Homestead, FL, Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the 2016 NASCAR season came to its exciting conclusion, Busch, Eagle Brands, Americrown and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition partnered once again to reward responsible fans during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Before the Ford EcoBoost 300 on Saturday and the Ford EcoBoost 400 on Sunday, 446 fans made the pledge to be a Busch Good Sport – the designated driver for their group. All of them had the opportunity to receive a free souvenir photo, instant prizes, and a chance to be selected as the Designated Driver for the Race. One randomly selected, responsible fan will win the “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” sweepstakes grand prize, which includes two tickets and a VIP experience for two at next year’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which will be held November 19, 2017.
The Designated Driver for the Race from last season, Lamar Baber , received a pair of tickets and a behind-the-scenes experience for himself and a guest before the Ford EcoBoost 400.
“Anheuser-Busch has led our industry in promoting responsible drinking for more than 30 years and the Busch designated driver program reminds fans who choose to drink, to do so responsibly and get their friends home safely,” said Katja Zastrow, VP of CSR-Better World at Anheuser-Busch. “We all share the same streets after the race. This partnership with Homestead-Miami Speedway, TEAM and the fans displays our collective responsibility to help keep our roads safe.”
“Americrown believes responsible alcohol consumption improves the fan experience at events,” said Rishi Nigam, Vice President of Americrown. “As a proud member of the TEAM Coalition, we use proven training tools to educate our service staff as well as our partners in venue management. Each day, we pledge to operate with the highest integrity for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
"The success of the Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign is a direct result of the commitment from our members and all the designated-driver program partners, including the tracks and beer companies," said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. "Teamwork is what this campaign is all about. We are demonstrating that when everyone – including the fans – takes responsibility, everyone wins."
About Homestead-Miami Speedway
The Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. NASCAR has crowned its champions in all three of its premier series at Homestead-Miami Speedway for 15 consecutive years (2002-16) at Ford Championship Weekend.
The track, which celebrated its 20 th anniversary in 2015, is a 650-acre facility that is active nearly 300 days per year, and features a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course. The track generates more than $301 million annually for the region.
About Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch and its employees build on a legacy of corporate social responsibility by focusing on three key areas: promoting alcohol responsibility, preserving and protecting the environment and supporting local communities. In the past three decades, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers have invested more than $1 billion in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to encourage responsible drinking and prevent underage drinking and drunk driving. Anheuser-Busch reduced total water use at its breweries 15 percent over the last 5 years and by 48 percent over the last 10 years. The company has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. Since 1997, Anheuser-Busch and its Foundation have invested in local communities through donations of more than $573 million to charitable organizations. The company also has provided more than 73.6 million cans of emergency drinking water to people impacted by natural and other disasters since 1988. Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch, the leading American brewer, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com .
About Americrown
Americrown, originally formed in 1989 by Lesa France Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of International Speedway Corporation, is the leader in motorsports catering and concessions. Operating at 11 NASCAR-sanctioned tracks nationwide, Americrown touches millions of race fans annually. Our ever growing fleet of mobile food concessions and catering equipment is unparalleled in the industry. Anywhere, anytime. If you can dream it, we can do it!
Americrown's team of industry professionals brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the table with an overall goal of customer satisfaction. We specialize in fine dining and food concession plans to not only fit the events at which we operate, but to optimize the guests' experience! For more information, visit www.americrown.com .
About TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM Coalition's members and supporters include NASCAR, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Aramark, Delaware North Sportservice, Legends, Spectra, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch, Constellation Brands, HEINEKEN USA, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, Elite, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For more information, go to www.TEAMCoalition.org .
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Jill Pepper, TEAM Coalition, 703-647-7431, Shawn McGee, Homestead-Miami Speedway, 305-230-5220,
