Superstars of NASCAR Join Forces with The DC Super Heroes of the Justice League™
Erin Weinberg, Alan Taylor Communications and Erin Snider, Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Top NASCAR Drivers Combine Horsepower and Super Power
Roush Racing
April 23, 2004Talladega, Ala., April 23, 2004 – It’s the largest track on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series circuit, so it makes sense that Talladega Superspeedway was the place where some of NASCAR’s best drivers unveiled their super hero co-pilots for the upcoming Justice League Racing Weekend Presented by Hot Wheels®.
Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Martian Manhunter will team up with some of NASCAR’s top drivers for this exciting race, taking place Aug. 21-22, 2004, at Michigan International Speedway. NASCAR 2003 champion Matt Kenseth and fellow stars Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle were on hand for the unveiling at Talladega Superspeedway.
During the Justice League Racing Weekend Presented by Hot Wheels®, nine cars will be emblazoned with the familiar heroes of DC Comics’ Justice League. Justice League cars will be featured in both the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events.
"There is no more powerful super hero force to save the world than the Justice League. We are excited to take their inter-galactic battles to Michigan International Speedway where super power will meet horse power,” said Jordan Sollitto, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
Even legendary villains, Lex Luthor and The Joker, are part of the program. They will be featured on one of the two parade cars serving as ceremonial pace cars for the weekend -- marking the first time these villains have been chased by the super power of the Justice League combined with the horsepower of an entire 43-car NASCAR field.
“NASCAR is the perfect combination of serious sport and family entertainment,” said Lesa France Kennedy, President of ISC. “We are very pleased to see the World’s Greatest Super Heroes join forces with these great race car drivers to add an extra level of entertainment for our August weekend at Michigan International Speedway.”
The drivers and their respective character pairings for the Justice League Racing Weekend Presented by Hot Wheels® include:
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES - AUGUST 21, 2004:
- Greg Biffle - The Flash - No. 60 - Charter Communications
- Matt Kenseth - Martian Manhunter - No. 17 - Express Personnel Services
- Mark Martin - Batman - No. 9 - Pennzoil
NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES - AUGUST 22, 2004:
- Greg Biffle - The Flash - No. 16 - National Guard
- Jeff Burton - Green Lantern - No. 99 - Roush Racing
- Kurt Busch - Superman - No. 97 - Sharpie
- Mark Martin - Batman - No. 6 - Pfizer
- Ryan Newman - Justice League - No. 12 - ALLTEL
- Ricky Rudd - Wonder Women - No. 21 - Motorcraft
“I’ve always thought our team was made up of super heroes, now there’s no doubt,” said Jack Roush, legendary owner of the cars driven by Biffle, Burton, Busch, Kenseth and Martin. “We’ll have fun with this program and hope the fans enjoy watching us battle for a win with these beloved characters along for the ride. This is a fantastic promotion for our younger fans. It upholds the tradition of NASCAR being a family sport.”
"We are very excited and honored to be teaming up with the Justice League for this family-friendly program," said Don Miller, President, Penske Racing South. "These super heroes are timeless and their appeal crosses all generations around the world."
The Justice League Racing Weekend Presented by Hot Wheels® program will also introduce highly collectible merchandise featuring the Justice League characters and car graphics. Elements of the program will include targeted advertising, online promotions, on-site exposure and initiatives, point-of-purchase displays and much more.
"When the World’s Greatest Super Heroes share their stage with Mattel, America’s favorite toy company and NASCAR’s most recognized brand, Hot Wheels®, the result will be simply magic," said Tony DaDante, Vice President, Mattel, and General Manager of Hot Wheels Racing. “This promotion features characters that have 100 percent consumer awareness and promises to engage both the hard core fan and weekend warrior equally.”
The Justice League Racing Weekend Presented by Hot Wheels® program is a partnership between DC Comics, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), Mattel, Inc. and Michigan International Speedway.
The World's Greatest Super Heroes charge into primetime television in the smash-hit animated adventure series Justice League, now in its second season on Cartoon Network. This action-packed show, produced by Warner Bros. Animation, chronicles the adventures of DC Comics’ legendary Justice League: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter. From the Watchtower satellite in orbit high above Earth’s surface, the Justice League monitors all earthly disturbances and stands ready to battle super-villains, alien invaders, supernatural creatures, and other powerful forces of evil that threaten the safety of the world and the League itself. In its third season, beginning fall, 2004, the series becomes Justice League Unlimited in which the League greatly expands its membership roster beyond the original seven members. In these brand-new episodes, the League inducts dozens of new members from the galaxy of hugely popular DC Comics super-stars such as Green Arrow, Black Canary, The Atom, and many, many more!
ABOUT WARNER BROTHERS CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
ABOUT DC COMICS
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics' Web site is located at DC Comics.
ABOUT ISC
International Speedway Corporation is a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United States, currently promoting more than 100 events annually. The Company owns and/or operates 12 of the nation's major motorsports facilities, including Daytona International Speedway, home of the prestigious Daytona 500 as well as Talladega Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at ISC Motorsports.
ABOUT THE HOT WHEELS® BRAND
Hot Wheels® cars revolutionized boys’ toys in 1968 with an original line of super-fast, customized cars built for speed, power and performance, wrapped in attitude. Now, 35 years later, Hot Wheels® is a global lifestyle brand that represents the coolest cars imaginable in scales from miniature to full-size. In addition to leading the way with innovative vehicles, playsets and track, Hot Wheels® cars are also popular collectibles for adults. For the latest information on Hot Wheels® cars, cruise over to Hot Wheels.
ABOUT MATTEL
Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever created. Leading the toy and game market, the Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Tyco® R/C and Scrabble®, as well as Fisher-Price® brands (Fisher-Price), including Little People®, Rescue HeroesTM, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 27,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands - today and tomorrow.
HOT WHEELS® and associated trademarks are owned by Mattel, Inc.
JUSTICE LEAGUE and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
