Jarrett to get spooky at Atlanta haunt

There's something spooky about Dale Jarrett-but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Jarrett will be haunting Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 31, running a one-race Halloween-themed paint scheme in the Bass Pro Shops 500.

The traditional brown, white and gold colors of the Robert Yates Racing's No. 88 UPS Ford Taurus will give way to a graphics package featuring an ensemble of Universal Studios Monsters that includes Dracula, The Mummy, the Invisible Man, The Creature From the Black Lagoon, The Wolf Man and Frankenstein--who adorns the car's hood. The brown and orange car also is "stitched" together via a design that replicates Frankenstein's famous sew marks.

"Special paint schemes are always fun and given that we get to race the No. 88 UPS/Universal Monsters Ford on Halloween makes it all the better," Jarrett said. "I think the fans will have fun with it and it's something the team can have fun with too. Anytime we run a special paint scheme it gives us just a little something extra that makes you really want to do well. We hope to be able to take the Monsters to victory lane with us on Halloween."

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The program is a joint venture involving Universal Studios, UPS, and Action Performance Companies-which will produce and market die-cast replicas and other program-related merchandise.

"With this special paint scheme and with the race actually falling on October 31, it should certainly be a little more interesting than usual," added Jarrett. "UPS has put together a good program with Action and Universal."

This isn't the first ghoulish collaboration between Action and Universal. The two giants of their respective industries first teamed up for a Monster-themed program in 2000.

"Universal Studios' Monsters are the most recognized characters in the horror genre, and Action Performance has been fortunate to showcase them in a variety of racing events over the last few seasons," noted Fred Wagenhals, Action's chairman, president and CEO.

The current program will be augmented with a variety of race-weekend initiatives. Trick or treat activities will take place at the track and Jarrett will be involved in safety public service announcements encouraging families to exercise caution when out and about on Halloween.

"Halloween is a fun time but it is also a time where parents and children need to exercise caution, and hopefully we can help get that across this year," Jarrett said.

Special paint schemes are a rarity for the No. 88 team, which only serves to enhance the collectibility of program-related die-casts. This is will be just the second special paint scheme Jarrett will run this year. His car carried a tribute to PGA icon Arnold Palmer in Atlanta's spring race.

In addition to the UPS/Universal Studios' Monsters Ford, Robert Yates Racing will also field a No. 38 M&M'S/Halloween Ford for Jarrett's teammate, Elliott Sadler, in the 500-mile contest. Sadler's mount will carry a paint job that features the famed M&M characters wearing Halloween costumes. Both team cars will include a special "Team Halloween" logo designed by Action Performance.