Day One of the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour ended with two events that started out with well intentions, but included a twist of events. The usual 45-minute drive took over two hours due to a couple of accidents on I-85, and made our time at Richard Childress Racing somewhat short. Nevertheless, all the Childress drivers were there with their 2013 rides including lame duck driver Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Austin and Ty Dillon, and Brendan Gaughan. Burton was candid in telling the assembled media that 2012 was not what the team wanted, but he looks for improvement in 2013, saying the trials of competition gets my trying as you age.
Kevin Harvick expressed confidence in what might happen in 2013 due to changes in management at RCR which Harvick described as the reason the team turned the corner in late 2012. Gaughan, who will be driving full time in the Camping World Truck Series, mentioned at age 37, it was time to win a championship. Austin Dillon brushed off any apprehension about running a Cup car in selected races.
By well after 9:30, the buses loaded and it was time to head back to the host hotel for an announcement from Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Richard Petty. The news was that Earnhardt and Petty have joined forces to promote the Goody’s brand in 2013.
“The partnership is unprecedented,” said Joseph Juliano, Brand Director of Goody’s. “It is the first time that these two NASCAR legends have worked together. Each of them has a huge fan base , and they are both synonymous with the sport of auto racing. Goody’s is all about speed, and nobody personifies the idea of speed better than Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.”
Earnhardt gave Petty the proper praise.
“Richard Petty is a role model for me and every other driver in NASCAR, Earnhardt said. “I am honored to be working with him and thankful Goody’s brought us together. I signed on with Goody’s because of their long-term investment in NASCAR.”
“At every track I go to, people come up to me and tell me a story about using Goody’s,” Petty said. At the same time, Goody’s is something of a well-kept secret. Dale, Jr. and I are going to change that.”
