Pizza Hut Announces First-Ever NASCAR Team Sponsorship and Features Four Popular Drivers in Its Commercial; New Spot Emphasizes Moms Drive Dinner Decisions with the New Pizza Hut Family Race Pack Promotion

DALLAS--April 22, 2005--What do cooking dinner and stopping mid-race have in common? Both can be the pits. But not for long. Today Pizza Hut(R) announces its first-ever NASCAR team sponsorship, encompassing five NASCAR races this season. In support of the sponsorship, Pizza Hut has a new commercial starring Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte and Brian Vickers. The spot features the Family Race Pack(TM) promotion, which allows fans to watch the race and have a complete meal without missing a lap.


In typical Pizza Hut tongue-in-cheek humor, the commercial light-heartedly shows a Mom causing the entire NASCAR race to come to a screeching halt as she leaves her family that is watching the race on TV, to make dinner. The commercial humorously highlights Mom’s power over the racetrack at dinnertime as the NASCAR drivers are forced to stop racing when Mom leaves the room. When Mom returns with the Pizza Hut Family Race Pack, the drivers pop back in their cars and peel out in the hilarious ending. The spot, created by New York-based BBDO, will begin airing nationally on Sunday, May 1.

“This is our first foray into anything NASCAR. We’re really excited to team with Hendrick Motorsports because they’re a winning team that is family-oriented,” said Tom James, chief marketing officer, Pizza Hut. “We know NASCAR is a family sport -- families gather to watch the races, racing teams are family-owned and many drivers have siblings and parents racing with them on the track -- so it’s a natural connection for us.”

From Start to Finish Line

As debuted in the commercial, Pizza Hut(R) is offering the essential racing ’gear’ so families can get a complete meal from start to finish. The new Family Race Pack(TM) promotion includes a large one-topping pizza, bread sticks, cinnamon sticks, a two liter of Pepsi(R) and napkins, plates and cups so no cooking or cleaning up is necessary. The Family Race Pack promotion is offered nationally at participating Pizza Hut restaurants for dine-in, carryout or delivery (where available) for $16.99.

Pizza Hut is supporting the national introduction of the Family Race Pack promotion with an estimated $12 million marketing plan including national network and cable television advertising, radio, direct mail, online initiatives and in-restaurant point of purchase materials.

The commercials were created by New York-based BBDO, under the direction of Janet Lyons EVP, Executive Creative Director; Mike Towell, Associate Creative Director; Lisa Christman VP, Executive Producer; Alec Brownstein, Copywriter; Jason Schmall, Copywriter; Mat Bisher, Art Director; Rick Doerr, SVP, Account Director; Megan Bundy, Account Executive.

The sponsorship agreement between Hendrick Motorsports and Pizza Hut was negotiated by the Charlotte motorsports office of Millsport, LLC, a division of The Marketing Arm.

About Pizza Hut

As the world’s largest pizza restaurant company with almost 6,600 units in the United States and more than 4,000 units in 100 other countries, Pizza Hut, Inc., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) has been the place families have gathered for 47 years. The company’s legacy of leadership and innovation has made it the recognized leader in the $37 billion pizza category. Those hungry for more information can go to the official Pizza Hut web site at www.pizzahut.com

About Hendrick Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports has won nine NASCAR championships in the last decade and currently fields teams in the sanctioning body’s top two divisions -- the NEXTEL Cup Series and Busch Series. Drivers include Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Brian Vickers, Terry Labonte and Jimmie Johnson. Please visit www.HendrickMotorsports.com for additional information.

Commercial and stills available upon request.

Contact Information

Patty Sullivan

Media Contact

Pizza Hut, Inc.

Contact via E-mail