kenny Wallace and Joe Nemechek will have a chance for the
No Bull 5 bonus at LVMS.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports,
Inc. , a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment
in the United States. In addition to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, SMI owns and
operates the following premiere facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol
Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, Sears Point Raceway and
Texas Motor Speedway. SMI also provides event food, beverage, and souvenir
merchandising services through its Finish Line Events subsidiary, and
manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars through its
600 Racing subsidiary.