Mar 24, 2003
(BELLWOOD, Ill. - March 24, 2003) - Kurt Busch and the No. 97
Rubbermaid/Sharpie Ford struck "silver" at Bristol Motor Speedway this
weekend, driving the special Sharpie Metallic Silver marker paint scheme
into victory lane. While Busch leaped to second place in Winston Cup
series point standings with the win at Bristol, the fans at the event
helped raise $5,000 for Sullivan East High School.
Sharpie markers donated the money to the school that in October and
November of last year temporarily closed its doors due to a potentially
hazardous black mold problem. During the weekend, approximately 5,000
fans signed a wall where Sharpie donated $1 for every signature.
"What a great weekend for the kids at Sullivan East and Sharpie," said
Greg Stoner, vice president and general manager of Sharpie. "We would
like to congratulate Kurt and his team as well as thank all of the fans
who helped us raise the money for the school. This couldn't have turned
out any better - we combined the hottest driver with the hottest new
Sharpie marker, got a win and at the same time gave back to the Bristol
community."
Sharpie matched the gift to the school with a donation to Speedway
Children's Charities (SCC), a nonprofit organization that touches
approximately 200,000 youth in need. Checks were presented to both the
school's principal, Mary Rouse, and M/General Thomas M. Sadler, USAF
(ret), executive director of SCC prior to Sunday's race.
Sharpie markers kicked off the fundraising effort at an assembly at
Sullivan East on Thursday, March 20. Busch and Larry McReynolds of Fox
Sports were among the featured guests. The assembly was featured in both
broadcast and print media, including Fox Sports national coverage of the
race.
Sharpie will return to Bristol Motor Speedway in August for the third
running of the Sharpie 500. Busch will once again feature the Sharpie
Metallic silver marker paint scheme.
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