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Channel Velocity races along with Kroger and Georgia-Pacific to help United
Way by auctioning collectable helmet signed by 24 living legends of the
Daytona 500
CHICAGO, IL October 17, 2007 – 24 Living Legends of DAYTONA 500 to Lend 'John
Hancocks' to Charity
Once-in-a-lifetime Collectible Helmet to be Auctioned on eBay, Proceeds to Benefit United Way
of Greater Cincinnati. Daytona International Speedway (DIS), along with The Kroger Co. and
Channel Velocity, announced it will put up for online auction a once-in-a-lifetime collectible
helmet featuring signatures of the 24 living past champions of the DAYTONA 500 - racing's
Living Legends.
In addition to receiving the helmet, the highest bidder in the auction and a guest will be flown to
New York City, where they will meet Jeff Gordon -- three-time DAYTONA 500 champion,
courtesy of Georgia-Pacific and The Kroger Co. All proceeds from the online auction will
benefit United Way of Greater Cincinnati.
"This helmet is an amazing piece of racing history," said Gordon. "Being part of this great
program is an honor and I look forward to meeting the winning bidder. United Way is a great
organization and I am excited about helping the families in the Greater Cincinnati area."
Boasting signatures from some of the sport's greatest drivers, the unique helmet showcases 24
Living Legends' autographs including:
• Bobby Allison - 1978, 1982 and 1988
• Mario Andretti – 1967
• Buddy Baker – 1980
• Geoff Bodine – 1986
• Ward Burton – 2002
• Derrike Cope – 1990
• Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 2004
• Bill Elliot - 1985 and 1987
• A.J. Foyt – 1972
• Jeff Gordon - 1997, 1999 and 2005
• Pete Hamilton – 1970
• Kevin Harvick – 2007
• Ernie Irvan – 1991
• Dale Jarrett - 1993, 1996 and 2000
• Jimmie Johnson – 2006
• Junior Johnson – 1960
• Fred Lorenzen – 1965
• Sterling Marling - 1994 and 1995
• Marvin Panch – 1961
• David Pearson – 1976
• Richard Petty - 1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979 &
1981
• Darrell Waltrip – 1989
• Michael Waltrip - 2001 and 2003
• Cale Yarborough - 1968, 1977, 1983 and 1984
The auction for the Living Legends helmet will be facilitated by Chicago- based Channel
Velocity on eBay.com -- enter keywords DAYTONA 500, Champions and Helmet -- and will
last for seven days (Oct. 17 - 24, 2007). The highest bidder will be awarded the helmet and its
certificate of authenticity, signed by DIS President Robin Braig, upon meeting Jeff Gordon in
New York City.
"The 50th running of the DAYTONA 500 will certainly bring back many stories of the legendary
drivers who helped to build this great sport. DIS is proud to play such a tremendous role in the
reunion of the Living Legends," said Robin Braig, president, DIS. "This incredible collectible is
the only one available to the public, and whomever wins the auction will not only take home a
piece of history, they'll take home a piece of racing's heart."
The Kroger Co. is a proud sponsor of the historic 50th running of the DAYTONA 500 (Feb. 17,
2008). For more information, including the opportunity to win NASCAR-themed prizes by
playing games and trivia, check out kroger.daytona500.com.
"This helmet is one of the most unique and valuable items that we have ever been able to use in
our fundraising efforts for United Way," said Linda Severin, Vice President of Corporate Brands
for The Kroger Co. and co-chair of the company's United Way campaign this year. "We thank
the team at DIS for their support along the way and for making this great opportunity a reality."
The Kroger Co., a Cincinnati-based company, has been an active supporter of United Way for
more than 18 years.
"We are thrilled about the DAYTONA 500 living champions helmet being a part of this auction
and we appreciate Kroger and Daytona International Speedway for teaming up and supporting
United Way," said Rob Reifsnyder, president, United Way of Greater Cincinnati. "Industry
experts have placed a value of $35,000 - $50,000 plus for this unique piece of history!"
About Kroger, Co.
One of the largest retailers in the U.S., The Kroger Co. and its 310,000 associates operate more
than 3,600 supermarket, convenience and jewelry stores under two dozen names across the
country. The company also operates 42 manufacturing plants. Kroger is consistently recognized
for its community service efforts in the neighborhoods where its customers and associates live
and work. The company has long been a leader in the hunger relief efforts and in 2007 was once
again named Retailer of the Year by members of America's Second Harvest, the largest hunger
relief organization in the nation. The company celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2008. For more
information, please visit www.kroger.com.
About DIS
Daytona International Speedway is the home of the "Great American Race" -- the DAYTONA
500 -- NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race in America. Daytona boasts the
most diverse schedule of racing on the globe -- from stock cars, sports cars, go karts and
motorcycles -- earning it the title of "The World Center of Racing." For more information, visit
www.DAYTONA500.com.
About United Way of Greater Cincinnati
United Way of Greater Cincinnati was founded in 1915. The annual fundraising campaign
became a partnership with American Red Cross, Cincinnati Area Chapter, in 1956. Today the
organization provides result-producing programs and initiatives that help children succeed and
families become economically stable in eight counties: Hamilton, Brown, Butler, and Clermont
in Ohio and Boone, Campbell, Grant, and Kenton in Northern Kentucky. For more information,
visit www.uwgc.org.
About Channel Velocity
Channel Velocity (www.channelvelocity.com) provides comprehensive online marketplace
management solutions to enterprise customers such as Microsoft, Canon and Philips who need
comprehensive marketplace management. Channel Velocity leads this growing industry through
superior software, services and systems for brand name manufacturers, retailers and distributors.
About eBay
eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) pioneers communities built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired
by opportunity. eBay brings together millions of people every day on a local, national and
international basis through an array of websites that focus on commerce, payments and
communications.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320169693432
For further information email us at press@channelvelocity.com
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