'08 NASCAR Pets Calendar features six fresh faces

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR fans can once again spend the year with some of their favorite NASCAR celebrities -- drivers' pets! The 2008 NASCAR Pets Calendar is now on sale at select Kmart stores and NASCAR.COM.

This is the third year The Greg Biffle Foundation has produced the NASCAR Pets Calendar, which has proven to be very popular with fans. The calendar features NASCAR drivers and their pets and net proceeds benefit The Greg Biffle Foundation.

2008 Pets Calendar

You can show your passion for pets and auto racing when saving dates on this 12-inch x 12-inch wall calendar that features photography of the furry friends of your favorite drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and more!

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"The NASCAR Pets Calendar is unique in that it shows drivers off the track with some very special family members -- their pets -- and it really resonates with our fans," said Biffle, driver of the No. 16 Ford and founder of The Greg Biffle Foundation. "The calendar's success and the fan support allows us to help shelters across the country that need our help."

The 2008 calendar features returning NASCAR personalities such as Greg Biffle with his four dogs Foster, Gracie, Savannah and Daisy; Dale Earnhardt Jr. with his Boxer Killer; Matt Kenseth with cats Lars and Charlotte; Jamie McMurray and golden Labrador Jake; Casey Mears and black Labrador Nacho; and Tony Stewart with dogs Kayle and Deuce. Some of the new faces in this year's calendar include Kurt Busch, David Gilliland, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett and David Ragan.

This year, the calendar holds special poignancy for the entire NASCAR community. Former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr., who passed away in June, is featured with his wife, Betty Jane France, and their four dogs Will, Lizzie, Annie and Maxwell. Under Mr. France's stewardship, NASCAR grew from a regional sport to become the nation's No. 1 spectator sport with 75 million fans.

With a $25,000 donation to The Greg Biffle Foundation, NASCAR partner Pedigree has signed on, once again, to sponsor the monthly pet tips. The tips are helpful to dog owners looking for ways to improve their canines' fitness and health.

"Everything we do at PEDIGREE is because of our love for dogs so a partnership with The Greg Biffle Foundation is a natural fit," said Rob Leibowitz, vice president, marketing Mars Pet Care U.S. "Both The Foundation and Pedigree are committed to helping millions of homeless dogs find loving homes by encouraging dog adoption and supporting shelters and breed rescue organizations nationwide."

As part of the launch for the calendar, Greg Biffle will make a special autograph appearance at the Kmart store located near Dover International Motor Speedway on Thursday.

The autograph session will take place from 5-7 p.m. inside the Kmart store at 515 North DuPont Hwy. Adopt a Boxer Rescue will be in attendance with pets available for adoption. Many of these pets were left without homes after Hurricane Katrina and are still in need of good homes. The Adopt a Boxer Rescue organization is unique in that they maintain close contact to the dogs after they are placed in homes and have a "no-questions-asked" return policy.

For more information on The Greg Biffle Foundation's NASCAR Pets Calendar, visit www.gregbifflefoundation.com or www.NASCAR.com/foundation.