WELCOME, N.C. (October 3, 2011) – The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation’s Centennial Celebration will be commemorated by Austin Dillon’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut driving the No.98 Curb Agajanian/Reagan Centennial/Camping World/Curb Records Chevrolet in the Oct. 9 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.
The original announcement of the program was made March 27 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The Ronald Reagan Centennial is a historic, year-long celebration to commemorate the 100th birthday of the 40th President of the United States of America. A series of substantive and celebratory events, partnerships, and initiatives sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation are planned throughout 2011, including the Ronald Reagan tribute album which is being released nationally by Curb Records in connection with the Kansas race.
“It’s an honor to make my NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut with the support of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, Mike Curb and Camping World,” said Dillon, who is a Co-Chair of the National Youth Leadership Committee of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration. “I think this weekend will be an opportunity to get experience in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and to race at a totally different level while highlighting the accomplishments of one of our nation’s greatest leaders.”
Dillon currently leads the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point standings with five races remaining in just his second full season in the series. The Lewisville, N.C., native finished fifth in the 2010 NCWTS point standings and was named rookie of-the-year. He recently equaled his win total from last year with his second victory of the season, in the Sept. 25 Fast Five 225 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. His NCWTS pit crew, led by crew chief Danny Stockman, will serve in the same roles for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
The Kansas Speedway race by Dillon will be the 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start for car co-owner Mike Curb. and Curb-Agajanian Racing. Curb said, “We are proud to be in a partnership with Richard Childress and his very talented grandson, Austin Dillon, who will be making his Sprint Cup debut in Kansas. We appreciate all the work that everyone at RCR and FullCircle has done to make this weekend possible”. Curb was directly involved back in the mid-1980s in reuniting car owner Richard Childress with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. The tandem went on to win 67 races and six NASCAR Cup Series championships together in the famed No. 3 Chevrolets.
Curb sponsored Dale Earnhardt during his first championship season in the No. 2 Curb Records car in 1980 and was also later the car owner for Richard Petty.
As President, Ronald Reagan started the 1984 Firecracker 400 at Daytona where he gave the command, “Gentlemen, start your engines!” from aboard Air Force One. Later that day, Air Force One landed at Daytona International Airport behind the speedway, in full view of the fans. That day, Richard Petty captured his historic 200th victory in Curb’s car.
In addition to being Curb’s 100th start, we are also celebrating the Centennial of Ronald Reagan’s birthday. Earlier this year the Ronald Reagan logo was displayed on the Centennial Indianapolis 500 winning car which was owned by Herta/Curb-Agajanian.
“The Reagan Foundation is honored to join with Mike Curb and Richard Childress for this historic tribute,” said Stewart McLaurin, Executive Director, Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. “Mike Curb and Ronald Reagan were great friends and it is a reflection of that friendship that this race connects the legacy of Ronald Reagan with the next generation of American leaders like Austin Dillon.”
Camping World, the world’s largest retailer of recreational vehicles and the title sponsor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in addition to the Official RV and Outdoor Retailer of NASCAR, will also serve as a partner on the No. 98 Chevrolet this weekend.
“We’re thrilled and honored to be partnering with the Ronald Regan Presidential Foundation and Curb Agajanian to sponsor Austin in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway,” said Marcus Lemonis, “Austin has done an excellent job representing our brand as a competitor and currently the points leader in the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series. We’re excited to extend the relationship into the highest level of NASCAR competition, and we believe he’s going to turn a few heads on Sunday.”
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About The Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Centennial Celebration is a historic, year-long celebration to commemorate the 100th birthday of America’s 40th President. The Centennial Celebration is sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. For more information, visit www.reagancentennial.com
About Curb Records
Curb Records is one of the world’s leading independent record companies. Owned and operated by Mike Curb since 1962, Curb Records has achieved over 300 Billboard number one records. Today’s roster includes some of the top names in Country, Christian and Pop/Rock music. Curb Records was honored as Billboard Magazine’s 2001 Country Music Label of the Year and Radio & Records Magazine’s 2005 Overall Gold Label of the Year.
Celebrating the Ronald Reagan Centennial, Curb Records has launched Together, A New Beginning, a 16 track CD supporting the historic, year-long celebration throughout 2011 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth, February 6, 1911. Numerous Curb Records’ artists have performed all over the country at major sporting and charitable events. This year’s NASCAR Cup race in Kansas City features new and upcoming Curb artists’ Tim Dugger and Rachel Holder.
About FullCircle Ventures, LLP
FullCircle Ventures, LLP, formed in 2011, is a sports management and marketing firm focused on first-class representation of athletes, entertainers, corporations and sports properties in motorsports, with plans for expansion into other disciplines of sports and entertainment. Respected sports executives Chris Biby, Matt Crews and Jay Schulthess, alongside Limited Partners Mike Curb, Cary Agajanian and Steve Meehan, have more than 100 combined years of experience in sports, entertainment and venture capital. In addition to their Charlotte, N.C., headquarters, FullCircle has offices in Nashville, Tenn., White Plains, N.Y., and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For more information on FullCircle, please visit www.FullCircle360.com and follow FullCircle on Twitter @SportsVentures.
About Camping World
Camping World is the world’s largest retailer of recreational vehicles and provides outdoor enthusiasts over 8,000 RV parts and accessories, service and collision centers along with other products and services to enhance the RV and outdoor lifestyle. Today the company serves RV enthusiasts with over 75 RV lifestyle retail locations engaging in the retail sale, finance, service and rental of recreational vehicles, with over $270 million of new and used recreational vehicle inventory representing more than 13 RV manufacturers and 150 brand names.
In addition, Camping World also provides expanded products and services to enhance and protect the RV lifestyle. This includes: the President’s Club customer loyalty program; in-store Performance Centers like the Tow Center of America, campground reservations, Banking and Insurance, RV tours, Service and Collision centers, Detail and Refurbishment centers known as the RV SPA, Highways Magazine. Camping World is the title sponsor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in addition to the Official RV and Outdoor Retailer of NASCAR. Visit www.campingworld.com for more details.
About The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma
The Childress family founded the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in July 2008. Serious injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America – more than 12,000 children die each year and more than 100,000 survive with some form of a disability. The Institute is working to save children’s lives and help them recover quickly through research, education and prevention. For more information, please visit ChildressPediatricTrauma.org.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 RCR Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.
