Ford Motor Company confirmed today that it has signed Chris Carr to a one-year title sponsorship deal to promote its Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned automobile program. The announcement came during a Ford-sponsored press luncheon in the media center at Daytona International Speedway. Ford also announced that it will be the title sponsor of two events on the AMA/Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track schedule in 2002.
Carr’s new 40-foot fifth-wheel transporter was also on display in the infield.
“We are very excited to have Chris Carr as the rider that we are sponsoring,” Mike Dennis, manager of Ford’s Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned program (shown at right in photo), said. “Chris is really going to help us market our products. Most manufacturers have a certified pre-owned program, and Ford Motor Company is aggressively pursuing those manufacturers. We want to be number one, and we couldn’t have picked a better number one than Chris Carr to represent Ford Motor Company and the Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned program.”
Dennis elaborated on some of Ford’s plans, which already include more than just title sponsorship of the Carr team for 2002.
“We have picked up title sponsorship of the Columbus, Ohio, race on April 21, and we have also picked up title sponsorship of the Hall of Fame race at Harrington, Delaware, in August,” Dennis said. “We are excited about this, and we are moving forward.”
Carr, who was without a sponsor after Harley-Davidson of Sacramento team owner Mike Shattuck retired at the end of 2001, said he could not be more pleased with his new deal.
“I’m very proud to have Ford Motor Company and the Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned program as a part of dirt track racing,” Carr said. “It has been about 13 years since we’ve had a Fortune 500 company involved in dirt track racing. We all remember the days of Camel and R.J. Reynolds’ involvement. I have been assured by Mr. Dennis that Ford is not only going to be involved with my race team, but that they are going to be investing in the sport as well. I’m really looking forward to the coming year and the next few years.”
Carr also said that he is looking forward to the challenge of bringing home his third career Daytona Short Track win when the AMA/Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships series kicks off at Daytona Municipal Stadium on Saturday night.
“Anytime that you can win a race at Daytona is a good thing,” Carr said. “To be able to be the second guy to win it for the third time would be great because it would give us an opportunity to reflect on what Will Davis meant to our sport. With the 505s, everyone is on new equipment this year. Anything can happen.”
“Chris had better win it, though,” Dennis joked.
