KY-based Valvoline, which has sponsored NASCAR Winston
Cup driver Mark Martin for a decade, will announce the
"Caring Hands" program, a partnership with Big Brothers Big
Sisters of America, today at Daytona Int'l Speedway,
according to Tim Whitmire of the AP. Valvoline "has set a
goal of raising" $1M and recruiting 10,000 new volunteers
for the organization. The company will donate $5,000 for
each Winston Cup race Martin wins in '99, $2,500 for every
pole he wins and $20 for every lap he leads. Valvoline will
also donate $1 for every NASCAR fan who "puts handprints" on
a canvas that will be displayed at 15 Winston Cup races and
"will encourage fans to match the donation" (AP, 2/11).
DEALS AROUND DAYTONA: CA-based Mattel has signed an
exclusive deal with Int'l Speedway Corp. to manufacture and
market Daytona 500 and Daytona Int'l Speedway racetrack sets
and die-cast vehicles. Mattel's Hot Wheels brand gets
preferential rights to consumer and retail trade programs
utilizing ISC trademarks and becomes an "Official Corporate
Sponsor of the Daytona 500" (Mattel)....In Greensboro,
Dustin Long reported that restaurant chain Sonic will become
the "main sponsor" of the Cale Yarborough-owned, Rick Mast-
driven Winston Cup car for the week and the Daytona 500.
The team, which is "still talking with a prospective sponsor
for the season," has also signed cement company Permatex as
an associate sponsor (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 2/10)....In
Charlotte, Jim Utter reports that VA-based brake and tire
company AcuTurn will sponsor the Junie Donlavey Ford, driven
by Mike Wallace for Sunday's 500 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/11).
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: In Daytona, Frederick & Elfman
profiled the 500-seat NASCAR Cafe in Orlando which opened on
Monday. NASCAR Cafe President & CEO Mark Dyer said that the
restaurant "focuses on the Daytona races" and the family of
NASCAR Founder Bill France (DAYTONA NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/10).
