The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

IRL: Lucky Fan and Driver Have Chance to Share a Million Dollars

22 July 1998

INDIANAPOLIS - A lucky race fan and a Pep Boys Indy Racing League driver might take the first step toward splitting $1 million on July 25 during the VisionAire 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of nationwide promotion co-sponsored by MCI and Pep Boys.

Fans entering the MCI Pep Boys Million Dollar Driver sweepstakes must pick the Pep Boys IRL driver they think will win all three of the TNN-televised races: the VisionAire 500, the Atlanta 500 Classic presented by MCI on Aug. 30 and the Las Vegas 500 on Oct. 11. The fan who picks the driver who wins all three races will be entered for a chance to share $1 million with the winning driver. Fans who choose the driver who wins two of the three races will have the opportunity to split $100,000 with the winning driver.

The sweepstakes marks MCI joining the Pep Boys IRL family of sponsors and is one of the biggest racing prize payoffs during the 1998 season. The MCI Pep Boys Million Dollar Driver sweepstakes started June 15. Race fans can go to any of the 712 Pep Boys stores to enter, or may enter via the Internet at www.mciracing.com or www.pepboys.com.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for our fans to cheer on their favorite drivers and to have a chance to win a great prize," said Tony George, founder of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League and president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I commend Pep Boys and MCI for helping to build fan support and interest in the IRL, as well as TNN for their enthusiastic support of our racing program."

Jim Freudenberg, general manager of MCI Racing, said this promotion is an appropriate introduction for MCI into the Pep Boys IRL series.

"This national promotion is a great opportunity for MCI to join with Pep Boys and the IRL and introduce MCI to IRL fans," Freudenberg said. "And with half a million dollars on the line you can bet on seeing some really fierce competition at those three TNN-televised races. After all, competition is what MCI is all about."

"Pep Boys applauds MCI's new sponsorship of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League and looks forward to a mutually rewarding relationship," said Bob Billings, vice president of marketing and advertising for Pep Boys. "This inaugural cross promotion will span the entire race season and involve all of Pep Boys' stores nationwide. Our expectations are to increase customer traffic and awareness of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League as well as MCI support."

The promotion runs from June 15 through Oct. 11. Pep Boys is the nation's leading automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, with 712 stores in 34 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a leading provider of local-to-global communications services to business, government and residential users. The company's fast-growing portfolio of advanced data and IT services accounts for a quarter of MCI's approximately $20 billion in annual revenue. MCI operates one of the world's largest and most advanced digital networks, connecting local markets in the U.S. to hundreds of locations worldwide.