Grand National West

Feb. 15 is deadline to buy weekend Neon Garage passes at LVMS

       

LAS VEGAS – Race fans wanting the best deal on Neon Garage passes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway need to buy their passes in the next two weeks.

        The speedway has set a Feb. 15 deadline for race fans to purchase a weekend pass for the Neon Garage. After that date, only single-day Neon Garage passes will be available for the Feb. 29-March 2 NASCAR Weekend.

        “The Neon Garage has become one of the top attractions in motorsports, and the demand for access has been phenomenal,” said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. “It’s also important to us that we keep the number of people to a comfortable level for all of our guests.”

        Race fans who purchase weekend passes can save up to $132. Weekend passes cost $275 while single-day passes are $129 on Friday and Saturday and $149 on Sunday.

        The Neon Garage is a fan-interactive, entertainment area located in the center of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. Unprecedented access to drivers and teams, Vegas-style entertainment including celebrity impersonators such as Elvis and Madonna, the Winner’s Circle and specialty concessions are just some of the highlights of the Neon Garage.

        Race fans can order Neon Garage passes as well as tickets for the UAW-Dodge 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series races by calling the LVMS ticket office at 1-800-644-4444 or by logging on to our website at www.lvms.com.

Ritz Crackers Revs Up the Fun With Kraft 'Race to Win a Ride' Sweepstakes

New Promotion, Powered by Several Highly Visual Marketing Vehicles, Give Race Fans a Piece of the Action

    EAST HANOVER, N.J., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Ritz crackers, the official cracker of NASCAR(R) and the brand that is always "Open for Fun," has teamed up with Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Racing Technology to offer consumers the chance of a lifetime with the Kraft "Race to Win a Ride" Sweepstakes.  Beginning February 4, 2008 through September 29, 2008, five lucky consumers will have a chance to win a trip to the NASCAR(R) Sprint Cup Series Championship Weekend at the Homestead-Miami Speedway(R) in November 2008 and will also have the opportunity to meet racing great Matt Kenseth, and other Roush Fenway Racing drivers at the race.  From this group of five, one winner will also be randomly selected to win a 2009 Ford Racing equipped Mustang V6 sports car.

    The Ritz cracker NASCAR(R)-themed campaign is powered by several highly visual marketing vehicles, including an on-pack promotion and in-store displays, as well as print, radio, television and online advertising.  There will also be fun, interactive consumer events taking place throughout NASCAR(R) Speedweeks and The DAYTONA 500(R) February 10th to 17th, 2008.

    Race fans can learn more about the sweepstake on specially marked packages of Ritz crackers, which will feature a limited-edition, cut-out of the Ritz NASCAR car on the back panels, which is the car Matt Kenseth will race in the DAYTONA(R) NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Daytona on February 16, 2008.  These special-edition Ritz cracker boxes will be available in stores nationwide beginning in April.

    To help generate additional consumer awareness for the program, Ritz crackers has created lobby displays and combo cards, which will appear in more than 12,000 retailers nationwide from February through August.  The lobby displays will consist of inflatable Ritz cars and racing graphics.  In addition, the Ritz cracker NASCAR(R) show car will also appear at multiple retail locations throughout the year, which will be sure to get race fans' excitement revving. 

    Beginning in February, there will be dedicated race specific advertising that is part of the new Ritz Cracker "Open for Fun" campaign.  This will include television and print advertising throughout the NASCAR racing season appearing on the FOX and TNT networks.  Race inspired print advertising will appear in publications such as People's "Country edition" and TV Guide's "DAYTONA(R) issue".  The advertising will also appear online at Kraftfoods.com and Fordracing.com.

    The Ritz cracker brand will also support the program with promotional radio spots that give a call to action to participate in the sweepstake and drive traffic to the retailers for entry. Through these radio partnerships there will also be a chance for consumers to win an autographed Matt Kenseth Ritz Race fire suit. Ford Racing will also include the Ritz cracker promotion in their Ford Racing website, fan club e-mail blasts, Inside the Oval magazine, and direct mail information.

    "The NASCAR(R)-themed promotion is one of the many marketing and communications elements supporting the new Ritz "Open for Fun" campaign," said Jim Low, Senior Brand Manager, Ritz crackers.  "As the official cracker of NASCAR, Ritz is thrilled to give race fans the chance to be right there in the heart of action with this sweepstake and bring fun to everyone through on-pack memorabilia."

    For more information on the Kraft's "Race to Win a Ride" Sweepstakes and to learn more about other Kraft brands involved in this program, log onto www.nabiscoworld.com.

    About Ritz "Open for Fun"

    The Ritz cracker brand is launching an exciting new "Open for Fun" campaign, an integrated marketing program that extends beyond the tangible features of Ritz and expresses the underlying relationship - a relationship based on fun - that so many people share with the brand.  The multifaceted, integrated campaign includes vibrant and playful TV spots, print ads, outdoor postings, dynamic light projections and in-store promotions, as well as an all-new "Open for Fun" Web site www.ritzcrackers.com/openforfun

    About Kraft Foods

    Kraft Foods is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies with annual revenues of more than $34 billion.  For more than 100 years, Kraft has offered consumers delicious and wholesome foods that fit the way they live.  Kraft markets a broad portfolio of iconic brands in 155 countries, including six brands with revenue of more than $1 billion, such as Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats; Philadelphia cream cheese; Nabisco cookies and crackers; Jacobs coffees and Milka chocolates.  Kraft became a fully independent company on March 30, 2007, and is listed in the Standard and Poor's 100 and 500 indexes.  The company also is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index.  For more information, visit the company's website at www.kraft.com.

