YATES
RACING AND NBC ANNOUNCE DRIVER TRAVIS KVAPIL TO DRIVE No. 28
'KNIGHT RIDER' FORD AT BRISTOL
CONCORD,
N.C. -- August 19, 2008 -- Yates Racing and NBC announced today
that in a unique partnership between Ford Motor Company and
NBC, Travis Kvapil will pilot the No. 28 "Knight Rider"
Ford for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor
Speedway on August 23rd. The sponsorship by NBC of the No. 28
Ford comes in anticipation of the television series premiere
of NBC's "Knight Rider" on Wednesday, September 24th
at 8:00 p.m. EST.
On
the heels of NBC's hit movie, the iconic 1980's television classics
comes roaring back to life as a reinvented, updated and super-charged
action series showcasing the new KITT (Knight Industries Three
Thousand). As absolutely the coolest car ever created, KITT
is equipped with "AI" (artificial intelligence) that
is capable of hacking into almost any system. The vehicle's
weapon system matches that of a jet fighter, its body is capable
of transforming into other vehicles, and the car uses sophisticated
holographic imagery to elude villains.
"This
is such an awesome sponsor for our team at Bristol," commented
Kvapil. "The television series 'Knight Rider' is a show
that everyone can get hooked on. I think it's really cool that
NBC has chosen to reinvent the series for the Fall line-up.
The best part about the show was always the car, KITT, and this
is amazing that I get to drive a version of KITT for the night
race at Bristol. It's every guy's dream to feel like they are
an action hero and I get to have that chance under the lights
of Bristol with our No. 28 'Knight Rider' Ford."
"The
stealth look and feel of the car coupled with Travis Kvapil
at the helm has us very excited about this race," said
John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Universal Television
Group President, The NBC Agency. "This event exemplifies
the adrenalin and action the 'Knight Rider' series will deliver
and illustrates the strength and compatibility of our sponsor
partnership with Ford."
The
premiere of the No. 28 "Knight Rider" Ford will take
place on August 23rd, 2008 for the Sharpie 500 when Kvapil and
his Yates Racing teammate, David Gilliland, travel to Bristol
Motor Speedway for the 24th race of the 2008 Sprint Cup Series
season. The Sharpie 500 will be broadcast on ESPN Saturday,
August 23rd with television coverage beginning at 7:00 pm EST
and radio coverage provided by the Performance Racing Network.
Kvapil
has achieved three top-10 finishes and four top-15 finishes
this season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series within the first
22 starts of the year. Kvapil has also completed 99.5 percent
of the total laps possible this season and is currently 23rd
in the driver point standings.
The
No. 28 "Knight Rider" Ford has a paint scheme that
promotes the super-charged Mustang from the show, KITT. The
Mustang on "Knight Rider" boasts doors that open vertically,
a top speed of 377 mph and, most importantly turbo-boost.
Gary
Scott Thompson ("The Fast and The Furious," "Las
Vegas"), David Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.")
and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne
Identity") serve as executive producers on "Knight
Rider," which stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case"),
Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica
Mars"), Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica"),
Yancey Arias ("Kingpin") and Bruce Davison ("Breach").
Smith Cho ("Blades of Glory") recurs. Based on characters
created by Glen Larson, "Knight Rider" is from Universal
Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.
About
Yates Racing
Yates
Racing operates two motorsports teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series. Formerly known as Robert Yates Racing, the team is owned
by Doug Yates, who took the reins after his father, Robert Yates,
retired at the end of the 2007 season, and partnered with Max
Jones; a former road racer and long-time championship General
Manager. The 2008 season will mark the 20th year of competition
for the Ford team. During those years, the organization had
a total of 57 wins, 48 poles, 269 top-five finishes, 427 top-ten
finishes, and a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. Yates
Racing will field two Ford Fusions in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series, with drivers Travis Kvapil and David Gilliland.
