Fan races home with $200,000 in Alltel ‘My Circle 500’ sweepstakes

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, and his NASCAR competitors weren’t the only ones racing for big-time prize money this weekend in Charlotte, N.C.

In a race unlike any other, more than 110 race fans took to the track for the Alltel "My Circle 500." Ten national sweepstakes finalists and their ‘pit crews’ of 10 friends competed in the ultimate go-kart and pit crew challenge, with grand prize winner Joan Goldsberry of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and her ‘Circle’ racing home with $200,000 from Alltel Wireless.

Newman himself traded in his Alltel Dodge for a go-kart this past Saturday, setting the time to beat in an intense, head-to-head go-kart competition. After burning rubber on the track, Goldsberry and her ‘Circle’ headed to the pits where the team clocked an impressive, winning time of 32.6 seconds in the pit crew competition to seal a trip to Victory Lane.

"As a race fan, it doesn’t get any better than taking the checkered flag for an amazing grand prize," said Goldsberry, one of thousands of fans across the country who entered Alltel’s text-to-win sweepstakes. "We’re so thankful that Alltel brought us to Charlotte for the chance to be ‘My Circle 500’ champions."

"All of the finalists had a blast out there on the track," said Samira Zebian, director sponsorship marketing for Alltel. "We wanted to offer race fans a true racing experience – both behind the wheel and in the pits – and we were thrilled to award Joan a check for $200,000 from Alltel."

For the 10 finalists and their ‘Circles,’ the "My Circle 500" was more than just a race. As part of the all-expense paid trip to Charlotte, they also received a behind-the-scenes look at Penske Race Shop, an exclusive meet and greet with Newman and the No. 12 Alltel Dodge team, as well as first class treatment during NASCAR race weekend in Charlotte.