Eastman Kodak Company and The Walt Disney Company announced a joint promotion of Disney’s epic motion picture, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, through Kodak’s NASCAR marketing program. A Pirates of the Caribbean ‘wrap’ will adorn the Kodak #4 car during the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 5. The movie theme also will appear on the suit worn by driver Stacy Compton . “NASCAR is the perfect venue to build awareness for a fast-paced, adrenaline-rush-type of motion picture such as Pirates of the Caribbean,” said Eric Rodli, president, Entertainment Imaging and senior vice president, Kodak. “This is the first time ever that a Kodak race car has featured a motion-picture film theme – and we wanted to involve our studio partners in this exciting opportunity. Disney is one of our long-standing partners – in fact, Pirates of the Caribbean was shot and printed on Kodak film – so this promotion is just a great fit for both companies.” From producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Pirates of the Caribbean stars Johnny Depp as the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow whose nemesis Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) steals his ship, the Black Pearl. When Barbossa later attacks the town of Port Royal and kidnaps the governor’s daughter, her childhood friend (Orlando Bloom) joins forces with Captain Jack in a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl. The movie is scheduled for release on July 9. Disney and Kodak also will host a Pirates of the Caribbean show car at the movie’s premiere at Disneyland in Los Angeles. During the week of July 7, the show car will be on display at Walt Disney World in Orlando. ( Business Wire )(6-25-2003) UPDATE – Official – Compton to drive #4 Kodak Pontiac at Daytona: Morgan-McClure Motorsports named Stacy Compton as the driver of the #4 Kodak Pontiac for the upcoming Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Compton, who currently races weekly in the Busch Series [#59 Kingford/Johnsonville Chevy], has 87 Winston Cup starts with one top-10 and two pole positions to his credit. Both poles were at Talladega Superspeedway in 2001. Compton will drive the #4 Kodak Grand Prix featuring Disney’s epic motion picture, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The special “wrap” will be the first time a Kodak-sponsored race car has featured a motion picture theme. Stacy Compton quotes: “I am excited to get a chance to work with Larry and Morgan-McClure Motorsports. Larry and I have known each other for many years. I raced at Lonesome Pine Speedway every weekend and would stop by their shop on the way to the track. It is. nice having a Virginia-based team paired with a Virginia driver. Morgan-McClure is a good organization. To have the opportunity to work with a sponsor the caliber of Kodak is exciting also. The Pirates of the Caribbean car is probably one of the coolest cars I have ever seen. It is sure to be a big hit.”( Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR ), past news about the team on my #4 Team News and Links page and see images of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery .(7-1-2003)
