Phoenix II: Richard Petty to drive WWII Jeep

"THE KING" TO PACE FIELD AT PHOENIX IN 1946 WILLY'S JEEP

"The King" To Lead Field At Phoenix In WWII Jeep
Fans Can Enter To Win 1946 Willy's Jeep

Davidson, N.C. (Nov. 13, 2009) -- This weekend at the Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway (PIR), the Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) and "The King" Richard Petty will honor our nation's veterans in a unique way. Petty, a long-time supporter of America's troops and veterans, will lead the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field on Sunday in a restored 1946 Willy's Jeep. This tribute will put a fitting final touch on Veterans Day weekend.

In keeping with Petty tradition, fans will have the opportunity to win this "workhorse of World War II" after it leads the field around the one-mile oval. The vehicle will be raffled off in an effort to raise awareness and money to support America's Paralyzed Veterans. Prior to the parade laps, the Jeep will be on display outside of PIR where fans can purchase their raffle tickets for $20, or three tickets for $50. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.PVA.org/Jeep. The promotion will run until the annual Memorial Day race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2010.

"One of the goals of our partnership with the Paralyzed Veterans is to make Veteran's Day happen year round, not just in November," stated Petty. "We want people to realize the sacrifices that these men and women make for our freedom. This Jeep is a piece of American history that becomes more distant with every passing year. I'm honored to pace the field in it this weekend -- and I'm sure the fans will enjoy it too."

When longtime supporters of the Paralyzed Veterans donated the Jeep to the organization, at "The King's" leadership, Petty's Garage stepped up to help with the restorations. Today, it resembles every much the vehicle that war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, called "as faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule and agile as a goat."

About Paralyzed Veterans of America

Sixty-three years ago, Paralyzed Veterans of America was founded by a band of spinal cord injured service members who returned home from World War II to a grateful nation, but also to a world with few solutions to the challenges they faced. These veterans from the Greatest Generation made a decision not just to live, but to live with dignity as contributors to society. They created Paralyzed Veterans, dedicated to veterans service, medical research, and civil rights for people with disabilities. And for more than six decades, Paralyzed Veterans and our 34 chapters have been working to create an America where all veterans, and people with disabilities, and their families, have everything they need to thrive. Please visit www.pva.org to learn more about our work.

About MCG Sports

MCG Sports, based in Davidson, N.C., is a sports and lifestyle marketing company that delivers cost effective, highly targeted strategies that leverage fan loyalty, bolster your brands and build your sales and market share. We create opportunities to help companies like yours connect with the audiences they desire most. For more information, please visit www.mcg-sports.com.

About Petty's Garage

Petty's Garage is a manufacturer of performance vehicles, including the "museum-quality" restoration of vintage race vehicles, custom cars and high performance street vehicles. It is housed in the former home of Petty Enterprises in Level Cross, North Carolina. Since 1949 this facility has built some of the most-historic racecars in all of NASCAR and amassed 268 Cup wins, ten Cup championships and nine Daytona 500 trophies. Performance for the track and the street is the foundation for every vehicle built at Petty's Garage. For more information, please visit www.pettys-garage.com.

-credit: mcg sports