Massachusetts fan taking victory tour of a lifetime

Ask Jim Farina what his favorite color is, and you can bet it's purple -- Prilosec OTC purple, that is.

Farina of Pittsfield, Mass., is sitting pretty this year -- on top of Richard Childress Racing's pit box and at the start/finish line. He gets the best seat in the house after winning one of the coolest promotions in sports -- Prilosec OTC's Victory of a Lifetime sweepstakes.

This season Farina, along with a few close friends and family, has become a fixture at the racetrack. Beginning with the Bud Shootout and Daytona 500, he's already attended 10 Nextel Cup Series events, and will go to 10 more by the time he flies first class to Miami and his chauffeur rolls up to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the season-ending Ford 400.

Along the way, Farina has taken a parade lap with Prilosec OTC driver Jeff Burton in front of 180,000 screaming fans, met Richard Childress and attended the exclusive pre-race drivers' meetings. Off track, he's seen Eric Clapton at the MGM in Las Vegas and has toured the RCR shop and Richard Childress Vineyards.

Perhaps the biggest moment in Farina's unforgettable season has been serving as Honorary Pit Crew Member of the No. 31 team at Texas Motor Speedway in April. Farina was a tire runner during the Samsung 500, and the team really put him to work. He glued lug nuts to the tires and stacked them in the hot Texas sun. He also brought RCR some good fortune. After Jeff Burton won the race, Farina was right there in Victory Lane, beaming like a little kid in his very own Prilosec OTC firesuit.

The access Prilosec OTC has afforded Farina such as meeting Childress before the Daytona 500 continues to amaze him. "I doubt you'd see George Steinbrenner taking time to meet and chat with a fan before the World Series," he noted.

Accustomed to sports venues like Fenway Park, where a Yankees jersey signals fighting words, Farina is impressed by the friendliness of NASCAR fans pulling for their favorite drivers and teams. "These fans are real, genuine people -- always making you feel welcome," he says.

His favorite driver, Burton, reflects that openness and decency.

"He's just a great guy -- soft spoken and always willing to give you his time," Farina said. "The second time I saw him he actually remembered me, which is totally impressive when you consider the thousands of people he's meeting."

Farina's dream season will go to another very lucky fan next year. Those interested in this extraordinary tour of the NASCAR circuit in 2008 can try to win their very own Prilosec OTC Victory of a Lifetime by registering at www.prilosecotc.com.

"Over the last three seasons, we've educated millions of NASCAR fans on how Prilosec OTC can treat their frequent heartburn with a single pill and get them back to enjoying racing to the fullest," said Karen Klei, Prilosec OTC brand manager. "This promotion is a chance for Prilosec OTC to thank a NASCAR fan with a true experience of a lifetime."

Besides being a major associate sponsor of RCR's No. 31 Chevy, Prilosec OTC is the official heartburn remedy of NASCAR. Klei says the brand's close partnership with RCR and NASCAR allows it to create the unparalleled access and unique experiences that mark the Victory of a Lifetime sweepstakes.

As for Farina, the 42-year old emergency response vehicle dispatcher has evolved from a casual fan who's seen a few Saturday night races in Lebanon Valley to a walking NASCAR tour guide. He can't wait to get back to places like Daytona, Bristol and Talladega, as well as experiencing new tracks like Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"The race is always exciting, and always different," he says. "No two tracks are alike."

As one of NASCAR's most-traveled fans, Farina would know.