Popeye Sails Into NASCAR
Nextel Cup Series Drivers Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne to Drive the No. 9 and
No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW/Popeye Dodge
Action Performance Commemorates Popeyes 75th Anniversary with Special Race
Program to Include Die-Cast Collectibles and Other Memorabilia as Part of King
Features Syndicates Yearlong Celebration of Icons Birthday
Well, blow me down! Race fans everywhere will share in the celebration of
Popeye The Sailor Man, one of the most recognizable icons of the 20th
century, as he celebrates his 75th birthday in 2004. During the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup night race at Daytona International Speedway in July, Evernham
Motorsports drivers Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne will drive
special-edition Dodge Dealers/UAW/Popeye Dodges featuring imagery culled from
assorted Popeye comic strips.
"Growing up, Saturday morning wasnt complete without watching Popeye on
television," said Jeremy Mayfield, driver of the No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge.
"It was always amazing how he would get into a tight spot, eat his spinach, and
come out swinging to win the fight. Maybe we can pack some spinach in our No. 19
Dodge Dealers/UAW/Popeye Dodge that will give us a little extra boost during the
Pepsi 400 at Daytona."
Popeye, his best girl Olive Oyl, his adopted baby SweePea and even his mortal
foe Bluto will be featured on a series of race cars designed by Action
Performance Companies Inc., the leader in licensed motorsports merchandise.
Popeye also will set sail with race appearances in the World of Outlaws and the
National Hot Rod Association.
In addition, Action Performance will also produce die-cast replicas of every
Popeye 75th Anniversary-themed race car. The die-cast will be available in a
variety of collector scales through Actions standard distribution channels,
including the 18-member ARC distributor network and the RCCA collectors club
(To locate an ARC distributor, please call 1-800-411-8404. For more information
about RCCA, call 1-800-952-0708 or visit
www.goracing.com).
This promotion is part of King Features Syndicates huge initiative of
launching its most aggressive and wide-reaching licensing, marketing and
promotional program to date with a yearlong series of high-profile events
designed to bolster the popularity of the worlds most famous sailor man.
Headlining the campaign will be "Popeyes Voyage: The Quest for Pappy," an
all-new Popeye 3-D CGI (computer-generated imagery) animated special that will
air in primetime on FOX and be released in a DVD premiere during the holiday
2004 season.
Source: Action Performance Companies Inc.
Date: March 12, 2004
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