In 2009 and for the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesTM history, TUMS designated all fans attending the event as the “Official Starter”. More than 64,000 fans participated in the unique event, waving their commemorative green flag to start the 500-lap event at the storied racing facility.
“It was a breathtaking sight to see 64,000 fans wave their green flags to start the TUMS Fast Relief 500 in October,” said Darren Singer, vice president of marketing for TUMS. “The fans are the foundation of our sport, and we’re pleased they will serve as the “Official Starter” for another year.”
“I don’t think we’ve ever done anything here as popular with the fans as the green flags. We knew from the feedback we got on race day last fall that it was something the fans enjoyed and something we needed to do again,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell, noting the fan initiative created a buzz in the industry. “Fortunately we have great partners in the folks at TUMS who are on the same page with us when it comes to fans. Before we approached them about making the fans honorary starters again, they approached us.
All fans attending the Oct. 24, 2010, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will receive a commemorative green flag when they arrive at their seats. Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, fans will participate in the official start of the race. Many other special activities are being planned to make the 2010 TUMS Fast Relief 500 a memorable event for the fans.
“We are excited about this unique and appropriate way for TUMS to pay tribute to the most important stakeholder in our sport – the fans, reaffirming the commitment we’ve made since entering the sport and a commitment to again celebrate the fans at the TUMS Fast Relief 500,” said Singer.
Tickets to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway are now on sale. For more information, call 877.722.3849 or visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
For more information on TUMS, visit www.TUMS.com.
About TUMS®
For more than 75 years, TUMS® has been a fast, effective treatment for heartburn and acid indigestion, neutralizing stomach acid on contact. Today, TUMS is the number one antacid in America, used by more people than any other brand to treat heartburn.
About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R)and NicoDerm(R)CQ(R), and Commit(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples– alli(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R), and TUMS(R) — which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.