Retired Navy SEAL Jason Redman was the winner of Crown Royal's "Your Hero's Name Here Contest" that is part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Brickyard 400. However, instead of "naming the race after himself, he chose his charity instead, the Combat Wounded Coalition." The race when it is run on July 24 will go by the full name of Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard (INDYSTAR.com, 7/7).
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| Last year Kentucky Speedway started presenting jukeboxes to its race winners |
JUKEBOX HERO: In Lexington, Mark Story notes Kentucky Speedway "seems on its way to developing a unique victory 'symbol'" in presenting jukeboxes to its race winners. Last year, as "part of a sponsorship agreement with Louisville-based Crosley Brands," the track started presenting the jukeboxes. Kentucky Speedway Exec VP & GM Mark Simendinger said that the idea of "awarding jukeboxes to race winners grew out of sponsorship talks" between the track and Crosley Chair & CEO Bo LeMastus. Crosley is "now primary sponsor" of the September ARCA race (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 7/8).
WE ARE FAMILY: In Columbia, David Cloninger noted the Univ. of South Carolina recently agreed to a 10-year, $71.5M extension with Under Armour, and the school "never entertained another company when its deal was coming up." South Carolina AD Ray Tanner said of Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO Kevin Plank, "It's more to me than just a company that we partner with. We have been with them quite a while and he and his staff feel like part of our family" (Columbia STATE, 7/7).
