Miller Brewing Company is kicking off a new era in its 35-year history of motorsports sponsorship by boldly declaring its confidence in Kurt Busch’s ability to drive the #2 Miller Lite Dodge to victory lane. Miller’s chief marketing officer Tom Long today sent a letter to Anheuser-Busch vice president of brand management Marlene Coulis, betting the beer-market leader that Miller Lite driver Kurt Busch will finish ahead of Budweiser driver #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the final 2006 Nextel Cup Series season standings. The terms of the friendly wager: The losing sponsor must change the paint scheme on its car to match the winning brand’s car for one Nextel Cup Series points-paying race next year. Budweiser has until the start of Sunday’s season-opening race to accept the Miller challenge.
Fans can win BEER: Earlier this week, Miller Lite announced that legal-drinking-age consumers can register to win its “When Kurt Wins, You Could Win” sweepstakes online at www.millerbeer.com until 11:59am/et Sunday, Feb. 19. If Busch takes the checkered flag in Daytona Beach, then 500 randomly selected registered fans will win a year’s supply of Miller Lite. (See the official contest rules online.)(Tom Roberts PR)(2-17-2006)
UPDATE: Anheuser-Busch’s response came quickly: “I sincerely doubt we’re considering it,” said Brian Eaton of Busch’s Public Affairs Office. Though Anheuser-Busch didn’t formally say no, that’s only because they don’t want to entertain the idea. Better to leave their race car driver to speak for the company, though he was caught by surprise. “You’re joking, right?” the Bud driver said when asked. “No That’s something dreamed up by the guys in Milwaukee.”(ESPN.com)(2-18-2006)
