Ford Motor Company Pits Fans against Each Other in Race for NASCAR Dreams

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 8, 2007 – Who is that racing a NASCAR Ford Fusion – Matt Kenseth? Carl Edwards?

No, that will be someone from your home area who will take to the track this weekend in a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete to become Ford’s “Ultimate Fan Champion”

Highlights include:
* Nine finalists from Ford’s “Race to the Dream” promotion to compete on Miami race track for a VIP dream weekend at Nov. 16-18 Ford Championship Weekend NASCAR finale.
* Finalists to race each other in Ford Fusion race cars and in F-Series trucks at the same track that will crown three NASCAR champions a week later.
* Unique promotion combines truck customers’ passion for F-Series pickups and NASCAR racing.

Ford this week will give nine race fans from across the country – including the Florida Panhandle, the Southwest desert, the land of 10,000 lakes, Toledo and more – the opportunity to experience the thrills of being a NASCAR race-car driver first-hand after the lucky finalists were selected from the two-month “Built Ford Tough Race to the Dream Ultimate Fan Experience” promotion.

This marks the fourth year of the “Race to the Dream” promotion, sponsored by Ford Trucks, which launched Aug. 25 with one finalist selected every week through Oct. 30. The finalists will meet at the Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 10-11 to compete on the oval in race-prepared Ford Fusions, and in Ford trucks through off-roading, towing and drag racing competitions. The following weekend, Nov. 16-18, the track will host Ford Championship Weekend where the NASCAR Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck champions will be crowned.

“The Built Ford Tough Race to the Dream Ultimate Fan Experience has been a major success in its first three years and we expect more of the same in 2007,” said Todd Eckert, Ford Truck and SUV marketing communications manager. “We’ve connected with thousands of consumers and provided them with an opportunity to learn more about the best-selling and most capable lineup of trucks in America – Ford F-Series – while giving them a chance to win a racing experience only Built Ford Tough Trucks and Ford Racing could provide.

Tens of thousands of fans entered the contest at the www.RaceToTheDream.com website to enter the promotion. Many registrants earned additional “entries” into the sweepstakes by correctly answering trivia questions about Built Ford Tough Trucks and Ford Racing. The site now features profiles of the finalists, as well as footage from last year’s competition.

The winner of the driving competition will be crowned the “Ultimate Fan Champion” and will remain in Miami with their guest for Ford Championship Weekend NASCAR finales. While there, they will be treated to racing action, behind-the-scenes activities and more, including:

* All areas access to all three Ford Championship Weekend NASCAR races
* Being an honorary member of the No. 21 Wood Brothers crew for driver Bill Elliott during the Ford 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race on Nov. 18
* Being honorary starter for the Ford 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Nov. 17
* Riding in the pace truck at the Nov. 16 Ford 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race
* “Meet and greets” with Ford NASCAR drivers and personalities throughout the weekend
* A live national television interview capturing the excitement of the Race to the Dream experience

“Competing in NASCAR Fusions on the track and in Ford F-150s and Super Duties in the dirt at the same place where NASCAR will crown its champions one week later, is something our nine contestants will never forget. We know that NASCAR fans are also truck enthusiasts, so it’s a great opportunity for us to combine two of their favorite passions into a truly unique experience.”

Ford research demonstrates this passion and loyalty among the growing NASCAR fan base of 75 million people worldwide. Two thirds of Ford Truck owners are racing fans with 60 percent of these owners specifically following NASCAR racing. In general, 72 percent of NASCAR fans are loyal to products they see associated with the race series and their favorite drivers.

About Ford Championship Weekend
The first Ford Championship Weekend was held in 2002 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and it marked the first time that all three of NASCAR’s top divisions had their champions crowned at the same facility in one weekend.

“Race to the Dream has been a major success for us because not only has it allowed us to communicate on a more personal level with our loyal Ford fans, it also exposes others to the impressive new products we have to offer,” said Tim Duerr, NASCAR marketing manager, Ford Racing Technology. “We like to say there’s a little bit of racing in everything we do and nothing is a better example of that than Race to the Dream. We feel like this is a home run for us from a marketing standpoint, and it obviously has been a hit with the fans.

“We know that racing is important to our customers and it’s important to Ford Motor Company,” said Duerr. “Ford Championship Weekend is one of the biggest sporting events of the year and we’re excited to have such a major presence.”

About Ford F-Series
Since its debut in 1948, Ford has sold more than 32 million F-Series trucks. Today, there are more F-Series pickups on the road with 250,000 miles than any other brand. It has also been the best-selling truck in America for 30 years running and the best-selling vehicle for 25 years in a row.

The new 2008 Super Duty features the 6.4-liter Power Stroke V-8 Turbo Diesel (the most powerful, cleanest, and quietest Ford pickup diesel engine ever), a new exterior and interior design, as well as such innovations as an industry-first Tailgate Step ™ that allows easy access to the pickup box. In addition, the all-new F-450 pickup offers industry-leading towing capacity of 24,500 pounds and maximum payload of 6,120 pounds.

The Ford F-150 half-ton pickup, like the Super Duty, is the capability leader in its segment with best-in-class payload and towing capacities. New for the 2008 model year, Ford has added to an unmatched lineup of more than 60 unique F-Series offerings with the new F-150 Lariat Limited and SuperCrew XL models.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

Source: Ford Motor Company

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •