Amp Energy to sponsor Talladega race

Leaders from Pepsi-Cola North America joined today with Talladega Superspeedway to announce that beginning in 2008, the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway will be known as the AMP Energy 500.

Mountain Dew AMP Energy drink is blasting onto the NASCAR scene in 2008 with several high profile sponsorships. In addition to the race at Talladega Superspeedway, Pepsi-Cola North America announced last year that Mountain Dew AMP Energy will be a lead sponsor of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s No. 88 Mountain Dew AMP/National Guard Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Mountain Dew is no stranger to the NASCAR scene, having found a winning formula as lead sponsor of Darrell Waltrip’s championship-winning Cup entries in 1981 and 1982 and most recently, having sponsored the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

“Talladega Superspeedway and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. are a winning combination," said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “I believe AMP Energy has made a brilliant move sponsoring both NASCAR’s most popular driver and the track that he and his father are famous for dominating. I can’t wait to welcome fans back for the AMP Energy 500 event weekend and display this great product to the thousands of loyal Talladega fans."

“Talladega Superspeedway is a popular, historic track that attracts some of the most devoted NASCAR fans in the country and it was our only choice for AMP Energy's first race entitlement," said Ralph Santana, VP of sports, media and interactive marketing, Pepsi-Cola North America. “We’re looking forward to a big year for AMP Energy in racing and we plan to make the AMP Energy 500 a fun and exciting experience that will be an event the fans will not want to miss."

The 2008 AMP Energy 500 event weekend featuring the ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be Oct. 3 – 5, 2008. Guests will experience an action-packed day on Friday, Oct. 3, including two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practices, qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series 250. Then on Saturday, Oct. 4, fans will watch as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams set the field during qualifying for the AMP Energy 500, in addition to the return of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the Mountain Dew 250. The AMP Energy 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, race four in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, is set for Sunday, Oct. 5.