Busch to unveil new Sharpie car at Bristol

BELLWOOD, Ill. -- It's seems special Sharpie paint schemes are good luck for the Winston Cup's Kurt Busch.

The Sharpie brand, the world's most popular brand of permanent marker and title sponsor of the Sharpie 500, is hoping that good fortune continues as Kurt Busch's No. 97 Ford returns to Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) sporting the Sharpie Metallic paint scheme that brought him victory in March. The special paint scheme supports the launch of the Sharpie Metallic silver marker, and makes its second Bristol appearance in 2003 and the first under the lights at the Sharpie 500 on Saturday, August 23.

The March victory marked his second in a row for the March race at Bristol. In 2002, his first win at Bristol and first since joining the Winston Cup came driving - you guessed it - a lucky Sharpie marker paint scheme.

"We've won at Bristol two out of the last three times driving a special Sharpie paint job," said Busch. "If we can win the Sharpie 500 driving the No. 97 Sharpie Metallic Ford, that would be sweet - two wins for Sharpie at Bristol in one year."

The Sharpie car is decorated with eye-catching, silver-metallic splashes of color highlighting the new metallic marker that writes on dark surfaces.

"Seems like only yesterday that Kurt was bringing home the No. 97 Sharpie Metallic Ford to victory lane at Bristol," said Greg Stoner, vice president and general manager of Sharpie. "We would like to see him autograph victory lane twice this year with the Sharpie Metallic silver marker."