• Sports News

“Earnhardt & Elvis” car to debut Feb. 27 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Race fans attending Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Feb. 27-March 1 NASCAR Weekend will enjoy an added attraction as Motorsports Authentics, along with Elvis Presley Enterprises and Dale Earnhardt Inc., will unveil its new “Earnhardt & Elvis” car in the Neon Garage on Friday, Feb. 27.

The “Earnhardt and Elvis” car, which features The King of Rock and Roll on the hood of the Intimidator’s famous No. 3 Chevrolet, is the third car in the Enduring Legends Series from Motorsports Authentics and Dale Earnhardt Inc. The series is in its second year and has been very well received by both NASCAR fans and collectors. Last year, Earnhardt was paired with American legends Johnny Cash and John Wayne.

“Dale Earnhardt was instrumental in convincing NASCAR to bring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to Las Vegas, so he has a special place in our hearts,” said LVMS president Chris Powell. “Elvis – the King of Rock ’n’ Roll – is a Las Vegas icon and is loved by race fans and tourists around the world. We are excited to be the host for the unveiling of this unique program and promotion in the greatest entertainment destination in the world. It’s also a special treat for our Neon Garage pass holders as well.”

The worldwide unveiling of the “Earnhardt & Elvis” car will take place in LVMS’s Neon Garage during zMAX Pole Day and could include family members and friends of both the Earnhardt and Presley families. In addition, NASCAR fans also will be treated to a unique Elvis experience that will transform the Neon Garage into a Memphis music studio.

As part of this program launch, Las Vegas Motor Speedway will give a commemorative 1:64 scale die-cast replica of the “Earnhardt and Elvis” car to the first 10,000 fans to purchase weekend passes to the Neon Garage. Those fans purchasing a weekend pass will be given the opportunity to see the “Earnhardt & Elvis” race car up close and are invited to take pictures with the car. Following the LVMS NASCAR Weekend, the “Earnhardt & Elvis” car will go on display at Graceland in Memphis. The car will move to DEI headquarters in late April for Earnhardt’s birthday. Following Earnhardt’s birthday celebration, the car will never be on display again.

All of the “Earnhardt and Elvis” die-cast and apparel items will be available in the speedway’s midway at Earnhardt’s merchandise rig during the event weekend.

“Because of the strong fan reaction and collector excitement we experienced around the Johnny Cash and John Wayne cars in 2008, we’re expecting the ‘Earnhardt & Elvis’ car to be the most popular program of the entire Enduring Legends Series,” said Mark Dyer, president and CEO of Motorsports Authentics. “Elvis’s legacy as a great American icon makes him the perfect man to grace the hood of the famous No. 3 Chevrolet and we’re excited to make this worldwide car unveiling at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as part of its action-packed weekend of NASCAR racing.”

Tickets for NASCAR Weekend – featuring the March 1 Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the Feb. 28 Sam’s Town 300 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series – may be purchased by calling the LVMS ticket office at (702) 644-4444 or online at www.lvms.com.

For more information about the Enduring Legends Series, fans can log onto rccamembers.com or tune into SIRIUS’ “NASCAR Collector” every Saturday morning from 7-9 am EST on SIRIUS Channel 128.