| August 24, 2005
09:25 AM EDT (13:25 GMT)
The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced the launch of NASCAR Street Tour, an interactive marketing initiative bringing the sights, sounds and excitement of NASCAR to sports fans in key west coast markets just as the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup begins. NASCAR introduces the NASCAR Street Tour to San Diego fans Friday, August 26 at PETCO Park prior to the Padres home contest vs. the Colorado Rockies. It continues to make its way through major West Coast cities including, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas at various sporting events, fairs and festivals, Ford dealerships, partner retail locations, auto shows and multicultural community events. The tour will also make a special stop in New York City for the annual NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champions Week. (Nov. 30 -- Dec. 4)  |  | ALSO | |
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Ford Motor Company, the official partner of NASCAR Street Tour, will provide a 2005 Ford F-150 truck to headline the tour. The retrofitted Ford F-150 boasts a flat-screen LCD TV featuring live NASCAR qualifying and races; gaming kiosks cued up with EA Sports' NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup; and computers with NASCAR.COM access. Inspired by on-track vehicles, the truck is emblazoned with NASCAR series and TV partner logos, the one-of-a-kind modified Ford vehicle rides on Goodyear Tires and features a NEXTEL phone display. A custom-fabricated version of the 2006 Ford Fusion will join the tour this fall following its consumer debut. "The NASCAR Street Tour provides a new avenue to build awareness of our sport, drive television tune-in, and ultimately help attract new fans," said Roger VanDerSnick, Vice President of Marketing for NASCAR. An accompanying NASCAR Street Tour Pit Crew will distribute fan guides and premium giveaways to visitors. While visiting a NASCAR Street Tour location, visitors can enter the NASCAR Street Tour Sweepstakes, which provides one lucky fan with a chance to win a brand new 2006 Ford F-150, the official truck of NASCAR. NASCAR Street Tour visitors will also receive an interactive CD which provides them with an exclusive NASCAR.COM screensaver, trivia game, and NEXTEL TrackPass demonstration. Fans seeking more details on the tour can visit NASCAR.COM which is the home of the NASCAR Street Tour micro-site where fans will find the most recent tour schedules and special events information, as well as enter the NASCAR Street Tour Sweepstakes. The winner of the sweepstakes will be announced in conjunction with the season-ending Ford 400 Homestead race on November 20, the crowning race of the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion. The Gelfand Group, an event marketing company based in Los Angeles, will manage all 65 events in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, as well as the 5 events in New York City. The "NASCAR Street Tour" vehicles are designed by Turtle Transit, an auto customization and design company, based in Massachusetts. | 
