Hot Rods & Reels Fishing Tournament To Feature NASCAR Drivers & Fans Competing For Great Cause

From The Darrell Gwynn Foundation

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – (Feb. 9, 2010) – Approximately 20 fishing boats and a bass-stocked Lake Lloyd in the Daytona International Speedway infield await participants of the 4th annual Spectracide® Hot Rod & Reels™ NASCAR Drivers Charity Fishing Tournament to be held beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12.

Perhaps the most unique sports-affiliated event in the country, Hot Rods & Reels allows fans and business associates to enjoy virtual one-on-one experiences with some of NASCAR’s most popular drivers and celebrities. Among those expected to cast for the largest fish during the Daytona Hot Rods & Reels charity tournament will be NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart, Bill Elliot, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray, Bobby Labonte, Martin Truex, Scott Wimmer and many others. The participant who catches the largest bass gets a chance to walk away with $1 million as part of the "Spectracide® Million Dollar Challenge."

"I’m proud to celebrate our 4th year at Daytona International Speedway and to welcome Spectracide® brand as our new title and Million Dollar Challenge sponsor this year," said Darrell Gwynn, founder of the Spectracide® Hot Rod & Reels™ NASCAR Drivers Charity Fishing Tournament. "I also want to thank United Industries for joining us as the presenting sponsor at Daytona International Speedway."

Tournament proceeds benefit the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, which provides support to those afflicted with spinal cord injuries and debilitating disease, and the Betty Jane France Pediatric Center Speediatrics® Unit at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. The special unit, which is brightly decked out in a racing theme, helps children and families feel more comfortable amid beeping medical equipment and the constant parade of doctors and nurses.

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s outreach will be dramatically apparent during the awards presentation immediately following the tournament. As part of the festivities, Gwynn will present Miami-Dade College student Carl Stanley with a brand new $16,000 motorized wheelchair.

Afflicted with cerebral palsy, Stanley’s current wheelchair is in very bad condition and the expense associated with repairing it is considerable. Because of donations it has received this year, the Foundation is able to provide him with a new wheelchair. As a result, Stanley will enjoy increased mobility and independence – traits that can help enhance his academic pursuits.

In addition to the Hot Rods & Reels presentation, Gwynn will formally present the power wheelchair to Stanley around 7:20 p.m. at the Speedway’s start-finish line in front of tens of thousands of race fans just prior to the start of the NextEra Energy Resources 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

Outdoor Channel, America’s Leader in Outdoor TV, will team up once again with the Foundation to produce a one-hour TV special on the Hot Rods & Reels annual celebrity fishing tournament. Outdoor Channel will go behind-the-scenes to capture interviews with NASCAR celebrities and other event participants, including Gwynn and his wife, Lisa, who will outline their emotional story regarding the launch of the Foundation and its many success stories.

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"The TV specials bring a national audience to these worthwhile charity events and I am grateful to Outdoor Channel for partnering with us in our mission," said Gwynn, the Foundation’s president who was paralyzed in a racing crash.

In 1990, after a near fatal accident in Great Britain, Gwynn dedicated his life to prevention of spinal cord injuries. He formed the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, which through generous contributions from supporters, funds programs that raise awareness and educate residents about ways to help prevent spinal cord injuries, provide long-term healthcare services for new spinal cord injury patients, and help fund research to find a cure for paralysis. As part of its Wheelchair Donation Program, the Foundation also has given approximately 100 custom power wheelchairs (each costing between $10,000 and $30,000) to individuals in need across the country, many in front of fans at NASCAR races. Gwynn created Hot Rods and Reels™ to generate awareness for the Foundation’s outreach.

"The tournament is a terrific opportunity for fans, company officials and sponsors to fish with NASCAR pros and enjoy the thrill of a lifetime," Gwynn said. "My deepest thanks to Daytona International Speedway and its president Robin Braig, along with our sponsors, racing teams, celebrity participants and patrons who make this such a special event."

Hot Rods & Reels™ sponsors include title sponsor Spectracide® brand, presenting sponsor United Industries Corporation, Bass Pro Shops-Outdoor World, Sprint, Hook & Tackle, Rejuvenate Auto, Bass Online and Plano. For more information on registration or sponsorship, visit http://www.hotrodsandreels.com or call 954-792-7223 ext. 112.

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to raising awareness about spinal cord injuries, preventing paralysis, providing support for individuals living with paralysis and, ultimately, finding a cure. To expedite specific cures, the Foundation assists in the funding of targeted research.

The Betty Jane France Pediatric Center "Speediatrics®" at Homestead Hospital and Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach is a pediatrics unit designed with a motorsports theme thanks to the vision of Betty Jane France, NASCAR Foundation chairwoman and founder of Speediatrics. Speediatrics' cheerful atmosphere can make a difference in the spirit and recovery of sick children as documented at the Halifax Medical Center, which launched the first unit in 1999 with the backing of Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR.

United Industries Corporation, maker of Spectracide® products, is a subsidiary of Spectrum Brands, Inc., and is a leading supplier of home and garden products. Spectrum Brands is a global consumer products company and a leading supplier of batteries, shaving and grooming products, personal care products, specialty pet supplies, lawn & garden and home pest control products, personal insect repellents and portable lighting. Helping to meet the needs of consumers worldwide, included in its portfolio of widely trusted brands are Rayovac®, Remington®, Varta®, Tetra®, Marineland®, Nature’s Miracle®, Dingo®, 8-In-1®, Spectracide®, Cutter®, Repel®, and Hot Shot®. Spectrum Brands’ products are sold by the world’s top 25 retailers and are available in more than one million stores in more than 120 countries around the world. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Spectrum Brands generates annual revenue from continuing operations in excess of $2 billion.