Clint Bowyer Racing, General Mills Inc., and Dollar General Stores have agreed to terms on a multi-year partnership in which General Mills’ Cheerios® brand and Dollar General will sponsor Bowyer’s No. 17m Dirt Late Model Team. Dale McDowell will pilot the No. 17m Cheerios/Dollar General Warrior Chassis Late Model in the 2009 Lucas Oil Late Model Series and numerous other late model events across the country. Bowyer will also take the wheel of the No. 33 Cheerios/Dollar General Late Model several times throughout the year. General Mills will also highlight its Hamburger Helper®, Bugles® and Betty Crocker® brands on both Bowyer and McDowell’s race cars.

The new association kicks off this Friday night when the Lucas Oil Series heads for Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio. The team will campaign the colors for the remainder of the 2009 and the entire 2010 season.

“Dirt track racing is my passion and it’s where I got my start on four wheels,” said Bowyer. “We’re in our second season of competition in the dirt late model ranks, and we’re working hard every day to make our cars better and provide a strong marketing tool for our sponsors. I’m excited to start our new partnership with Dollar General and Cheerios this weekend. Dirt racing fans support the companies that support racing. Cheerios and Dollar General are great fits for Clint Bowyer Racing.”

“General Mills is excited to partner with Dollar General to sponsor the No. 17m and No. 33 racing teams,” said Dave Dudick, General Mills Sales Vice President of US Channels. “This is a terrific opportunity for Cheerios and Betty Crocker to connect with Dollar General shoppers who share Clint Bowyer’s passion for dirt track racing.”

“Dollar General is excited about entering the world of dirt track racing,” said Todd Vasos, division president and chief merchandising officer at Dollar General Corp. “Many of our customers are dirt track racing fans, and we’re happy to partner with Clint Bowyer Racing to support a phenomenal team in this fast-paced sport.”

Contact: Chip Williams - Clint Bowyer Racing - cwilliams@clintbowyer.com

The Clint Bowyer Racing team and driver Dale McDowell invaded the Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania last weekend (June 26-27) for the annual running of the 'Firecracker 100.' The World of Outlaws Late Model Series sanctioned the two-day mega-event, which boasted a hefty $30,000 top prize. On Friday night, Dale qualified his #17m entry in twenty-fourth fastest during WOOLMS qualifying and later finished second in heat race action.

After starting in the twelfth position in the 100-lap main event on Saturday, Dale moved up the charts into the third spot before left front suspension problems forced him to retire on lap 66. The mechanical gremlins relegated the Chickamauga, Georgia native to a disappointing nineteenth place finish in the 'Firecracker 100.' You can view complete results from the weekend at Lernerville by accessing www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Dale McDowell and his #17m Dirt Late Model team wrapped up the "Summer Sizzler" portion of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule last week with four high-profile races in the states of Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina from June 16-20. In all, Dale amassed a trio of top five performances and an additional top ten effort. Dale finished third on Tuesday at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway, third again on Thursday at the Swainsboro (GA) Raceway after leading all but the final lap, second on Friday at the Cherokee (SC) Speedway, and sixth on Saturday at the Fayetteville (NC) Motor Speedway. The Chickamauga, Georgia native was well on his way to a $7,000 win at Swainsboro when a flat tire on the last lap dropped him back to a third place finish.

Following the ultra-busy "Summer Sizzler" tour through the Southeast, Dale finds himself second in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point standings. You can view complete results from all four races by accessing www.lucasdirt.com.