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Georgia-Pacific, Petty Enterprises Keep it All in the Family; Kyle Petty to Drive #45 Georgia-Pacific Petty Dodge for 2003
RICHMOND, GA. September 07, 2002 -- RICHMOND, Va. (September 7, 2002) -- The chairmen of Petty Enterprises and Georgia-Pacific Corp. today announced plans to keep the 2003 Georgia-Pacific Winston Cup Dodge all in the family. Richard Petty, seven-time Winston Cup champion, and Georgia-Pacific Chairman and CEO A. D. “Pete” Correll announced that Kyle Petty, NASCAR champion and CEO of Petty Enterprises, will be behind the wheel of the #45 Georgia-Pacific Petty Dodge for the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup season.
Sharing the podium at the Richmond International Raceway, the Pettys and Correll unveiled plans to shift Georgia-Pacific's sponsorship to the #45 car, with Petty Enterprises’ lead driver, Kyle, at the wheel.
“Our partnership with Petty Enterprises is based on the common values our organizations share, including a strong commitment to family, community, hard work and performance,” Correll said. “We’ve been proud to have the Georgia-Pacific name on a Petty Enterprises race car for the past couple of years. Having Kyle Petty behind the wheel is the perfect next step in our partnership. We couldn’t be more proud to be represented by a driver who consistently ranks in the Top 5 in fan appeal, favorability and familiarity.”
“We wanted to provide Georgia-Pacific with a competitive driver -- one who knows his way to victory lane and has the ability to win,” explained Richard Petty. “We wanted a driver that has a strong following among the millions of NASCAR fans that make our sport so popular. We wanted a leader. We wanted a driver that gave time and service back to the community, and inspired others to do the same.” Elaborating on the search, Correll said that Kyle himself brought a host of driver options to the table. Yet, said Correll, “when we found ourselves prefacing every discussion with ‘we need a driver … and a man … just like Kyle,’ the choice was clear.”
Kyle Petty entered the Winston Cup Series in August 1979 and has since distinguished himself on and off the track, in the sport and in the business of the sport. In addition to driving, Kyle serves as chief executive officer of Petty Enterprises. Known for his philanthropy, he established the Kyle Petty Ride Across America in 1995 to benefit children’s charities and was named NASCAR’s Person of the Year in 1999 and again in 2000 (along with his father, Richard) by NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated magazine.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to drive for Georgia-Pacific,” Kyle said. “Over the years, they’ve become a part of the Petty family and I look forward to continuing this great relationship. Georgia-Pacific will have an increased presence on all Petty Enterprises cars next season, and I believe the #45 Georgia-Pacific Petty Dodge will be a terrific symbol of the dynamic things to come for both G-P and Petty.”
The #45 Georgia-Pacific Petty Dodge, bearing a striking new design, will be unveiled Oct. 25 at Atlanta Motor Speedway during Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Day.
“Although the #45 car will be our primary focus, by linking the Georgia-Pacific name with the other Petty Enterprises’ teams, we will be able to further spotlight our household brands such as Brawny®, Dixie®, Angel Soft® and Vanity Fair®, among others, through our participation in NASCAR racing,” Correll said.
Georgia-Pacific joined the Winston Cup circuit two years ago as a primary sponsor of the #44 car with Petty Enterprises, after a few years of motorsports involvement, including a past sponsorship with Petty in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The 2003 Winston Cup season will mark Petty Enterprises’ 54th year of racing, evolving from a small A-frame shop in the middle of North Carolina into the most successful racing organization in motorsports history. Combined, Petty Enterprises has won more than 270 NASCAR Winston Cup races and has 10 Winston Cup titles.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of tissue, packaging, paper, pulp, building products and related chemicals. With annual sales of approximately $25 billion, the company employs more than 71,000 people at 600 locations in North America and Europe. Its familiar consumer tissue brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®. Brawny®, Sparkle®, Soft ‘n Gentle®, Mardi Gras®, So-Dri®, Green Forest® and Vanity Fair®, as well as the Dixie® brand of disposable cups, plates and cutlery.
