Press Releases
Wyndham Vacation Ownership
Launches Partnership with Don Prudhomme Snake Racing Company Creates Marketing Alliance with NHRA Legend
Orlando, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2008) – Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the
world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the
Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), announced today
it has revved up its presence in the motor sports industry by
creating a partnership with Don Prudhomme Snake Racing, owned by
legendary National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) driver Don Prudhomme.
The company, through its Wyndham Vacation Resorts brand, will
partner with Snake Racing on a series of marketing promotions
leveraging Prudhomme’s popularity with NHRA fans across the country.
“Don Prudhomme and his Snake Racing team have built a tremendous
following with NHRA fans due to their storied history of victories
and championships,” said Franz Hanning, president and CEO, Wyndham
Vacation Ownership. “This is an outstanding opportunity to align
with an indisputable racing legend to raise awareness of our brand
and showcase the myriad benefits of vacation ownership to motor
sports fans everywhere.”
The partnership between Wyndham Vacation Ownership and Don Prudhomme
Snake Racing will be visible at several NHRA events in early 2008.
Fans at NHRA events can enter for a chance to win The Experience &
Vacation of a Lifetime Sweepstakes where the grand prize is a trip
to the 10th Annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. The
prize includes a chance to meet Don Prudhomme, two race weekend VIP
passes, two 30-lap Experiences of a Lifetime at Richard Petty
Driving Experience at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, accommodations
at the Wyndham Grand Desert resort and airfare for two adults to Las
Vegas.
“Wyndham Vacation Ownership has already established a successful
marketing program in NASCAR and we are pleased they have chosen to
collaborate with my team in order to translate those results into
NHRA,” said Prudomme.
During a drag racing career spanning 45 years, Don Prudhomme and
his Snake Racing team have established a number of NHRA records and
milestones. Prudhomme earned his first victory in 1965 and continued
on to 49 career wins, the sixth most in NHRA history, in both the
Top Fuel and Funny Car series. Along the way, Prudhomme won four
NHRA championships, won the U.S. Nationals seven times, became the
first Funny Car driver to eclipse the 250 mph mark and was inducted
into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Snake Racing has continued the standard of excellence established
by its owner. The team has counted 54 victories, two NHRA
championships, three Skoal Showdown wins and three Budweiser
Shootout wins amongst many team highlights.
Wyndham Vacation Ownership is no stranger to the world of motor
sports. In addition to its new agreement with Don Prudhomme Snake
Racing, the company has an exclusive marketing agreement with NASCAR
legend Richard Petty and maintains a marketing presence at NASCAR
events across the country.
About Wyndham Vacation Ownership
Wyndham Vacation Ownership, a member of Wyndham Worldwide’s
(NYSE: WYN) family of companies, is the world’s largest vacation
ownership business, as measured by the number of vacation ownership
resorts, individual vacation ownership units and owners of vacation
ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets
and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer
financing to owners through its three primary consumer brands,
Wyndham Vacation Resorts, WorldMark by Wyndham and Wyndham Vacation
Resorts Asia Pacific. As of July 31, 2007, Wyndham Vacation
Ownership had developed or acquired more than 135 vacation ownership
resorts throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean
and the South Pacific that represent more than 17,000 individual
vacation ownership units and more than 800,000 owners of vacation
ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Ownership is headquartered in
Orlando, Florida, and is supported by more than 16,000 employees
globally.
About Don Prudhomme Snake Racing
Don Prudhomme Racing is headquartered in Vista, Calif. with a second
shop – Don Prudhomme Racing, Brownsburg, Ind. – serving as the base
for racing operations. Two-time top fuel champion driver Larry Dixon
will be behind the wheel of the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Top Fuel
dragster for Don Prudhomme Racing in 2008.
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Media Contact:
Bonnie Bastian – Manager, Corporate Communications
Wyndham Vacation Ownership
Phone: (866) 495-1924
E-mail:
Bonnie.Bastian@wyndhamvo.com