Nadeau to join slate of drivers for Wake Forest Baptist Fitness 500

December 22, 2004

Jerry Nadeau joins the slate of drivers scheduled to appear at the Wake Forest Baptist Fitness 500 on January 8 at the LJVM Coliseum. NASCAR drivers and personalities scheduled to appear that day include: Rusty Wallace, Carl Edwards, Mike Helton, Bobby Allison, Ray Evernham, Chocolate Meyers, Ron Hornaday and Teri MacDonald. Ann Schrader, wife of Kenny Schrader, is scheduled to compete on the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports (WAM) team.

"We have had some changes in the drivers' commitments, such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth, as holiday schedules are cemented and sponsors make their final requests of the drivers for the year," said. J. Kevin Bokeno, vice president of marketing and public relations at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. "We encourage fans to continually check the event's website at www.fitness500.com for the latest information regarding the event. In addition, there are a number of drivers who may become available as their holiday schedules are finalized. So fans may be in for a few surprises."

In addition, participants will have an opportunity to bid on a number of NASCAR items during the auction portion of the event. Some of the auction items are:1994 #3 Dale Earnhardt Winston Cup Championship Trophy; two speedway club tickets to the Charlotte race in May with two garage passes and a private meet and greet with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.; two Sam Bass prints signed by Dale Earnhardt Jr.; one Sam Bass print signed by Jeff Gordon; a 2003 Winston Cup series book signed by Matt Kenseth; a 2003 Championship display case with card, autographed champagne bottle (unopened) and two die cast cars signed by Matt Kenseth; a Bristol Motor Speedway 36 degree jersey signed by Kurt Busch; and a number of tickets to races at Bristol Motor Speedway, Talladega and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The Wake Forest Baptist Fitness 500® is a community health event featuring the stars of NASCAR®. General admission is $15, with children under age 2 admitted free. All proceeds will benefit Brenner Children's Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

During the event, drivers' teams will compete in a fitness challenge followed by a live racing memorabilia auction and two-hour autograph session. Attendees will be able to participate in health screenings and receive information on a variety of healthcare topics from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, one of the nation's top academic medical centers.

Tickets can be purchased at the Joel Coliseum Box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, through local Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 336-722-6400 in Winston-Salem or 336-852-1100 in Greensboro. For more information, call the coliseum box office at 336-725-5635, ext. 350.

After purchasing a ticket, fans must obtain a wristband in order to attend an autograph session of a driver. Wristbands will be dispersed through a priority system based on the time of ticket purchase and are subject to availability. Wristbands will be distributed beginning at 7 a.m. on January 8, 2005. The schedule for wristband distribution can be found on Wake Forest Baptist's website at www.wfubmc.edu.

Allegacy Federal Credit Union is the marquee sponsor for this event. Other team sponsors include Sara Lee Branded Apparel, Corporate Express, The Scope Exchange, Aramark, Lowes Home Improvement, Hayes Jewelers, Nextel, Hanes Mall, Sodexho and GlaxoSmithKline.

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Media Contacts: Rae Beasley (336) 716-6878, rabeasle@wfubmc.edu; Shannon Koontz (336) 716-2415, shkoontz@wfubmc.edu; or Karen Richardson (336) 716-4453, krchrdsn@wfubmc.edu.

Media Relations

Main Number: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587