Defending event champion #29-Kevin Harvick and six additional NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars will compete May 22 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the third annual Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge. The Challenge is a competition that pits some of NASCAR’s top drivers against one another to see who can deliver the best tire-smoking burnout, allowing the drivers a chance to showcase some of their best celebratory skills. Looking to take Harvick’s crown with the most impressive burnout will be fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers #33-Clint Bowyer, #18-Kyle Busch, #20-Joey Logano, #1-Jamie McMurray, #39Ryan Newman and #00-David Reutimann. Drivers will compete in stock cars identically prepared by the NASCAR Racing Experience. Similar to 2009, judges will score the drivers’ creativity in a 30-second freestyle burnout. This year, however, drivers can also gain bonus points by knocking down strategically placed obstacles. Drivers will start from Turn 4 and trigger the 30-second Pennzoil Ultra Countdown Clock as they cross the starting line. The driver with the most points, including the creativity score from the judges and any bonus points, will be declared the winner, with $10,000 awarded to his or her charity of choice. A panel of celebrity judges will be on hand to critique the tire-smoking donut capabilities of the participating NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars.
Judges include Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith; Creed band members Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti; three-time World Wrestling champion Jeff Hardy of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and current SPEED personality, Jimmy Spencer. The Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge will be televised live on Saturday, May 22 at 6:15pm/et during SPEED’s pre-race coverage prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Showdown and NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race. Info on tickets for all May races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be found at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.(5-17-2010)
