ATLANTA, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts announced its NASCAR Busch Series debut today as the primary sponsor of the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevrolet and driver Jeff Burton. Their schedule will include 10 races this season, beginning May 5 at the Richmond International Raceway.
"The Holiday Inn-Richard Childress Racing partnership brings together two dynamic, all-American brands that have each achieved iconic status within their industries," said Mark Snyder, senior vice president of Brand Management for Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts in the Americas. "Many Holiday Inn guests are already NASCAR fans who appreciate the sense of community NASCAR provides," he added. "We are thrilled to be working with Richard Childress Racing and Jeff Burton to bring the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet to the starting line of an exciting NASCAR season."
Burton, a husband and father of two, has been with Richard Childress Racing since 2004 and won his first NASCAR Busch Series race in 1990 at the Martinsville Speedway. This year mark's Burton's 17th season in the NASCAR Busch Series with 20 victories, 65 top-five and 109 top-10 finishes in 245 starts.
"Growing up, my brothers and I competed in the go-kart circuit in Virginia and we used to stay at Holiday Inn whenever we traveled," said Burton. "Now, as an adult thirty years later driving for Holiday Inn, it feels like I have come full circle."
RCR has earned more than 130 victories and nine NASCAR championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. It was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, Busch Series and Truck Series.
"We are all looking forward to this season and can't wait for Richmond," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "RCR has had very strong runs with Burton in the Busch Series so far this season, so we're looking for that to continue with the Holiday Inn Chevrolet. Hopefully we'll get a chance to wave one of those famous green-striped towels in victory lane."
The partnership with Holiday Inn and RCR extends well beyond the track. Fans will have numerous opportunities to "get behind the wheel" with Burton and the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet and should visit http://www.holiday-inn.com/ regularly for the latest Holiday Inn Racing news. The site will include Burton's race schedule, racing recaps, a listing of Holiday Inn's show car appearances and information about Holiday Inn Racing promotions.
2006 HOLIDAY INN RACING SCHEDULE
May 5: Richmond International Raceway
May 27: Lowe's Motor Speedway
June 3: Dover International Speedway
July 8: Chicagoland Speedway
Aug. 5: Indianapolis Raceway Park
Aug. 19: Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 25: Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 8: Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 30: Kansas Speedway
Nov. 4: Texas Motor Speedway
About Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts is part of the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands with global headquarters in the U.K. and Americas headquarters in Atlanta. With more than 1,400 properties worldwide and nearly 1,000 in the U.S., Holiday Inn is the most recognized lodging brand in the world and certainly the most iconic. Since 1952 full-service Holiday Inn hotels have provided the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable, casual atmosphere where vacationing guests can relax and enjoy amenities such as restaurants and room service, swimming pools, fitness centers, and comfortable lounges. Additional features such as meeting space and onsite business centers, KidSuites(R) rooms, Holidome(R) indoor recreation centers, the Kids Eat Free and Kids Stay Free programs and Priority Club Rewards memberships have helped to establish the Holiday Inn brand as "America's Hotel." Call 1-800-HOLIDAY or log onto http://www.holiday-inn.com/ for more information or to book a reservation.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing has earned more than 130 victories and nine NASCAR championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. It was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, Busch Series and Truck Series. Its 2006 NASCAR Cup Series lineup includes Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 GM Goodwrench/Reese's) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cingular Wireless). Its Busch Series lineup includes Bowyer (No. 2 ACDelco)Harvick and Burton (No. 21 Coast Guard) and Burton (No. 29 Holiday Inn) For more information visit http://www.rcrracing.com/.
