NASCAR Scores a Gooooooooaalllll with TW Racing with Sean Watts

Mexico City, MX (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- The Chivas Racing car, owned by TW Racing with Sean Watts made its international debut on April 20 at the Corona Mexico 200 presented by Banamex NASCAR Nationwide race in Mexico City. The Chivas Racing car was unveiled on April 10 in Mexico City at an internationally attended press event hosted by Telmex and Chivas de Guadalajara, along with support from Ocesa and NASCAR.

Chivas, Mexico's most loved soccer team, has signed on as a sponsor of TW Racing with Sean Watts team in a unique inter-sport collaboration that centers on a first-of-its-kind sponsorship of a NASCAR team by a soccer team, to create Chivas Racing. In addition, Telmex, Mexico's leading telecommunications company has committed its support of the team and will also serve as a key sponsor for the 2008 racing season.

"I see a unique parallel between NASCAR and Chivas fans. My goal for our team is to combine the strengths of these two powerful forces to make racing history by attracting even more Hispanics to the sport of NASCAR through the emotional connection with the Mexican community's favorite team," said Sean Watts, Co-Owner of TW Racing with Sean Watts. "Antonio's successes in racing under the Telmex Racing Team in Mexico, paired with Chivas soccer team, create a winning combination that we believe will be embraced by the Hispanic community. We hope we can help the fan base to grow with the sport at Antonio earns his way up to the top circuits of NASCAR in the U.S."

Chivas, or Club Deportivo Guadalajara, boasts more than 30 million fans across Mexico and the United States. Fans in Mexico and the United States equate their devotion to the team to a religion," said Jose Sabatés, US / Mexico Liaison for NASCAR.

"We are extremely proud to be a sponsor of TW Racing with Sean Watts and firmly believe that Chivas Racing will continue to increase Latinos' interest in NASCAR in the United States by offering our loyal soccer fans another format to express their love and affection for Chivas," said Jorge Vergara, President and Founder of Omnilife Group and owner of Chivas del Guadalajara.

Led by NASCAR veterans Mark Tudor (crew chief) and Greg Sacks (racing coach), TW Racing with Sean Watts will assist Guadalajara-born driver Antonio "Tormentita" (The Storm) Perez in his quest to rise to the big leagues of the U.S. NASCAR circuit beginning with the NASCAR Camping World East Series. At the heart of the TW Racing with Sean Watts team's mission is the desire to continue to foster diversity within NASCAR. As such, the team has secured a roster of diverse drivers.

Antonio comes from a family of race car drivers and has been a member of Telmex Racing, Mexico's leading motorsports team since 2006. He has competed in the world of motorsports since 1995 and in 2007, the driver now known as "Tormentita" Perez is a former NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie, and was also "Rookie of the Year" in the NASCAR Mexico Series. Additionally, Perez qualified last year for the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

"At Telmex, we are proud of Antonio's accomplishments in Mexico and we are thrilled to support him as he prepares to take on the United States NASCAR circuit," said Arturo Elías Ayub, Director of Strategy Alliance, Communications & Institutional Relations. "We believe in fostering the growth and achievement of Mexican drivers worldwide and as such feel strongly that Antonio will not only become a true contender in the NASCAR Series but that he will represent Mexico in the most favorable light."

In 2008, Antonio will be racing concurrently with the Chivas Racing team in NASCAR's Camping World East Series in the U.S. and with the Escuderia Telmex team in NASCAR's Mexico series. Competing in these two very different circuits will provide Antonio with ample training and experience to spearhead his advancement in the sport.

"There are strong parallels between the Chivas soccer fan base and the NASCAR fan base. The joining of forces between these two sports will help attract more fans to both NASCAR and Chivas soccer." Said Chad Little, Director of Racing, Mexico of NASCAR. "We are thrilled to see a driver from the NASCAR Mexico Series advancing in NASCAR and we salute TW Racing with Sean Watts for its competitive spirit and desire to make an impression in the sport."

On April 20, Chivas soccer players will be center stage supporting Antonio Perez serving as honorary grand marshals of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Mexico City at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez These players will officially start the race by waving the checkered flag in a moment that will be remembered in history. Mexico's pride will shine as Chivas Racing is introduced to the world.

The team also counts on the support of the following associate sponsors: Aqua Health, Rain Tree Vacation Club and Omnilife.

About Chivas Racing

In 2004, Jose Sabatés, liaison for NASCAR U.S. and NASCAR Mexico recommended Troy Williams of TW Racing with Sean Watts, an opportunity to assist team Telmex, to develop race car drivers from Mexico and to be involved in the Diversity Program that NASCAR is vigorously working to build. Troy began to transform his talents from driver to trainer and now, team owner. Four years later, the racing team has been assembled and Guadalajara-born driver Antonio "Tormentita" (The Storm) Perez, who is part of Team Telmex in Mexico, and the current "Driver To Watch," has been selected by the TW Racing with Sean Watts team, to race the Chivas Racing car in the Camping World East Circuit (formerly Busch East).

About TW Racing with Sean Watts

TW Racing with Sean Watts is a team dedicated to diversity within NASCAR racing. Founded in 2004, the team currently has two drivers under its helm. The TW Racing with Sean Watts drivers are Antonio "Tormentita" Perez, driving the Chivas Racing car and Jonathan Smith, one of only four drivers chosen by NASCAR as one of their selected diversity drivers. The team counts on NASCAR veterans Mark Tudor (crew chief) and Greg Sacks (racing coach). With its headquarters in Upstate New York, the team aspires to develop its drivers into champions and role models for other future drivers.

About Club Deportivo del Guadalajara

Club Deportivo Guadalajara, Mexico's most beloved and important soccer club, popularly known as 'Chivas', has for a century fielded only Mexican-born players in its famous red-and-white-striped shirts. In 2006, the club. which boasts more than 30 million fans across Mexico and the United States, won its record eleventh Mexican league championship, while proudly celebrating its 100 years of existence as Mexico's most important soccer team. Since being acquired by Mexican entrepreneur Jorge Vergara in 2002, Chivas earned its eleventh star within just four years. In addition, in 2005 and 2006, Chivas reached the semifinals of South America's prestigious Copa Libertadores championship. Chivas players continue to form the base of Mexico's national teams at all age levels; in fact, four Chivas youth players played key roles in Mexico's U-17 world championship in 2005.

About Telmex

TELMEX is a corporation made up of Teléfonos de México S.A.B. de C.V., its subsidiaries and affiliates that provide telecommunications services in Mexico. The company's service coverage comprises the operation of the nation's most complete local and long distance networks. Additionally, TELMEX offers services like connectivity, Internet access, colocation, web hosting and interconnection services to other telecommunications operators.

Media Contacts:

Jennifer de Broux

Conexion PR/TW Racing with Sean Watts

(951) 255-3203

Jennifer @ prconexion.com

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