NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 12, 2008

Wrangler Re-Signs With Earnhardt

"It's been an honor to work with Wrangler for all these years, and this relationship has always meant a lot to me," said Earnhardt Jr. "Wrangler has been a great supporter of my family, my teams and the sport. I couldn't be happier that we'll continue to build on the things we've already accomplished."

The Wrangler brand was the first apparel company to have a significant involvement in NASCAR beginning in the early 1980s as the primary sponsor of Dale Earnhardt and the legendary blue-and-yellow "Wrangler Jeans Machine." In 2004, the Wrangler-Earnhardt collaboration was renewed with Dale Jr. and has since helped raise more than $175,000 for various charitable causes. The Wrangler relationship is Dale Jr.'s longest-running endorsement deal.

"The Earnhardt name has always represented the core, all-American values that Wrangler embodies, and we are thrilled to be continuing that tradition," said Craig Errington, vice president of Wrangler marketing. "Dale Jr. has been a wonderful partner, and as evidenced by his huge popularity, he continues to be a perfect representative for the Wrangler brand."

The Wrangler brand and Dale Jr. will work together in 2009 on promotional opportunities designed to enhance the brand's profile. As the official jean of Dale Jr., Wrangler will continue to leverage NASCAR's most popular driver in advertisements, in-store signage, product ticketing and consumer promotions. For more information visit (www.wrangler.com).

About the Wrangler brand

Based on more than 60 years of heritage in making authentic denim jeans, the iconic Wrangler brand is long respected for comfortable, durable and affordable jeans, pants, shorts and shirts. The Wrangler Jeans Co. and Wrangler Hero Five Star Premium Denim lines are available at value-minded retailers nationwide and retail for less than $20. For more information regarding the Wrangler family of authentic clothing or to locate a retailer, visit (www.wrangler.com) or call 1.888.784.8571.

Biffle Donates Pet Masks

The cone-shaped plastic masks, which come in three sizes and fit snugly on snouts, can resuscitate animals suffering from smoke inhalation. They can be used on dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs and even birds. An estimated 60 million U.S. households have pets, but statistics on how many die in house fires are hard to come by. Frequently, house pets hide during a fire, making rescues difficult.(wsoctv.com)

Driver Of The Year: Schumacher

After recording an insurmountable 15 victories this year, Schumacher won his fifth consecutive and sixth overall NHRA championship. He was also named the Driver of the Year for the third quarter.

A select panel of 18 leading journalists and broadcasters from across the country are the only eligible voters, and the choice usually comes down to one or two drivers. However, this year's tally was one of the closest ever as Schumacher received six votes, compared to five each for Johnson and Edwards.

Johnson won his third consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship this year, tying Cale Yarborough's 30-year record for most consecutive titles in the series. Johnson won Driver of the Year honors in 2006 and '07. Edwards, meanwhile, ended the year with a series-high nine wins.

Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart, also from NASCAR, received one vote each.

Schumacher will be honored next April at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, AL.(sportsnetwork.com)

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