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Dale Earnhardt Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament February 25, 2010

February 19, 2010 – Las Vegas, Nev. – The Stratosphere Tower, one of the most recognizable icons on the Las Vegas strip dimmed its lights last night on February 18, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. PST to pay tribute to racing legend and seven- time NASCAR® champion Dale Earnhardt.  Dale Earnhardt died on the last lap of the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001.  This tribute coincided with a candlelight tribute at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Highway 3, in Mooresville, NC that ended at the same time as the Tower lights were darkened in Las Vegas.

The lights on both the Tower legs and the pod were dark for a full three minutes, paying homage to Dale Earnhardt’s iconic No. 3 Chevrolet.   The hotel marquee displayed a tribute to the seven-time NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series Champion showing pictures of highlights of his life.  The tribute ended with the Dale Earnhardt Foundation logo being displayed.

NASCAR® fans can support the foundation on Thursday, February 25 in the Stratosphere Theater of the Stars Showroom at 4pm.  Kerry Earnhardt, eldest son of Dale Earnhardt, will host the tournament.  Nationwide driver and TV personality Kenny Wallace will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.  Kirk Shelmerdine, a former crew chief of Dale Earnhardt’s race team, will attend the event.  Other drivers scheduled to appear are Casey Mears, Matt Crafton, Regan Smith, Aric Almirola, Scott Riggs, Max Papis, Eric McClure, Todd Bodine, Boris Said, Mike Bliss, Chrissy Wallace, Stanton Barrett, Scott Lagasse Jr, Robert Richardson, Jr., Andy Ponstein, Danny Efland, Tommy Baldwin and celebrity Riki Rachtman from “Fast Track to Fame” and MTV’s “Headbanger’s Ball”.

Silent Auction items include autographed merchandise from Dale Earnhardt, Jr,   Kerry Earnhardt, Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Martin Truex Jr, Clint Bowyer, David Reutiman, Kyle Busch, Richard Petty, Joey Logano, Elliot Sadler, Hermie Sadler, and Ryan Newman

According to Teresa Earnhardt, “Dale would be honored to know that so many drivers and fans have come forward to participate in this exciting fundraising event that will serve to benefit his designated charitable programs.”

A $150 entry fee into the tournament will be donated to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.  Fans will not only have a chance to play poker, but they will also be able to meet their favorite drivers, collect autographs, and win cash or valuable driver merchandise.  The Grand Prize winner will receive $2,500 in cash, Dale Earnhardt souvenir merchandise and a one year VIP account with iRacing.com, the premier online racing game.  Space is limited to the first 70 people who enter the tournament.

A special hotel room package is available that includes advance tickets to observe the tournament and get driver autographs for a $20 donation to the foundation on the hotel’s website StratosphereHotel.com.  Additional tickets will be available for a $30 donation at the door.  Space limited to the first 500 people.

“We are proud to partner with the foundation to continue the legacy of Dale Earnhardt and look forward to additional opportunities to work together in the future,” said Frank Riolo, CEO of American Casino & Entertainment Properties, parent company of Stratosphere Hotel.

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation’s mission is to continue Dale’s legacy through charitable programs and grants that sustain his lifelong commitment to children, education and environmental/wildlife preservation.

For more information about the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, please visit their website at TheDaleEarnhardtFoundation.org.

The Stratosphere Hotel is located at 2000 Las Vegas Boulevard South. For reservations or more information about the tournament, please call 702-380-7777 or visit StratosphereHotel.com.

- Stratosphere Hotel, Press Release