Mar 22, 2007
BRISTOL, Tenn., March 22, 2007 – One of NASCAR’s most popular
drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr, is making a bold statement on and off the
track as he prepares for the Sharpie® MINI 300 NASCAR Busch Series race
this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS).
The new Sharpie/Dale Earnhardt, Inc. relationship will officially kick
off Saturday when Dale Jr steps behind the wheel of the new DEI No. 8
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, co-sponsored by Sharpie and Budweiser.
Race fans will get a glimpse of the race when Sharpie introduces the
first-ever Dale Jr No. 8 Sharpie marker, rolling out in stores now. Dale
Jr will unveil the marker and new paint scheme Thursday, March 22, at 5
p.m. at BMS’s Tower 8, where he will sign Sharpie’s giant autograph
wall. Dozens of children representing Speedway Children’s Charities will
join him, lending their signatures and support to the Sharpie
“Autographs for Action” campaign to benefit Speedway Children’s
Charities with $10,000 in funds and supplies.
Sharpie New No. 8 Paint Scheme
"Dale Jr runs a limited number of Busch Series races each year, and we
feel very fortunate it will be with DEI and Sharpie in the Sharpie MINI
300," said Howard Heckes, president of Sanford, L.P., the maker of
Sharpie products.
“We’ve had some success at Bristol,” said Earnhardt, “so we’re really
looking forward to adding the Sharpie race to our program and taking
Sharpie and Budweiser to Victory Lane. Sharpie has such a great presence
and history at Bristol, and I hope we can add to that.”
The Sharpie MINI 300 is Dale Jr's second Busch race this season. Dale Jr
is a former winner at Bristol, going to Victory Lane in the 2004 Sharpie
500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race.
Bold Bristol Billboard
DEI and Dale Jr’s new Sharpie partnership also includes a bold new
addition to the Bristol Motor Speedway landscape - a giant three-story
billboard covering Tower 8 and featuring Dale Jr’s larger-than-life
likeness. The banner, which also includes an image of the Sharpie No. 8
paint scheme and the new No. 8 marker, will be unveiled Thursday along
with the No. 8 marker. It will become a permanent fixture at BMS
throughout the 2007 race season.
Dale Jr, DEI and Sharpie
The Dale Earnhardt Jr No. 8 Sharpie marker is the only marker endorsed
by Dale Jr. Available in black fine point and imprinted with his
autograph and No. 8, it is rolling out now in select stores nationwide
where office products are sold.
Sharpie markers are available in 39 colors and a variety of tip sizes –
from Sharpie Retractable markers with one-click convenience to Sharpie
MINI markers for perfect portability to Sharpie Accent highlighters for
bold highlights.
Dale Jr. is in his eighth full season of NASCAR Nextel Cup competition
at DEI with 17 victories, including the 2004 Daytona 500. In the Busch
Series, he has 22 wins and two championships. He is one of only three
drivers to win the "Most Popular Driver" award four consecutive times,
and the only third-generation NASCAR champion. He follows his legendary
father, Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time Cup champion, and grandfather Ralph
Earnhardt, who was a champion in NASCAR's Sportsman Series.
For more information on the Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Dale Jr and Sharpie
partnership, visit www.sharpie.com.
About Sharpie Autographs for Action
Autographs for Action annually seeks one million autographs as part of
its program to give away $1 million in funds and supplies for community
groups, charitable organizations and schools nationwide (go to
www.sharpie.com). Sharpie will donate $10,000 in funds and supplies to
Speedway Children’s Charities as part of the Bristol autograph drive.
About Speedway Children’s Charities
Speedway Children's Charities (SCC) provides funds to organizations that
meet the direct needs of children. From mentoring programs to camps for
special needs children, SCC best affects children's lives by supporting
organizations that work tirelessly to see that children's needs are met
and that no child is left behind regardless of illness, social
environment, or disability.
About Sharpie®
For more than 40 years, Sharpie has been the popular brand of permanent
marker associated with the autograph experience. Sanford, L.P., maker of
Sharpie, is a Newell Rubbermaid company, a worldwide leader in the
manufacturing and marketing of writing instruments, art products and
office organization, including such well known brands as Paper Mate®,
Sharpie®, DYMO®, Parker®, Waterman®, EXPO®, Foohy®, uni-ball® and
Rolodex®, among others. Sanford makes more than 6,000 products, ranging
from markers, pens and pencils to professional art products, fine
writing instruments and office organization products. Visit sharpie.com
for more information.