Crown Royal Awards Fan Naming Rights to NASCAR Race at Richmond International Raceway From 1,000 Feet in the Air

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- In the second installment of the ground breaking "Your Name Here" contest, in which one fan will receive official naming rights to the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race atRichmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008, Crown Royal announced Dan Lowry as the grand prize winner. From this point forward, the race will officially be entitled "Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400."

As part of Crown Royal's first ever press conference from the sky, Dan Lowry, 29, of New Waterford, Ohio, took part in an elaborate unveiling ceremony in which several helicopters flew high above theLas Vegas Strip to a 10,000-square-foot desert mosaic featuring Lowry's name as part of the official race logo to be used atRichmond International Raceway.

"It still hasn't hit me that this is all real and that my name will actually be incorporated into the race title," said Lowry. "Crown Royal has truly provided me a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the helicopter ride and unveiling alone. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like atRichmond in May."

Lowry was one of two winners of the contest that were flown toLas Vegas to participate in the ceremony. While Lowry was awarded the grand prize, Tim Weiland, the first-prize winner of De Pere, Wisconsin, received a custom Stage 1 Roush Fenway Mustang from Ford.

Crown Royal selected the winners from approximately 10,000 written submissions chronicling consumers' fondest Crown Royal memories that were enjoyed in a responsible manner. In his winning entry, Lowry recalled a moment when he was working thousands of miles away from home inVenezuela. He wandered into a local restaurant where he didn't recognize any of the labels behind the bar until he caught sight of the iconic purple and gold Crown Royal bag that immediately reminded him of the fond memories of home.

"Together with promoting our 'Be A Champion. Drink Responsibly.' message, Crown Royal strives to give fans experiences of a lifetime, which means treating them like royalty when at the racetrack," said Jim Lorenz, Senior Brand Manager, Crown Royal. "To me, there's no better way to make Dan Lowry feel like a king than by actually making this race his, and it will be his forever. Congratulations to Dan on this historic accomplishment, and we look forward to making his race a tremendous experience for everyone."

Lowry's name will be incorporated into all official race logos, used for thousands of pieces of merchandise and recognized during the race broadcast and media partners as the race's official title. In addition, Lowry will take part in pre-race festivities atRichmond International Raceway, and participate in the trophy presentation to the race winner in Gatorade Victory Lane. During the race weekend he will receive VIP accommodations for himself and a guest.

Leading up to the big day inRichmond, Crown Royal will continue to promote its "Be A Champion. Drink Responsibly." campaign to adult NASCAR fans via broadcast Public Service Announcements, Safe Rides Home designated driver initiatives and other programs designed to reinforce the importance of responsible drinking and decision-making.

"Richmond International Raceway is excited to partner with Crown Royal for the second year in a row to host this fun and innovative concept at America's Premiere Short Track," saidRichmond International Raceway president Doug Fritz. "We are looking forward to having Dan join us for another historical weekend atRichmond International Raceway."

Additionally, Crown Royal announced the "Your Name Here 400" contest will continue in 2008, where the official name of the spring 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race atRichmond International Raceway will be awarded to another adult fan. For more information, fans can visit www.crownroyal.com.

For the third consecutive year, Crown Royal is the primary sponsor of the No. 26 Roush Racing Ford Fusion driven by Jamie McMurray. This includes sponsoring the primary paint scheme of the No. 26 car at 27 races during the 2008 season.

About Crown Royal

Crown Royal, the number one selling Canadian Whisky, has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour ofCanada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. In addition to its motorsports sponsorships, the brand also sponsors The Crown Royal Bad Boys of Comedy Tour, the Crown Royal American Turf stakes race at Churchill Downs and a number of other major regional and national events. For more information on Crown Royal, visit www.crownroyal.com.

About Diageo

Crown Royal is proudly owned by Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O), the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 200 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

AboutRichmond International Raceway

Richmond International Raceway is perhaps the most universally liked racetrack anywhere, as it is a favorite among drivers, fans, NASCAR officials and the media.

Year after year,Richmond International Raceway puts on the best short track show, and arguably some of the best racing in the world. Its unique, 3/4-mile layout produces tremendous side-by-side racing, yet drivers obtain high enough speeds to give it a superspeedway feel. That rare combination still allows for the beating and banging that fans enjoy, with the drivers' skill playing a major role in winning. In the words of NASCAR Cup Series icon Rusty Wallace, those characteristics help make racing at the track and the experience fans have while visiting, simply "perfect."

In 2007,Richmond International Raceway added nearly 5,000 seats, bringing its total capacity to 112,029. Additionally,Richmond International Raceway is the only track to hold all of its major events "under the lights."

Richmond International Raceway's 2008 season begins with the NASCAR Doubleheader weekend May 2-3. Tickets for the Saturday, May 3 Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race are available now by calling 866-455-RACE (7223) or by visiting www.rir.com. Tickets are also available for Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series 250 race. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult in general admission seating on Friday night. Friday's ticket includes NASCAR Nationwide Series practice and qualifying, as well as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and Wawa Pole Qualifying for the Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400.

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR's largest team operating 13 motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

SOURCE Diageo

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