Pocono Raceway Strikes First-Ever Partnership With GoBowling.com

LONG POND, Pa., March 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pocono Raceway and Strike Ten Entertainment, the sponsorship activation arm of the bowling industry, jointly announce today a groundbreaking, multi-faceted partnership deal that brings together two of the nation's favorite sports brands: NASCAR and GoBowling.com, the official brand of bowling. For the first time ever, the 2013 and 2014 August NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races will be renamed the "GoBowling.com 400" as part of this freshly inked two-year sponsorship.

In addition to the renaming of the GoBowling.com 400, Pocono Raceway and Strike Ten Entertainment will deploy an integrated sponsorship campaign that will extend across multiple platforms including traditional marketing, digital and social media as well as event activations.   The program will include the GoBowling.com 400 "Stop Your Thirst & Start The Race" Sweepstakes, which will provide one grand prize winner with an opportunity to be selected as the 'Honorary Race Starter' for the GoBowling.com 400 on August 4, 2013 at Pocono Raceway, earning the right to wave the green flag that will officially start the 400-mile race.  The contest will kick off May 15, 2013 across approximately 2,100 participating bowling centers nationwide with the winner to receive round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations and VIP tickets to the race.

The partnership program will also include a series of GoBowling.com-themed bowling league promotional contests and in-center marketing elements, as well as other initiatives to be rolled out across the more than 4,000 participating bowling centers.

"We are thrilled to welcome GoBowling.com to the Pocono Raceway family," said Brandon Igdalsky, Pocono Raceway President and CEO. "This partnership literally hits home with me and my family, as bowling is an activity my daughters, wife and I truly enjoy together. Being able to bridge something that peaks interest levels both off and on the track is especially exciting for my family and our entire Raceway staff."

"Just like the thrill of rolling a perfect strike, the adrenaline rush of watching a NASCAR race at the Pocono Raceway, is an exhilarating experience, both from a sporting perspective and a marketing standpoint," said Frank DeSocio, President of Strike Ten Entertainment. "We are so proud and excited to forge this historic partnership and bring together two of America's greatest and most beloved pastimes, bowling and racing." 

The Pocono Raceway, also known as "The Tricky Triangle," is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond. It is the site of two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races held just weeks apart in June and August.  According to Strike Ten Entertainment, there are more than 600 bowling centers located within 250 miles of the Pocono Raceway.

Tickets to the GoBowling.com 400 are available by visiting www.poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929). For more information on a bowling center near you visit www.gobowling.com.

About Pocono Raceway

"The Tricky Triangle" is host to two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, one IZOD IndyCar Series, one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series; two ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and one Firestone Indy Light Series events each year. Pocono Raceway's 2.5-mile triangular design makes it truly unique.  Pocono is the only track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Circuit with three turns, three different radii and three variant degrees of banking.  All that ensures our fans will enjoy some serious action, meanwhile presenting a competitive challenge to the world's best drivers and their crew chiefs.  Pocono strives to create a family atmosphere with increased focus on the Fan Experience.  We are Pocono Raceway and this is "The Tricky Triangle." 

In business for over 50 years, Pocono Raceway is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  We are located within 300 miles of one-third of the U.S. population and within 90 miles of New York City and Philadelphia.  Pocono Raceway is and always will be an attractive option for NASCAR and race fans alike.

Pocono Raceway is the world's largest solar powered sports facility. The Raceway developed a 25 acre, three megawatt solar farm that provides the energy needs of the Raceway as well as adding electricity to the local power grid. 

About Strike Ten Entertainment

Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, Strike Ten Entertainment is the centralized sponsor-activation arm of the bowling industry. Strike Ten Entertainment serves all organizations of bowling by coordinating the industry's sales and marketing efforts. Strike Ten Entertainment's mission is to increase national awareness of bowling and to assist the bowling industry in developing new bowlers and increasing the frequency of existing bowlers each year through promotions, publicity and industry-wide marketing initiatives.

SOURCE Bowling Proprietor's Association of America