8/2/2009
SUNOCO RED CROSS PENNSYLVANIA 500: RACE TO SUPPORT AMERICAN RED CROSS
In the second year of their partnership Sunoco, Pocono Raceway and the American Red Cross SEPA Chapter will continue to work together to provide much-needed support to people throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania recovering from devastating disasters. Through this partnership, support will come from a variety of sources including a portion of proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales, and the “Sunoco Red Cross Ultimate Fan Experience” sweepstakes. Funds from these initiatives will benefit the Red Cross SEPA chapter’s Red Cross House, the only facility of its kind in the United States. Red Cross House is a short-term residence in Philadelphia where hundreds of local families every year begin their recover from fires, floods and other disasters. “Pocono is pleased to continue our partnership with Sunoco and the Red Cross. Last year’s program was such a success we jumped at the opportunity to partner together again this year in order to put on an exciting event for a worthwhile cause,” stated Brandon Igdalsky. “It is a tremendous privilege to have the famed Pennsylvania 500 named in our honor again this year,” said Red Cross SEPA Chief Operating Officer, Donna Palmieri. “Sunoco has been a valued corporate partner to the Red Cross for many years, and through their generosity and the generosity of Pocono Raceway and the Mattioli family, we hope to build on the momentum from last year. In addition, we are delighted to be joining forces with Greg Biffle as we continue to raise much-needed funds for the Red Cross House and disaster relief.” An exciting new addition to the 2009 program will include a relationship with Roush Fenway Racing and NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Greg Biffle for the “Sunoco Red Cross Ultimate Fan Experience.” Biffle and the #16 3M team have an existing relationship promoting blood donations for the American Red Cross. “I am proud to support the American Red Cross,” said Biffle. “It’s exciting to see Sunoco, the Official Fuel of NASCAR, and a historical track like Pocono Raceway, combine efforts to help raise funds for this valuable cause.” "Sunoco looks forward to providing support for this important initiative again in 2009," said Drew Kabakoff, Manager of Brand Marketing for Sunoco, Inc. "We’re thrilled to add Greg Biffle to this program and we know NASCAR fans will join us in this effort to support the work of the Red Cross." Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Page 2 In addition, as part of this partnership, Pocono Raceway is donating ten percent of the ticket revenue generated by online ticket buyers who use the Red Cross promo code, REDCROSS. As an added incentive, those race fans purchasing a Sunday, August 2, 2009 reserved grandstand seat ticket, using the Red Cross promo code, will receive a free pre-race Pit/Paddock Pass ($50 value) and Souvenir Program Book with each ticket purchased. Fans can buy tickets by visiting www.GoSunoco.com. New for 2009, anyone who purchases a ticket using the Red Cross promotion or makes a donation of $10 or more online at www.poconoraceway.com will be entered into the “Sunoco Red Cross Ultimate Fan Experience”. The grand prize includes a hot lap with NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Greg Biffle, the winner and three friends to serve as honorary members of Biffle’s pit crew, and the opportunity to serve as the Honorary Starter for Sunday’s race. Pocono Raceway will also provide the SEPA Chapter with the opportunity to collect donations at the race. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from the Official Starting Line-up t-shirt, Pocono Raceway’s largest gross concession item, will be donated to the SEPA Chapter. The NASCAR Foundation will host an online auction, on www.nascar.com/foundation, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the SEPA Chapter. Auction items include a Pace Car ride for two around the Pocono Raceway track, four skybox passes for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 weekend, and a Sunoco gas can and Sunoco victory flag autographed by all of the drivers in the race. Sunoco is once again lending marketing and promotional support to the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 with signage at 1,826 retail locations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Sunoco will also highlight the event on their website, www.GoSunoco.com, and provide a link to the Pocono Raceway ticket sales site in order to encourage fans to use the promo code and help raise money for the Red Cross. ABOUT POCONO RACEWAY- Pocono Raceway is host to two NASCAR Sprint Cup events each year, the Pocono 500 Weekend, in early June and the Pennsylvania 500 Weekend, the first week in August. In addition to the NASCAR Sprint Cup races, Pocono Raceway also hosts the ARCA RE/MAX Series stars on the Saturday of those same weekends. Pocono Raceway, known as “The Tricky Triangle”, is unique in the racing world due to its three turns vs. four at most other tracks. This layout makes for some unique feats by not only drivers, but also the crews that set up the cars. In business for 50 years, Pocono Raceway is a family owned raceway located in the heart of the beautiful Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania. Located an easy drive from both Philadelphia and New York makes Pocono Raceway an attractive option for race fans. ABOUT SUNOCO - Sunoco, Inc., headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of petroleum and petrochemical products. With 825 thousand barrels per day of refining capacity, approximately 4,700 retail sites selling gasoline and convenience items, approximately 6,000 miles of crude oil and refined product owned and operated pipelines and 43 product terminals, Sunoco is one of the largest independent refiner-marketers in the United States. Sunoco is a significant manufacturer of petrochemicals with an annual production capacity of approximately five billion pounds, largely chemical intermediates used to make fibers, plastics, film and resins. Utilizing a unique, patented technology, Sunoco's cokemaking facilities in the United States have the capacity to manufacture approximately 3.0 million tons annually of high-quality metallurgical-grade coke for use in the steel industry. Sunoco also is the operator of, and has an equity interest in, a 1.7 million tons-per-year cokemaking facility in Vitória, Brazil. Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Page 3 ABOUT AMERICAN RED CROSS SEPA CHAPTER – The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The Red Cross is not a government agency. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge and made possible thanks to the generosity of people in our region who donate their time, money and blood. Last year, the SEPA Chapter responded to 858 disasters (796 were fires); Operated 20 disaster shelters; Housed 1,146 people, including 441 children at Red Cross House; Provided 2,643 Armed Forces Emergency Services to 1,577 military families; Trained and certified 108,843 people in lifesaving techniques; Reached 908,917 people with Red Cross educational outreach; Donated 67,008 volunteer hours to help collect 99,131 pints of blood; Traced 19 Holocaust cases; Graduated 231 nurse aides; Recruited and trained 10,193 volunteers at the SEPA Chapter; Operated 15 Red Cross Clubs in the region; and Supported Lifeline personal emergency response for 2,206 vulnerable older adults. ###