Win a Dodge Avenger

PADDOCK NEWS - - When Dodge comes to Darlington for the spring, fans can look for several things beyond just exciting on-track action – the opportunity to go fast in Dodge SRT vehicles, go wild decorating their campsites and go home driving an all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger.

Dodge and the Carolina Dodge Dealers have presented the spring race at Darlington since 2001, and this year the Dodge Avenger 500 will honor the arrival of the all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger in dealer showrooms this spring.

Even campers can join in the Dodge festivities at Darlington. Dodge will host a contest to find the campers with the best Dodge Fan Shrine. The contest encourages campers to show their Dodge spirit by decorating their campsites with Dodge banners, signage and merchandise and by wearing their favorite Dodge apparel. The winner gets to meet the Dodge drivers at Dodge hospitality on race morning.

When taking a break from action on the track, fans can enjoy the fast action at Dodge City located in the Fan Midway area and go for a high-speed spin in the Dodge SRT Thrill Rides. Fans can ride for free on a high-speed, closed course in a Dodge Viper SRT10 or Dodge Charger SRT8.

That should set the stage for the Dodge Avenger 500, the first NASCAR Car of Tomorrow race held on a superspeedway. Darlington’s 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval should provide the ultimate test for man and machine, with all of the VIP mothers hoping to honor their sons in the Dodge Avenger 500 victory lane.“Dodge is excited to bring back the action at Darlington once again,” said Mike Accavitti, Director, Dodge Brand and SRT Marketing and Communication – Chrysler Group. “This is a great weekend for the Dodge brand, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Carolina Dodge Dealers who sponsor the race. We have a number activities planned for the fans to help them celebrate the weekend – from campground contests to high-speed thrill rides to the opportunity to drive home a new Dodge Avenger.”

Local country music sensation Josh Turner will sing the National Anthem for the Dodge Avenger 500 on May 12 at Darlington Raceway. Turner, a 29-year-old country music singer from Hannah, S.C., hit the big time with “The Long Black Train” in 2004 and followed up with “Me and God”. His distinctive bass voice has been compared to the late Johnny Cash. The Mother’s Day Eve event will feature many Mothers of the NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers as Grand Marshals. An honorary starter has yet to be named, but fans will not be disappointed when the celebrity mystery man drops the green flag.

Stakes will be high for a Dodge driver to win the Dodge Avenger 500. The first Dodge driver to win a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race in a Dodge Avenger will win a 2008 Avenger production car to donate to his favorite charity. The race also represents the culmination of the Kasey Kahne Dream Job contest. Thousands of fans vied for a spot working as Kahne’s assistant at Darlington, and David Metzger, a police officer from Fremont, Calif., won the contest. He will work with Kahne throughout the race weekend.

If Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge or Elliott Sadler, driver of the No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge take home a top-five finish in the Dodge Avenger 500, two lucky fans can take home a new Dodge Avenger, courtesy of the Chrysler Business Center in the region.