Ernie Irvan Helps Retired Greyhounds

NASCAR's Ernie Irvan Shifts Gears To Help Michigan's Retired Greyhound Racing Dogs

Ernie Irvan, driver of NASCAR's #36 Pontiac, will team up with associate sponsor, PEDIGREE Food for Dogs, to encourage Greyhound dog adoptions in Michigan. Irvan will accept the challenge to help Greyhound dogs during a Detroit area appearance with Second Chance for Greyhounds, a Michigan adoption organization. In recognition of Irvan's effort in the Michigan 400, the PEDIGREE brand will make a donation to the local adoption group to help find caring homes for former fast-track Greyhound dogs.

Ernie Irvan, who won the Michigan 400 in 1997 and earned a pole position last year, along with his dog Ryder, a yellow lab, will co-host this event, greeting Greyhounds from the adoption group. Second Chance For Greyhounds is a non-profit volunteer organization that has placed hundreds of retired racing dogs in Michigan. The Greyhound Protection League and the ASPCA have cited the organization for its high-quality adoption program.

During the Michigan 400, Ernie Irvan, driver of the familiar #36 "M&M's" Racing Pontiac will sport the blue & yellow PEDIGREE Food for Dogs logo. The temporary re-design will call attention to Irvan's crusade to help find homes for retired Greyhound racing dogs. Ernie's fans are accustomed to seeing his #36 car decked out with "M&M's" Chocolate Candies, which is his primary sponsor. However, M&M/Mars, the manufacturer of "M&M's" is a sister company to Kal Kan Foods, Inc, manufacturer of PEDIGREE Food for Dogs, and the company chose the Michigan 400 as the race to highlight the PEDIGREE brand's dedication to finding homes for loving pets.