This plan worked most years. I was ready to go with fresh ideas that I hoped would help carry us to a championship season, which really started in early to mid-January.  The one exception I remember was 1999 when we won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.  Things were so crazy with all the obligations, that December and January seemed like a blur.  I even remember my wife Kelley allowing one of our friends to decorate our house at Christmas simply because we were being pulled in so many directions.  I am certainly not complaining though and assure you we would have gladly gone through that more times!  It just stands out to me because it was the only time in our 25 years of marriage that Kelley has not done all the decorating at Christmas since it is something she thoroughly enjoys.

Based on my experience over the years, I do have a few words of advice for the younger drivers.  Enjoy the time off, stay in touch with your crew chief, get excited about the new season and show up at Daytona in the best physical shape you have ever been in, ready to win the Great American Race.

See you in two short months—February 2010!

Dale

The first ones that come to mind are the birth dates of my children, and of course June 22, the date Kelley and I were married.  As a matter of fact, we just celebrated our 25th anniversary!  These dates all bring very fond memories of wonderful family celebrations.  I have also always looked forward to Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas because I know these times will be enjoyed with my children and extended family.  Even when I was racing and on the road some 250 days a year, I knew these special holidays were times I wouldn’t have to be at the track and could enjoy some much needed family time.

Another very special date in my life is August 18.  I know it’s not a holiday and isn’t significant to most people, but to me it’s full of wonderful memories.  I not only won my first Cup race at Michigan on this date in 1991, but also won two more Cup races there on the exact same date in 1996 and 2002!  In addition, it was in August of 2000 that Robert Yates was putting the finishing touch on our UPS sponsorship deal that would begin in 2001.  I have a brother, sister, niece and nephew who were all born in the month of August too, so it’s a very special month for me just as it is for everyone at UPS.

I have so many memorable dates that involve UPS.  One big one was driving the 100th Anniversary car at Bristol on August 25, 2007.  The car had a special paint scheme honoring the Centennial celebration and was designed by a UPS employee.  I would also have to include finally “racing” the UPS Truck in my final UPS TV commercial.  Even though that was a very emotional and memorable day for me, it didn’t even come close to all the emotions I felt while driving the Big Brown Truck around the track in Charlotte prior to the final race of my career on May 17, 2008!!

It has been an honor and privilege to represent UPS since 2001.  I know that all of you are also very proud to be a part of an American icon.  Congratulations UPS and to all of your employees worldwide for continuing to be a leader in the delivery business for 102 years!

Dale Jarrett

Share a story of a special date in your memory in the comments below.

I also know family is something that is very important to everyone at UPS.  During my years with them, I have found it quite interesting to see the different generations of families that have worked together to help make UPS the successful company it is.  And I have no doubt that the families who are watching and cheering for the UPS race car are the very ones who have made UPS an excellent shipping company for many years.

NASCAR has always been about family too.  Many famous families have enjoyed success on the track for many years in our sport.  Names like Petty, Allison, Earnhardt and Waltrip have been around for decades.  And fortunately, NASCAR racing has been very good to the Jarrett family.  I am very proud of the fact that my dad, Ned, and I are one of only two father-son combinations who have won Cup championships, with Richard and Lee Petty being the other.

Speaking of my dad, the UPS commercials we made together are some of my favorite memories from shooting the spots over the years.  I think it shows how much family really does mean to UPS that they allowed us to use their time to have some fun and help promote the UPS brand.

Now UPS has another family of racers representing them on the track.  I had the privilege of racing with David’s dad, Ken, back in the late 80s and early 90s.  He was a great and very fair competitor, just as David is today.  I don’t think it will be very long before we see David and his UPS Ford in Victory Lane!

Happy Father’s Day!!

Dale Jarrett

P.S. What’s your favorite racing memory with your Dad? Post a comment below!

Lowe’s Motor Speedway and UPS to Honor NASCAR Champion Dale Jarrett at Sprint All-Star Race.

Those are just two of several events and promotions that officials from UPS and Lowe’s Motor Speedway announced Wednesday in preparation for the 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion’s final career start.

Jarrett also unveiled the #44 UPS Toyota he will drive in the All-Star Race featuring a special paint scheme that pays tribute to several of the North Carolina native’s career accomplishments. The unveiling marked the first time Jarrett viewed the metallic gold design uniting the past and present. The car displays design elements from both Jarrett’s current #44 UPS Camry as well as from the #88 Quality Care entry that he drove during the 1999 championship season.

