Lights, Camera ... Service! -- Goodyear Gemini Stores Playing Key Role in New Television Series

Lights, Camera ... Service! -- Goodyear Gemini Stores Playing Key Role in New Television Series

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- A new television series this fall will feature automotive technicians from Gemini Automotive Care facilities, as they perform vehicle makeovers for needy subjects and offer car care tips to viewers.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050204/GTLOGO )

Under a sponsorship agreement with NASCAR, Gemini, a retail automotive care system of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and also a member of the NASCAR Performance Network of repair locations, has become the host facility for an upcoming national television show, NASCAR Angels. The NASCAR Performance Network is a nationwide organization of quality vehicle repair shops and parts stores dedicated to growing their business through a NASCAR affiliation.

NASCAR Angels is a show that displays the "heart of NASCAR," according to Odis Lloyd, director of NASCAR's automotive aftermarket program. He calls the series a mix of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and MTV's Pimp My Ride with NASCAR sizzle.

"The goal of NASCAR Angels is to help people by simply fixing the car problems that are keeping them from the most basic needs," said Lloyd. "With the help of Goodyear Gemini's professional technicians in neighborhood repair facilities and the products from NASCAR Performance companies, life becomes better for the families touched by the television show."

From Goodyear Gemini's standpoint, the connection with the 22-original episode (52 total) NASCAR Angels series translates into prime visibility. In addition to the needed vehicle repairs being filmed in Goodyear Gemini outlets, Goodyear and Gemini signage will appear during episodes, service technicians will wear logo'd uniforms, audio mention will be given to Goodyear Gemini, and advertisements will air during the show to promote Gemini Automotive Care.

"This is strong exposure for Gemini Automotive Care, and it fits well with our push to promote Goodyear Gemini stores as the best place to go for one- stop automotive service and tires," said Mark Boswell, Gemini program manager. "Our program members feel that the automotive professionalism, compassion and expertise displayed on the show will carry over into positive visibility for Goodyear Gemini in their home markets.

"An ordinary day for automotive technicians might consist of engine diagnostic work, brake repairs, new tire installation and maybe wheel alignment," said Boswell. "For several technicians at certain Goodyear Gemini outlets this year, the work remains the same, but it comes under the glare of television lights."

The NASCAR Angels program will launch during the week of Sept. 18, and will be carried by local television stations reaching 95 percent of the country via syndication. Filming began June 26 in Daytona Beach and Orlando, Florida, and will move around the U.S. through the rest of the year. The first week of shooting took place at Goodyear Gemini locations, Florida Tire in Kissimmee, and A Real Tire Company in Daytona Beach.

Hosts for the show are NASCAR racing great Rusty Wallace and NASCAR.com reporter Shannon Wiseman. It is expected that Goodyear Gemini technicians will have occasional featured roles, such as offering automotive technical tips to viewers.

The creative team behind NASCAR Angels is MagicDust Television, a broadcast production firm based in Phoenix. The series is being distributed by Litton Entertainment.

There are more than 1,900 Gemini Automotive Care retail locations in the U.S. Goodyear owns and operates more than 600 Goodyear Auto Service Centers with Gemini Car Care, and there are also more than 1,300 other independent locations with the Gemini Car Care program. These locations are owned and operated by independent retailers.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050204/GTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

CONTACT: Jim Davis of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company,
+1-330-796-4114

Web site: http://www.goodyear.com/

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