CHASE PREVIEW: JUNIOR WAS “COOKING TACOS, BEING LAZY”
NASCAR’s most popular driver could always use a little practice behind the wheel. Even if it’s in a golf cart.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. visited ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., to promote the Chase for the Sprint Cup in what NASCAR is billing as “Chase Across America.”
As the 12 drivers who qualified for the 10-race championship run on NASCAR’s top circuit prepare for the opening race at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, the media blitz kicked off in full Tuesday.
The network that will air the Chase races nabbed Earnhardt, of course, and had him in what ESPN touted as the first Golf Cart 500.
Earnhardt wasted no time showing why he is in contention for his first Sprint Cup title.
He took an early jump off the line, saying, ‘’I gotta get my motor running.’’ Being reminded he was running on battery power only seemed to add life to his dash to the finish.
Junior Nation, take heart: he won the sprint going away after a quick check of his equipment.
‘’I just made sure the tires had air in them, that’s all,’’ he said.
Earnhardt also talked about his favorite NFL team — the Washington Redskins — and touted the strong start rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III had in his debut in a win against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
When asked if he had his new favorite player on his fantasy team, Earnhardt replied, ‘’I didn’t have the opportunity. … By the time I got my quarterbacks in the seventh and eighth round, RG3 was gone.’’
Later Tuesday, he made an appearance on NFL Live, where he picked his all-time top five Redskins: 5. Dexter Manley; 4. Joe Theismann (he cited a chance to wear his Super Bowl ring); 3. John Riggins; 2. Darrell Green; 1. Art Monk (‘My role model growing up.’’).
And he stopped by PTI, when he reiterated this season is his best opportunity to win a title.
‘’We’ve been fast every week and feel we will be the most consistent in the Chase,’’ he said.
Earnhardt, who finished third in 2003 and fifth in 2004 and 2006, said he’s amped up his involvement with the team during car preparations before the race, whereas before he was ‘’cooking tacos or playing video games. … I was just being lazy. It never dawned on me that I could find another level … or be more accountable.’’
E-Z-GO® INTRODUCES THE “E-Z-GO EXPERIENCE” FOR APPLE iPad
E-Z-GO®, a Textron Inc. company and a leading global manufacturer of light-transportation vehicles, announces that the “E-Z-GO Experience” application for the Apple iPad is now available for download from the Apple App Store. The app allows consumers to determine the best E-Z-GO vehicle to suit their lifestyle, customize that vehicle with a range of available E-Z-GO Genuine Parts & Accessories, and solicit quotes from E-Z-GO Authorized Dealers in their region.
“We are excited to offer ‘The E-Z-GO Experience’ to help consumers find and build the E-Z-GO vehicle that’s right for them,” said Sanjay Kopay, vice president, aftermarket sales and support, for E-Z-GO. “This application provides consumers with a fast, user-friendly method to learn about the complete line of E-Z-GO consumer vehicles, select the best model for them, optimize it for their needs, and find dealers near where they live, all from the comfort of their couch.”
The “E-Z-GO Experience” will help customers determine the best E-Z-GO vehicle for their lifestyle, depending on how many passengers the vehicle needs to carry, the types of terrain where the vehicle will be used, and other factors. Consumers will be able to view and compare the many different models within the E-Z-GO Freedom® line of personal golf cars and the E-Z-GO Terrain™ and Express™ lines of personal utility vehicles.
Once the user has selected their model, they can use the “E-Z-GO Experience” app to customize the vehicle further, selecting everything from their preferred paint color and tire and wheel configuration to a range of options and accessories, such as mirrors, gloveboxes, brushguards, fender flares, windshields, roofs, and even solar panels to recharge electric vehicle batteries using the sun’s energy.
After the user has built the E-Z-GO vehicle of their dreams, they can use the app’s dealer locator to find the E-Z-GO Authorized Dealer in their area, and directly e-mail that dealer the details of their specific vehicle’s requirements to receive a price quote.
“The E-Z-GO Experience” is compatible with all versions of the iPad, and is available for free download at the Apple App Store. For more information about E-Z-GO and its complete line of golf cars and utility vehicles, visit ezgo.com or join the company’s Facebook community at facebook.com/4ezgo.
More information is available at www.textron.com.
LUXURY GOLF CAR IS HOLE-IN-ONE PRIZE AT MICHAEL PHELPS FUNDRAISING GOLF EVENT
Garia, the Denmark-based manufacturer of the exclusive Garia Luxury Golf and Leisure Car, is sponsoring one of their cars as a hole-in-one prize at the third annual Michael Phelps Foundation Golf Classic Tournament.
The event takes places at Atlantic City Country Club, New Jersey, from September 21-23, 2012.
The Garia Hole-in-One car is a street legal four-seat Garia in the limited edition color, Candy Apple Red.
“At Garia, we are passionate about what we do and dedicated to performance. We are thrilled to be part of this charity event and to be collaborating with an organization as inspiring and committed as the Michael Phelps Foundation”, says Mr. Anders Lynge, designer of the Garia.
Among numerous other celebrities, Michael Phelps, one of the most accomplished Olympians of all time, will participate in the event.
The Golf Classic Tournament is the largest annual fundraiser for The Michael Phelps Foundation.
The event brings celebrities, industry professionals, family and friends together for a great experience.
About Garia Luxury Golf and Leisure Car: The Garia is the world’s first luxury golf and leisure car. It is built at one of Europe’s finest automotive factories with a track-record of manufacturing Porsche. Luxury features include a built-in refrigerator, hand-stitched seats, and 12” wheels. Available as street legal and four-seater.
About the Michael Phelps Foundation: Eighteen-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps established the Foundation with the $1MM bonus he received from long-time sponsor Speedo for winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games. The Foundation’s first initiative was a nationwide tour to share Phelps’ Olympic experience and promote his message of Dream, Plan, Reach with members of the Boys & Girls Clubs. Since then, the Foundation has developed and launched the im program, helped establish Level Field Fund-Swimming, a grant giving program that provides funding to uniquely talented swimmers in need of financial assistance, and offers autographed swim caps for charity auctions through Caps-for-a-Cause.
Through the im program, the Michael Phelps Foundation provides support to Boys & Girls Clubs and Special Olympics international through its water-safety, health and wellness curriculum.
FROM THE JOHN-DEERE FAMILY
Gregg Breningmeyer, segment manager for John Deere Golf, passed away this past Thursday August 9, 2012. A long-time John Deere employee and staunch supporter of the golf and sports turf industry, Gregg will be remembered by all those who crossed his path. His vision, leadership and belief in the game helped grow the golf business for John Deere, and nurtured the industry as a whole. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues, who will surely miss his outgoing personality and enthusiasm for life.