    About Ford Racing Technology

    Ford Racing Technology, based in Dearborn, Mich., is responsible for major racing operations in North America, including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Grand American sports car racing, NHRA drag racing and USAC midget car racing.  Ford Racing also oversees development and marketing of Ford Racing performance parts, and the marketing of the Ford Racing brand through initiatives such as Team Ford Racing.  For more information regarding Ford Racing's activities, please visit www.fordracing.com.

    About Roush Fenway Racing

    Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR's largest team operating 13 motorsports teams.  Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. 

2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Final Top 12
1 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
The File:
• 32 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 33 career wins
• 10 wins, 20 top fives, 24 top 10s this year
• Four poles
• Average finish of 10.8
• Led 24 of 36 races for 1,289 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-high 962 Fastest Laps Run

2 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
The File:
• 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 81 career wins
• Six wins, 21 top fives, 30 top 10s; seven poles
• Average finish of 7.3
• Led 23 of 36 races for 1,300 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-best Average Running Position of 9.1

3 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
The File:
• 28 years old from Emporia, Kan., one career win
• One win, five top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 13.8
• Led 13 of 36 races for 387 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Second-best Closer – 57 positions improved over the last 10% of races

4 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
The File:
• 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 16 career wins
• Two wins, 13 top fives, 22 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.0
• Led 20 of 36 races for 912 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 9,900 laps run on the lead lap, second-most

5 – Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
The File:
• 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins
• One win, 11 top fives, 20 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.1
• Led 19 of 36 races for 637 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Fifth-fastest average Green Flag Speed

6 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet)
The File:
• 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins
• Three wins, 11 top fives, 23 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.1
• Led 20 of 36 races for 980 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 634 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

7 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
The File:
• 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 17 career wins
• Three wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.9
• Led 20 of 36 races for 515 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-high 1,854 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions)

8 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
The File:
• 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins
• One win, nine top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.8; Led seven of 36 races for 79 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 2,876 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

9 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
The File:
• 28 years old from Columbia, Mo., seven career wins
• Three wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 13.9
• Led 12 of 36 races for 515 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 429 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

10 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
The File:
• 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories
• One win, four top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.4 this season
• Led 12 of 36 races for 271 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Fourth-best Closer – 51 positions improved over the last 10% of races

11 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
The File:
• 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., one career win
• One win, seven top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 16.4
• Led 17 of 36 races for 581 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 3,079 Green Flag Passes, second-most

12 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)
The File:
• 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins
• One win, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.0
• Led 18 of 36 races for 906 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 486 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

The Chase
The Top 12

                                                      Weeks    Rank     Season     
                                                      In            Last      Driver
     Driver               Points   Wins    Top 12    Week    Rating
1.  Jimmie Johnson  6,723      10          34          1         110.3
2.  Jeff Gordon         6,646        6         36           2         108.6
3.  Clint Bowyer       6,377        1         34           3           87.4
4.  Matt Kenseth      6,298        2         35           6           95.9
5.  Kyle Busch         6,293       1          34           4           97.8
6.  Tony Stewart       6,242       3          33           5         100.9
7.  Kurt Busch          6,231       2          20         10           99.7
8.  Jeff Burton           6,231       1          36           8           87.9
9.  Carl Edwards       6,222       3          33           9           92.9
10. Kevin Harvick      6,199       1          34           7            86.4
11. Martin Truex Jr.   6,164       1          24         11            90.3
12. Denny Hamlin     5,143       1          34         12            97.0
     ___________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Ryan Newman 4,046      34. Paul Menard 2,496
14. Greg Biffle 3,991            35. Kyle Petty 2,312
15. Casey Mears 3,949        36. Scott Riggs 2,135 
16. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3,929  37. Joe Nemechek 2,117
17. Jamie McMurray 3,556    38. Brian Vickers 2,065
18. Bobby Labonte 3,517      39. David Reutimann 1,878
19. Kasey Kahne 3,489        40. Sterling Marlin 1,752
20. J.P. Montoya 3,487        41. Dale Jarrett 1,584
21. J.J. Yeley 3,456             42. Bill Elliott 1,579 
22. Reed Sorenson 3,275     43. AJ Allmendinger 1,165 
23. David Ragan 3,251         44. Michael Waltrip 1,149 
24. David Stremme 3,163     45. Jeremy Mayfield 1,126
25. Elliott Sadler 3,140         46. Kenny Wallace 1,066 
26. Robby Gordon 3,014       47. Ward Burton 939
27. Mark Martin 2,960          48. John Andretti 932
28. David Gilliland 2,924       49. Ken Schrader 932
29. Tony Raines 2,920          50. Regan Smith 516
30. Johnny Sauter 2,875       51. Boris Said 510
31. Dave Blaney 2,781          52. Aric Almirola 357
32. Jeff Green 2,704             53. Mike Bliss 325
33. Ricky Rudd 2,622           54. Ron Fellows 283

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season