Before Jarrett straps into the #44 UPS Toyota Camry for the final time, he’ll do something fans have eagerly anticipated: he’s going to “race” the truck. After Jarrett is introduced prior to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, he will step into the UPS Race Truck from the UPS ad campaign and take one lucky fan for a ride around the 1.5-mile superspeedway.

To honor the North Carolina native and the fans who have supported him, Lowe’s Motor Speedway officials have created “DJ’s Deal,” a special Friday-Saturday (May 16-17) All-Star Weekend ticket package for only $44.

Friday’s ticket is good for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race qualifying session and the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The Saturday ticket is for the weekend’s main event and Jarrett’s finale, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Diehard Jarrett fans can add a special $99 Saturday hospitality package to their ticket order that includes food and drink in a UPS Racing-themed chalet prior to the event and a question-and-answer session with Jarrett himself.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway will kick off All-Star Week festivities by inducting Jarrett into the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Court of Legends in front of Smith Tower on Tuesday, May 13, at which time the winner of the ride-along will be announced. The winner will be randomly selected from fans who have purchased tickets in the “DJ’s Deal” section or have sent a postcard labeled “DJ’s Ride-Along” to Lowe’s Motor Speedway, P.O. Box 600, Concord, N.C. 28026. Contestants must include complete name, address, day/night phone numbers and e-mail address on each postcard entry.

“This is obviously going to be a big weekend for me, my family and everyone at UPS,” Jarrett said. “The opportunity for my last race to be at what I consider my home track is something I appreciate and look forward to. With everything that is going on that night – the ticket package, racing the truck and making my last start – and the activities we have planned leading up to that race, I feel quite certain it will be an emotional night.”

“The All-Star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway will be a bittersweet day for Dale Jarrett fans and UPS employees worldwide,” said Ron Rogowski, director of sponsorships for UPS. “While we all will miss seeing Dale behind the wheel of the #44 UPS Toyota, we have been honored to have such a tremendous relationship with one of the most respected people in NASCAR. We look forward to the All-Star race weekend and to celebrating Dale’s illustrious career and accomplishments both behind the wheel of the race car and as a spokesperson for the sport.”

“It’s a fitting culmination to a great career. Dale’s a local guy and a 3-time Cup race winner at Charlotte,” said H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “He’s been a class act who understands what this sport is about, and that’s the fans. The $44 deal is an affordable way for race fans to join in as we give a fitting send-off to one of NASCAR’s greatest champions.”

The “DJ’s Deal” package and tickets for all May events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, including the May 17 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the May 25 Coca-Cola 600, can be purchased by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com

The last “Race the Truck” commercial will debut this Sunday during the Daytona 500 and yes, Dale really does race the truck.

Eight years after UPS launched its popular advertising campaign to introduce itself to the NASCAR nation – pleading with star driver Dale Jarrett to give up his race car for a real machine – Jarrett finally hits the track in a brown UPS truck to race some of his close friends and competitors.

The last installment of the ad campaign, shown today in a sneak peak to the motorsports media, coincides with Jarrett’s last Daytona 500 and upcoming retirement from full-time NASCAR competiton.

“It goes without saying that this has been a very popular and successful campaign for UPS,” said Ron Rogowski, director of sponsorship for UPS. “No one could have predicted this story line would still be capturing the imagination of NASCAR fans eight years after launch. We believe it’s only fitting that the last commercial coincides with Dale’s last season and that we’re finally going to see him race the truck.”

“It’s been a lot of fun to make these commercials and to be involved with this UPS effort for the last eight years,” added Jarrett. “The power of this ad campaign still amazes me. And I have to believe this bond with UPS will continue long after I’ve stepped away from the race car. I feel very fortunate to have had this relationship with UPS and look forward to a continued association with the company and its more than 425,000 employees worldwide.”

Making cameo appearances in the final “Race the Truck” commercial are drivers Elliott Sadler, Kyle Petty, Bobby Labonte and Martin Truex, Jr. The commercial will appear throughout the first half of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, as well as the broadcast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race.

Fans also can view the spot by logging onto racing.ups.com. In addition to the last “Race the Truck” commercial, the UPS Racing Web site will feature special photo and video galleries of Dale Jarrett’s career and a farewell card for fans to post messages to Jarrett. A physical copy of the card will be presented to Jarrett before his final race at the All-Star Challenge on May 17.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services. Each day, the UPS pit crew of more than 425,000 dedicated employees delivers to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.