Popeye Sails Into NASCAR

Action Performance Commemorates Popeye’s 75th Anniversary with Special Race Program to Include Die-Cast Collectibles and Other Memorabilia as Part of King Features Syndicate’s Yearlong Celebration of Icon’s 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 wasn’t 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 Swee’Pea 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 Action’s standard distribution channels, including the 18-member ARC distributor network and the RCCA collector’s 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 Syndicate’s 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 world’s most famous sailor man. Headlining the campaign will be "Popeye’s 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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