Daytona 500 Fans Get on Fast Track to Recycling

ST. LOUIS (March 6, 2008) - NASCAR fans had the opportunity to support the environment, as well as their favorite drivers, during the historic running of the 50th Daytona 500 at the storied Daytona International Speedway. 

Each year Daytona's "World Center of Racing" hosts hundreds of thousands of fans, offering a tremendous potential for recycling the large number of beverage containers generated. This year, more than 362,000 cans and bottles or nearly 15,300 pounds of beverage containers were collected and recycled on the grounds thanks to Anheuser-Busch wholesaler, Daytona Beverages Inc.; Gelco Inc.; Daytona International Speedway employees; and Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation.

"Anheuser-Busch's partnership with Daytona International Speedway continues to grow not only with the excitement and entertainment during DIRECTV Speedweeks, but also with the enhanced recycling efforts during event time," said Robin Braig, president of Daytona International Speedway. "Anheuser-Busch's Recycling program has set a precedent at Daytona and is now being used as a model for other tracks.  Our fans are now actively seeking to recycle their cans and bottles in the Red Budweiser Recycling bins located around the track.  The recycling team is making a big difference and fans at Daytona are taking notice." 

Daytona International Speedway employees handed out 7,000 blue recycle bags to campers as they entered the Speedway infield and the West lot camping grounds.  About 1,500 Kasey Kahne instructional flyers were handed out to fans as reminders to recycle their cans and bottles.  The program was simple - campers were to put aluminum containers and plastic bottles in the blue bag and leave them in front of their campsites for nightly pick up.  In addition, 700 Budweiser Racing recycling containers were located throughout the concourse, Fan Walk area and Fan Zone.  During the races, speedway employees serviced the recycling bins with some waste removal assistance by Gelco Inc.  To reward fans to recycle their beverage containers, branded T-shirts, beads, towels, sling bags and coozies were passed out to those "caught recycling" by members of the Anheuser-Busch Recycle Team.

"This is a very exciting program that allows fans, who are concerned about the environment, to recycle at a venue like Daytona International Speedway," said Bonnie Janson, region manager for Anheuser-Busch Recycling.  "Because of the speedway's support and commitment, this partnership will keep a significant amount of used beverage containers from reaching the landfill.  They're a top notch organization to work with."

Daytona International Speedway is the flagship facility of International Speedway Corporation and home to the Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious event.  Daytona International Speedway is a versatile motorsports facility also hosting the Rolex 24 at Daytona, North America's premier sports car race, as well as the legendary Daytona 200 by Honda motorcycle classic.  

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.4 percent share of U.S. beer sales.  The company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light.  Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired U.S. Companies list in 2007.  Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's largest recyclers of aluminum cans.  In addition, Anheuser-Busch supports a variety of community-level and national environmental organizations, such as Keep America Beautiful, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and World Wildlife Fund.  For more information, visit www.OurPledge.com.