Pocono II: ECR, McMurray to run special paint scheme

McMurray To Pilot the No.1 AXE Twist Chevrolet at POcono
Groundbreaking "Temperature Sensitive" Color-Changing Technology to be Unveiled on Car

CONCORD, N.C. (July 30, 2010) -- Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and AXE, a leader in men's grooming, announced today that its newest fragrance, Twist, will serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 1 Chevrolet, driven by 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 Winner, Jamie McMurray in the Aug. 1 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) event at Pocono International Raceway.

Fans should be sure to look for the bold, yet primarily black No.1 Chevrolet with neon green and neon yellow accents, much like the packaging of AXE Twist. However, the real excitement surrounding the paint scheme is a new technology on the hood of the car, which allows the hood to change colors, due to increasing temperatures, simulating how the AXE Twist fragrance changes over time.

Notes of Interest:

"Changing" Technology Applied to Paint Scheme: For the first time in the history of NASCAR, a car in competition on the race track will have a color changing paint scheme, due to increasing temperature of the sheetmetal. The No.1 AXE Twist Chevrolet will feature a color-changing hood when it takes the green flag on Sunday, Aug. 1 at Pocono Raceway. The paint scheme is representative of the AXE Twist fragrance itself, which changes scents throughout the day. The vinyl used on the hood uses liquid crystals that can be accurately set to show color at specific temperatures and was specifically engineered to meet the exact temperature range needed to show changing colors on the hood of a NSCS car.

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Unilever hope this color-changing hood will keep the thousands of race fans at Pocono and millions watching from the comfort of their homes locked in on McMurray's No.1 Chevrolet.

McMurray at Pocono: Jamie McMurray will be making his 16th career NSCS start at Pocono this weekend when he takes the green flag in his No. 1 AXE Twist Chevrolet. McMurray's best NSCS start came during the second-race in 2005 when he started on the Pole and finished 11th. McMurray has three top-10 and five top-15 finishes in the NSCS at the track located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

McMurray History: The Joplin, MO native, 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 Winner, has won five NSCS races since he entered the series near the end of 2002. In his seven years and 278 races at NASCAR's highest level he has 36 career top-five finishes, 87 top-10 results, and six pole awards. McMurray shocked the racing world in 2002 when he won his first NSCS race while racing for Chip Ganassi in only his second NSCS start and set a modern-era NASCAR record by becoming the quickest driver to win a cup race. The 2003 Rookie of the Year has finished in the top-20 in points in five of his seven seasons on the Cup circuit with a best finish of 11th in 2004.

Mike Dwyer, AXE Marketing Director: - "The AXE brand has had a lot of success in finding new and innovative ways to interact and entertain guys both online and offline. Partnering with Earnhardt Ganassi to debut the No. 1 AXE Twist Chevrolet and its color-changing technology holds true to this tradition, providing fans with a surprising and unexpected element at the track."

Steve Lauletta, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, President: "Partnering with Unilever and more specifically with their AXE brand is something that we are extremely proud of. We also like the fact that AXE Twist is a hot brand with young adults and introducing a brand like this into the sport continues to help expose NASCAR to a younger demographic. In addition, we have always prided ourselves on developing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with big relevant brands and Unilever and AXE are certainly that. We have had a great relationship with Unilever for several years now and look forward to it continuing."

Jamie McMurray., Driver: "We're excited to be able to represent such a popular brand in AXE this weekend at Pocono. Having AXE join the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing family is proof positive that we are pushing the limit to attract quality partners like AXE Twist and to make cool connections to the brand, like the color-changing technology on the hood. We expect, as always, to arrive to Pocono with the best equipment and to compete at the highest level possible. My teammate, Juan Pablo, started 10th and finished second there in this race last season. So, we certainly expect to have a good weekend with the No.1 AXE Twist Chevrolet."

-source: ecr