Jack Sprague Proudly Meets Young Fan in Dover

Joy, Jealousy, and Suspense Rule the Superfresh Dover Racing Pals Winner’s Household

Racing is a family affair with Superfresh, the official supermarket of Dover International Speedway

New York, New York (29 May 04) - Dylan Merrill from Princess Anne, MD, the eight-year old winner of the Superfresh Dover Racing Pals contest, is on a lifetime high, having been selected to be teamed up with three-time Craftsman Truck Champion Jack Sprague and his daughter Paige for a Meet & Greet on Friday, 4 June at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Dover International Speedway.

Merrill won the opportunity by participating in a Creative Writing contest called, I Love This Track Tour! hosted by Superfresh, the official Supermarket of Dover International Speedway. The program created partnerships with schools in the Superfresh markets of MD, DE, NJ, PA and Washington D.C., to bring the excitement of NASCAR to schoolchildren while celebrating the Superfresh commitment to education, community involvement and family values.

These elementary and junior high students were asked to submit a 100-word essay using Superfresh, racing and Dover International Speedway as the topics. From hundreds of entries, twenty-five youngsters were selected as winners, and they all got the chance to travel to Dover International Speedway for a special Track Tour last Friday, 21 May.

During the Track Tour the kids had the opportunity to do something only racing drivers get to do--take a walk on the track, be driven around the track, and even get behind the wheel of an actual stock car!

The Track Tour proved to be a highlight for Merrill, who was surprised by the steep banking at the facility he now calls his “favorite track in the world.”

“ My favorite part of the day was going around on the track,” Merrill said. “That was just so cool! I was also interviewed by a TV lady. I think I’m going to be on the news.”

The straight-A student from Princess Anne Elementary School admitted to being “… so excited when I was writing it that I forgot to mention my favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.!” Dylan went on to impress the Superfresh judges with his NASCAR knowledge, passion for NASCAR, upbeat personality and the remarkable maturity he displayed when the Creative Writing winners were interviewed during the day to be selected for the Dover Racing Pals program.

Merrill’s mother, who herself spent some time at the race track as a youngster, thanks to her father’s racing passion, was proud of her son and thankful for the opportunity he won.

“ You should have seen when he found out that he won,” Lisa Merrill said. “He wouldn’t stop crying he was so happy. And so too were his principal, his teachers, and the school’s guidance counselors. They were all crying! They couldn’t have picked a more appreciative family. Dylan has some jealous siblings right now, I tell you that!!”

Jealously is ripe in the Merrill household this week, as the family has race fans abound. His uncle has a 8.5 second quarter mile car, his 5 year-old sister loves Jeff Gordon, and 10 year-old brother is a fan of Tony Stewart. But these family members will be watching the racing on TV this coming weekend while Dylan enjoys it live at the track.

When young Dylan won the opportunity to meet a racing driver, he wasn’t told who that driver would be, a small tactic employed to make him anticipate Friday’s race day even more.

“I don’t have a favorite (NASCAR Craftsman) Truck driver...yet!” Merrill said. Well, we are pretty sure we know who Dylan’s new favorite Truck driver will be.