Mike Wallace teams up with AT&T for Daytona

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Carrot Top, the comedic 1 800-CALL-ATT pitchman, has been in some unique positions as spokesperson for the service.

	Mike Wallace

However, on July 6th in Daytona Beach, the quick-witted comedian will undertake his most unusual role to date -- that of hood ornament on the Chevrolet driven by Mike Wallace in the Pepsi 400.

Wallace will drive the No. 33 Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet, sponsored by 1 800-CALL-ATT. The single-event sponsorship leaves all parties excited, including APR's honorary crew chief.

"I've tried imagining the excitement of the moment -- of seeing my face on the 1 800 CALLATT car, cruising around the track in Daytona in front of the best fans in the world.

"I'm definitely psyched to be in on the action," Carrot Top said. "As a huge NASCAR fan, all I can say is that it's going to be so cool -- and my face is more attractive at 200 miles-per-hour anyway!"

For team owner Andy Petree, the highly visible partnership is another opportunity for a team under his guidance to excel on a superspeedway, something APR teams have done consistently over the past few seasons.

"It's an exciting opportunity for APR," Petree said. "To be involved with a brand like 1-800-CALL-ATT in a situation that puts Mike behind the wheel on a Superspeedway - we're certainly playing to our strength.

"We've got a competitive team and a wild paint scheme for one of the most exciting races of the season - our goal is to put Carrot Top at the front of the field under the lights in Daytona."

Wallace's teammate, Bobby Hamilton, earned Petree his first Winston Cup victory as an owner in the final superspeedway race of 2001 in Talladega.

Wallace qualified ninth and started 17th in the 2002 running of the Daytona 500 back in February, and posted a career-best finish of 6th in 2001.

"I've had a lot of success on superspeedways," Wallace said. "I hope to continue that, go to Daytona and run well. I would hope through the exposure Carrot Top has had nationally, his celebrity outside of the racing world, will bring some new fans to NASCAR. We want to go down there and run well for 1 800-CALL-ATT."