Michigan Pace Car Sweepstakes Kicks Off
BROOKLYN -- Four Michigan companies -- Michigan International Speedway, Ford, Pure Michigan and Quicken Loans -- Tuesday partnered to unveil the Ford Fusion Energi as the 2013 Official Pace Car at NASCAR's fastest track.
One lucky fan will have the opportunity to win the pace car as part of the MI Pace Car Sweepstakes during the Pure Michigan 400. Each of the four monthly winners will receive great prizes during the summer-long sweepstakes announced Tuesday.
Fans can enter the sweepstakes at www.mipacecar.com and complete the entry form. All online entries must be submitted by July 31 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time to be eligible to win the car. Fans may also enter onsite at the New Holland Fan Plaza at any Michigan International Speedway NASCAR race.
The 2013 Ford Fusion Energi will pace the field for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans 400 on June 16 and the Pure Michigan 400 on Aug. 18. The plug-in hybrid will be the first such car to pace a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, is a distinction made possible thanks to the terrific partnership between MIS, Quicken Loans, Pure Michigan and Ford.
"We are excited to announce this opportunity for our fans to win the 2013 Official Pace Car," MIS president Roger Curtis said. "It is great that we are able to work with such outstanding partners and it makes it even better since they are each based in Michigan. It is exciting to see four Michigan companies work together for our fans."
"This fan sweepstakes highlights the best Michigan has to offer – from fantastic destinations to world-class companies and cutting-edge automobiles," said George Zimmermann, vice president of Travel Michigan. "We are excited to join with Quicken Loans, Ford Racing and MIS to offer five lucky fans the ultimate Pure Michigan experience."
One lucky fan's name will be randomly drawn each month and entered as one of five finalists to win the Grand Prize. But the winner does not need wait until August to claim a prize.
Quicken Loans will make one month's mortgage payment for each finalist. The four monthly winners will also enjoy a Pure Michigan vacation with a four-night stay at one of the following hotels in Michigan: Holiday Inn and Suites in Ann Arbor, JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids, Shanty Creek Resort in Traverse City and Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. In addition, the winners will receive a MIS VIP Package -- two passes to the Champions Club presented by CP Federal Credit Union, one MISCamping.com Graves Farm campsite, one MIScamping.com RV Rental, two cold garage passes and two pace car rides on Aug. 17.
Each of the four monthly winners will be joined by a fifth finalist in pre-race during the Pure Michigan 400. The contestants will be introduced from the pre-race stage and each finalist will select a key. One at a time, the finalists will try to start to the pace car. The person holding the key that starts the car will take the Ford Fusion Energi home.
Residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) are also eligible to win, but restrictions apply to the mortgage prize.
The 2013 Ford Fusion Energi is a plug-in hybrid which is anticipated to deliver more than 100 MPGe, making it the most fuel-efficient midsize car in America. The Energi has a 2.0-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine along with a lithium-ion high voltage battery.
Said Ford Racing Motorsports Marketing Manager Tim Duerr: "Our 2013 Fusion Energi, anticipated to be the most fuel efficient midsize car in America, is another example of Ford using high-visibility pace car programs like this to showcase the capabilities of our great new products to the millions of loyal NASCAR fans at MIS and watching around the country."
