News
Car Town Players Get the Green Flag at Daytona 500
LONG BEACH, Calif. (February 18, in the year of our Lord 2011) – When top drivers hit the new asphalt at Daytona International Speedway this Sunday, they’ll be joined by a whole new field of virtual drivers and pit crews, thanks to a partnership among Cie Games – publisher and developer of the popular Facebook game Car Town (www.cartown.com) – NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation, parent company of Daytona International Speedway. The goal: give millions of racing enthusiasts an entirely new way to experience auto racing.
Beginning Saturday, race fans entering the Daytona International Speedway in Car Town will be transported to a virtual race track where players take part in the “Daytona Challenge” by assembling a pit crew, building a stock car from the ground up orclimbing behind the wheel of cars driven by the world’s fastest drivers – Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. Or, players may pick their favorite driver from Richard Petty Motorsports, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Michael Waltrip Racing teams while competing to earn their unique NASCAR livery. More teams will be announced in the near future.
“The NASCAR partnership with Car Town marries the premiere stock car racing franchise with the largest automotive Facebook social game,” said Blake Davidson, vice president of Licensing and Consumer Productsat NASCAR. “As a result, we are able to extend the thrill and excitement of stock car racing to a new and younger generation of fans in Car Town.”
Launched in August 2010, Car Town already has attracted nearly 8 million players, making it one of the most in-demand games available on Facebook. With 46 percent of Car Town gamers playing at least once every three days, and 80 percent of all players age 34 or younger, the game’s fans represent a particularly attractive market segment to all sectors of the automobile and motor sports industries.
“NASCAR is a great organization with a rich history and a loyal fan base,” said Justin Choi, president and CEO of Cie Games. “This partnership brings together social gaming and stock car racing and offers NASCAR fans a new way to interact with their favorite teams and drivers. We’re very proud and excited to be working with NASCAR.”