UPS, the official delivery company of NASCAR, is also the official delivery company of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. - home to the Kentucky Derby. Both the NTRA and NASCAR require horsepower and they both have UPS in common. The two racing worlds collide this weekend when the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series visits Talladega Superspeedway for the Aaron's 499.
Dale Jarrett and the UPS Team will compete with the #44 UPS/Kentucky Derby Toyota Camry this weekend in Talladega as part of a program to promote the 133rd Kentucky Derby taking place on May 5th. UPS announced the program a couple of months ago at California Speedway, where the president of Chuchill Downs, Inc., Bob Evans, talked about the excitement of having a relationship between NASCAR and the Kentucky Derby.
"Churchill Downs is honored to have the 133rd Kentucky Derby featured on the UPS #44 Toyota Camry that Dale Jarrett will race on April 29," Evans said. "This program is an example of how Churchill Downs can work with our sponsorship partners to build innovative programs that extend their brand's visibility and, at the same time, strengthen the sport of thoroughbred racing."
"I think all the way around it's going to be a great opportunity for everybody," Evans added.
As part of the Kentucky Derby program, UPS created a national sweepstakes that awarded one lucky fan and a guest trips to both the Kentucky Derby and the Nextel Cup Race at Talladega. Virginia Ingram of Allentown, Pa., was that lucky winner. She and her guest will be treated to a special one-on-one meet and greet with Jarrett, attend the driver/crew chief meeting, and take a garage tour prior to taking their seats for the Aaron's 499. The royal treatment will continue one week later when Ingram travels to Louisville, Ky., where she and her guest once again experience the VIP treatment and watch the 133rd Kentucky Derby.
While preparations continue for the Kentucky Derby, Jarrett and the UPS Team will be revving up the #44 UPS/Kentucky Derby Toyota Camry for competition in the second superspeedway event of the 2007 NASCAR season. The UPS/Kentucky Derby Toyota features a predominantly tan background with a shadowed checkered flag throughout. Adorning the hood of the UPS Toyota is the Kentucky Derby logo and the familiar UPS shield. Jarrett will participate in a variety of activities related to the Kentucky Derby following the race weekend in Talladega. While he considers it an honor to promote the 133rd Kentucky Derby, Jarrett has never been to one of the grand events.
"As drivers we look forward to opportunities to do special things for either special people or special events," Jarrett said. "A lot of the times I think that because it happens so much in the sport that a lot of people get the iea that a lot of it is just us trying to sell die-cast cars, hats and T-shirts. That's not the purpose behind the things that we do with UPS. Since 2001 we have been very selective and as I look back on it, everything that we've done has had a meaning."
I've never been able to attend the Kentucky Derby because, unfortunately, we race on most of those weekends," Jarrett explained. "But, I don't know that there's a more recognized event around the world than the Kentucky Derby and it is one of those events that, once the driving career is done for me, I would like to be able to attend some day."
The first order of business for Team UPS before Derby week begins is obtaining the best possible finish for UPS and the special program.
"It's obviously been a tough season and we haven't had too much to be excited about," Jarrett said. "Maybe with this added horsepower we'll be able to change that this weekend in Talladega."
