Wednesday

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Makes NASCAR Debut With Earnhardt Ganassi Racing at Phoenix International Raceway

Filed under Press Releases, Sprint Cup Series

NASCAR Race Fans Treated to Coffee Company’s Latest Innovation

at Phoenix International Raceway

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 11, 2009) – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Starbucks Coffee Company will provide NASCAR fans attending this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) event at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) a taste of Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew, Starbucks latest coffee innovation, through an extensive trackside sampling effort.

Beginning Friday, Nov. 13, the thousands of NASCAR fans in attendance at PIR should be on the lookout for a fleet of Starbucks branded golf carts combing the race-track property passing samples of Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew. Starbucks ambassadors will be ready to introduce race fans to an instant coffee that is full bodied and flavorful, just like the Starbucks® coffee they have already come to know and love.

As part of the promotion, both the Starbucks and Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew logos will have associate sponsor placement on the TV Panel of the No. 1 Chevrolet driven by Martin Truex Jr.

Notes of Interest:

• Truex at Phoenix: Martin Truex Jr. will be making his eighth career NSCS start at Phoenix this weekend when he takes the green flag in his No. 1 Chevrolet.  Truex’s best NSCS start came during the second Phoenix race in 2007 when he started second and finished seventh.  This year, Truex and team charged to the front and brought home a seventh-place finish at the track’s first event of 2009.  In total, Truex has three Top-10 and four Top-15 finishes at PIR.  Truex has also made the most of his three Nationwide Series (NNS) starts at the track with one Top-5 and two Top-10 finishes at the track.

• Truex History: Truex has a total of 151 starts in the NSCS, with one win, 12 top-five finishes, 35 top-10 results, and three pole awards.  The Mayetta, NJ native made his mark in the NSCS after claiming his first pole award, seven top-five finishes, 14 top-10s, and his career first victory at Dover International Raceway during the 2007 season.  The win catapulted Truex and his team into the Chase for the Sprint Cup where they finished 11^th in the 2007 points standings.  Truex is a two-time winner of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship in 2004 and 2005.

• Never Be Without Great Coffee: Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew is pre-portioned into single-serve packets and is packaged in packs of three or boxes of 12 in Starbucks U.S. retail stores. It is available in both Starbucks® Italian Roast and Starbucks® Colombia with a suggested retail price of $2.95 for a three pack and $9.95 for a 12 pack. Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew is also available at Target locations for $2.99 for a three pack.

Quoteboard:

Martin Truex Jr., Driver: “I can’t say enough about the opportunity to carry the iconic Starbucks logo on the TV Panel of my Chevrolet this weekend in Phoenix.  Starbucks is one of those iconic American brands and to be able to represent such a respected brand is important to me.  I’m certain that NASCAR fans at Phoenix International Raceway will love the newest product from Starbucks, when they taste Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew!”

For more information log onto www.earnhardtganassi.com or www.StarbucksVIA.com

- Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Press Release