Big Kmart and Darrell Waltrip Announce 'Victory Tour 2000'
5 August 1999
Big Kmart and Darrell Waltrip Announce 'Victory Tour 2000'INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 5 -- Kmart Corporation and NASCAR Winston Cup driver Darrell Waltrip today announced "Victory Tour 2000" that will salute Waltrip's championship legacy during the 2000 Winston Cup season. Route 66, Big Kmart's exclusive line of clothing apparel and current sponsor of the No. 66 - Route 66/Big Kmart Ford Taurus driven by the NASCAR legend, will team up with Haas/Carter Motorsports for the season-long commemoration. For Waltrip, a three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, the "Victory Tour 2000" marks 29 years of racing history. "Kmart is thrilled to host the 'Victory Tour 2000,'" said Gary Ruffing, Vice President Merchandise Presentation and Communication, Kmart Corporation. "Darrell is a first-class driver, we are honored to make this final tour with him." "I'm grateful to have the sponsor that I have," said Waltrip. "If it wasn't for the people at Big Kmart, I probably would not be racing. But because of Big Kmart and its support and dedication to NASCAR racing, I'm confident that my last season will be a huge success. I want 'Victory Tour 2000' to be a celebration for the fans, and I want it to be fun and exciting for me and my sponsors." "My racing career has been a fun ride, but we aren't calling it 'Victory Tour 2000' just because I have 84 victories. While many of my accomplishments stem from my driving ability, I consider my greatest victory to be the love and support I receive from my family. My wonderful wife and two beautiful girls are the reasons I've had a fulfilling career." Special events are planned for many of the Big Kmart stores in areas that coincide with Winston Cup race dates, including Daytona Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Brooklyn, Michigan; Charlotte, North Carolina; Indianapolis, Indiana, and Atlanta, Georgia. An evening of celebration and tribute to Waltrip is also in the works for the Daytona Beach area during Speedweeks 2000. Special "Victory Tour 2000" merchandise will be available to race fans and collectors throughout the year 2000 and will include soft goods as well as diecast collectibles available trackside and at Big Kmart stores. Darrell Waltrip began racing go-karts at the age of 12 and went on to become the first Winston Cup driver to win more than $10 million in a career, surpassing that mark in February 1990. A NASCAR Winston Cup Champion three times -- in 1981, 1982 and 1985 -- Waltrip stands one victory away from sole possession of third place in all-time NASCAR Winston Cup victories, with 84. He is seventh in all-time superspeedway victories with 37 and fourth in all-time Winston Cup poles with 59. Eight times in 1981, Waltrip won races from the pole, still the NASCAR Winston Cup record. His four straight wins in 1981 established the NASCAR Winston Cup modern-day record. Waltrip was voted Driver of the Decade for the 1980s and rallied to win NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award in 1989 and 1990. Kmart Corporation serves America with over 2,151 Kmart, Big Kmart and Super Kmart retail outlets. In addition to serving all 50 states, Kmart operations extend to Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More information about Kmart is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.kmart.com . To locate the Kmart store nearest you, call 1-800-63-Kmart.