Man’s Best Friend Vies for Victory Lane

PEDIGREE(R) Brand Announces ‘THE LUCKIEST DOG(TM) of NASCAR(R)’ Contest which could Land Fido’s Face on the Number 18 PEDIGREE(R) Toyota

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 27 /PRNewswire/ — NASCAR(R) fans may be familiar with the term, “lucky dog,” which gives the driver of the next lapped car behind the leader to gain back a lap during a caution. This year, a new contest gives those words a whole other meaning. Starting April 26, dog-loving NASCAR(R) fans can enter their pet pooch into “THE LUCKIEST DOG(TM) of NASCAR(R)” contest sponsored by PEDIGREE(R) Food for Dogs, NASCAR(R) Fans’ Best Friend and proud sponsor of the No. 18 PEDIGREE(R) Toyota Camry.

The contest awards one “lucky dog” the opportunity to have his or her picture emblazoned on the No. 18 PEDIGREE(R) Toyota Camry that Kyle Busch will race during the Checker Auto Parts 500 in Phoenix on November 15. In addition, the owners of the winning dog will also be treated to a three-day / two-night trip to the race where they’ll see their four-legged friend’s face firsthand.

“We’re excited to give one pet owner the chance to publicly profess the love they have for their pet,” said John Anton, Marketing Director of the PEDIGREE(R) Brand. “At PEDIGREE everything we do is for the love of dogs and this contest is really about giving people a platform to celebrate the bond between them and their best friend.”

During the entry period which runs through September 12, 2009, dog-loving NASCAR(R) fans can log onto NASCAR.com/pedigreeluckiestdog to either upload a race-themed photo of their dog or vote on the other dogs’ photos that have been shared. Every week, one finalist will be determined based on the popular vote on NASCAR.com. As an added bonus, each voter is automatically eligible to instantly win one of 200 available $25 dollar PEDIGREE(R) branded gift cards. There’s no limit to how many times one can vote.

Following the consumer determination of the 20 weekly finalists, a panel of judges will select one grand prize winner on or about October 1, 2009. The judging process will be based on creativity, originality and adherence to the NASCAR(R) theme.

About PEDIGREE(R) Brand

PEDIGREE(R) Brand is the number one brand of dog food in the world, offering a wide variety of products for different dog life stages. As an innovative market leader, PEDIGREE(R) Brand is at the forefront of pet nutrition and understands pet owner needs by providing a range of innovative products and resources.

About Mars Petcare US

Mars Petcare U.S. is the U.S. pet care operations of Mars, Incorporated, one of the world’s leading food manufacturers. Headquartered in Franklin, TN, Mars Petcare U.S. employs more than 3,000 associates in the United States, with 22 facilities nationwide and owns some of the world’s favorite pet care brands, including PEDIGREE(R) Brand Food for Dogs, CESAR(R) Canine Cuisine, WHISKAS(R) Brand Food for Cats, SHEBA(R) Brand Food for Cats and THE GOODLIFE RECIPE(R) Brand

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated is a family-owned company that produces some of the world’s leading confectionery, food and petcare products and has growing beverage and health & nutrition businesses. The confectionery division offers a wide range of products that include chocolate, gum, mints, hard and chewy candies. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Mars operates in more than 70 countries and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Mars employs more than 65,000 associates worldwide. The company’s global sales are over $27 billion annually.

(R)/(TM) Trademarks (C) Mars, Incorporated 2009. NASCAR is a (R) trademark of National Association for Stock Car Autoracing, Inc. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Mars Petcare U.S.