FONTANA, California -- California Speedway today announced that Target Stores and General Mills would jointly sponsor the NASCAR Busch Series 300 mile event on Saturday, September 4. The Target House 300 will raise money for Target House, a home away from home for families and children receiving care at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
"In a weekend of many firsts for California Speedway, we welcome the addition of Target House," said speedway President Bill Miller. "Target and General Mills are teaming up on this weekend for a great cause, and we hope the level of awareness and funds raised are beneficial in furthering the mission of Target House."
The race marks the second time Target House has benefited from a motorsports event, the first was at North Carolina Speedway last fall. For this year's race, General Mills will donate $50,000 to Target House. General Mills will also feature Target House on specially marked snack products including Fruit Shapes, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups and Chex Mix. The Target Chip Ganassi Racing team associate sponsors including Gillette, Energizer, Fujifilm, Reckitt Benckiser, Nestle Purina, Johnson & Johnson, Clorox and Lexar Media have committed an additional $45,000 to Target House.
The Target House 300, which will be televised nationally on NBC at noon PDT, will be the ninth Busch Series race at California Speedway's two-mile, D-shaped oval.
The race joins the "Finish Under the Lights" Pop Secret 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race, which headlines the Labor Day weekend event on September 5, 2004. This weekend will mark the first time NASCAR's premier racing series has made two trips to Southern California since Riverside International Raceway closed in the late 1980's.
"Last year's race was an exciting entry into NASCAR for St. Jude, and being able to participate in it was great fun for our Target House families," said Richard Shadyac, national executive director of ALSAC/St. Jude, the hospital's fund-raising arm. "We're looking forward to the growth of the race and our continued partnership with Target and the Target House 300 at California Speedway in September."
Target has a long history of supporting motorsports and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Target Chip Ganassi Racing team has supported St. Jude and Target House since 1997 through donations from the race team. The team provides $25 for each lap lead, $1,000 for each pole position and $5,000 for every race win. Over the past six seasons, the team has raised more than $350,000 for the hospital and Target House.
"We hope this year's race will bring even greater visibility and support to St. Jude and Target House," said John Remington, vice president, events marketing and communications, Target Corporation.
"I am really excited that Target, General Mills and our associate sponsors are teaming up to raise money for Target House and St. Jude," said Casey Mears, driver of the No. 41 Target Dodge in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. "I had the opportunity to go and visit the children and families at Target House and it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Target House goes above and beyond trying to make these families feel comfortable and at home."
Season tickets, with renewable seating locations, and individual tickets for the Labor Day weekend are on sale now. For ticket and event information, call 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or log onto www.californiaspeedway.com.
