Ford holding '43 Fiestas' national sweepstakes

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Aside from both being involved in racing and a desire to win at the top of the sport, NASCAR legend Richard Petty and Rally America star Ken Block have one important thing in common: the number 43.

In just five years, Block has driven to the top in the rough-and-tumble world of rallying. In 2010, Block signed with Ford to drive a Fiesta in the Rally America series and a Focus RS in the FIA World Rally Championship, carrying the No. 43 on both vehicles.

Petty and his No. 43 stock car have become icons of NASCAR, holding the record of 200 Cup Series victories and seven championships.

The two well-known racing stars, along with A.J. Allmendinger, the current driver of Petty's No. 43 Best Buy Fusion, are joining together to launch "43 Fiestas," an online national sweepstakes from Ford designed to highlight the 2011 Ford Fiesta.

Fans can visit www.43Fiestas.com, sign up to win, and see the first of a series of videos featuring Block, Petty and Allmendinger.

Ford is giving fans a chance to win big. Now through Sept. 27, first-prize winners will be selected to win an Insignia 40 inch LED-LCD HDTV flat screen from Best Buy.

In addition, 43 grand-prize winners will be selected for a Ford Championship Weekend package that includes airfare, hotel stay and two tickets to the Ford 300 Nationwide Series race on Nov. 20 and the Ford 400 Sprint Cup Series race on Nov. 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Additionally, one winner from the pool of grand-prize winners will be randomly selected to win an all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta. The winner will be selected and announced on Nov. 21 onsite at Ford Championship Weekend.

However, should Allmendinger win the Ford 400, all 43 grand-prize winners will take home a new 2011 Ford Fiesta.

"Only Ford can bring together two of the top names of NASCAR and Rally in the same promotion," said Jamie Allison, director of Ford North America Motorsports. "We're excited to help fans of NASCAR learn a little bit about the action-sport atmosphere of rally, and rally fans to learn more about NASCAR and our involvement with legends like Richard Petty.

"At the same time, we want to expose the 2011 Fiesta to both audiences, to show that it is truly a product of the new Ford, where you can have both a fun-to-drive car and one that gets great fuel economy."

Fans also can enter for their chance to win at Ford consumer displays at select NASCAR races and events until Oct. 25.