RICHMOND, GA. September 07, 2002 -- RICHMOND, Va. (September 7, 2002) -- The chairmen of Petty Enterprises and Georgia-Pacific Corp. today announced plans to keep the 2003 Georgia-Pacific Winston Cup Dodge all in the family. Richard Petty, seven-time Winston Cup champion, and Georgia-Pacific Chairman and CEO A. D. “Pete” Correll announced that Kyle Petty, NASCAR champion and CEO of Petty Enterprises, will be behind the wheel of the #45 Georgia-Pacific Petty Dodge for the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup season.
Sharing the podium at the Richmond International Raceway, the Pettys and Correll unveiled plans to shift Georgia-Pacific's sponsorship to the #45 car, with Petty Enterprises’ lead driver, Kyle, at the wheel.
“Our partnership with Petty Enterprises is based on the common values our organizations share, including a strong commitment to family, community, hard work and performance,” Correll said. “We’ve been proud to have the Georgia-Pacific name on a Petty Enterprises race car for the past couple of years. Having Kyle Petty behind the wheel is the perfect next step in our partnership. We couldn’t be more proud to be represented by a driver who consistently ranks in the Top 5 in fan appeal, favorability and familiarity.”
“We wanted to provide Georgia-Pacific with a competitive driver -- one who knows his way to victory lane and has the ability to win,” explained Richard Petty. “We wanted a driver that has a strong following among the millions of NASCAR fans that make our sport so popular. We wanted a leader. We wanted a driver that gave time and service back to the community, and inspired others to do the same.” Elaborating on the search, Correll said that Kyle himself brought a host of driver options to the table. Yet, said Correll, “when we found ourselves prefacing every discussion with ‘we need a driver … and a man … just like Kyle,’ the choice was clear.”
Kyle Petty entered the Winston Cup Series in August 1979 and has since distinguished himself on and off the track, in the sport and in the business of the sport. In addition to driving, Kyle serves as chief executive officer of Petty Enterprises. Known for his philanthropy, he established the Kyle Petty Ride Across America in 1995 to benefit children’s charities and was named NASCAR’s Person of the Year in 1999 and again in 2000 (along with his father, Richard) by NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated magazine.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to drive for Georgia-Pacific,” Kyle said. “Over the years, they’ve become a part of the Petty family and I look forward to continuing this great relationship. Georgia-Pacific will have an increased presence on all Petty Enterprises cars next season, and I believe the #45 Georgia-Pacific Petty Dodge will be a terrific symbol of the dynamic things to come for both G-P and Petty.”
The #45 Georgia-Pacific Petty Dodge, bearing a striking new design, will be unveiled Oct. 25 at Atlanta Motor Speedway during Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Day.
“Although the #45 car will be our primary focus, by linking the Georgia-Pacific name with the other Petty Enterprises’ teams, we will be able to further spotlight our household brands such as Brawny®, Dixie®, Angel Soft® and Vanity Fair®, among others, through our participation in NASCAR racing,” Correll said.
Georgia-Pacific joined the Winston Cup circuit two years ago as a primary sponsor of the #44 car with Petty Enterprises, after a few years of motorsports involvement, including a past sponsorship with Petty in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The 2003 Winston Cup season will mark Petty Enterprises’ 54th year of racing, evolving from a small A-frame shop in the middle of North Carolina into the most successful racing organization in motorsports history. Combined, Petty Enterprises has won more than 270 NASCAR Winston Cup races and has 10 Winston Cup titles.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of tissue, packaging, paper, pulp, building products and related chemicals. With annual sales of approximately $25 billion, the company employs more than 71,000 people at 600 locations in North America and Europe. Its familiar consumer tissue brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®. Brawny®, Sparkle®, Soft ‘n Gentle®, Mardi Gras®, So-Dri®, Green Forest® and Vanity Fair®, as well as the Dixie® brand of disposable cups, plates and cutlery.