Alltel Wireless and Ryan Newman invite Rapid City resident to ‘Go Racing’

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Today, Jimmie Funell of Rapid City, S.D. received the surprise of a lifetime at an Alltel Wireless retail store in Rapid City, S.D., when race car driver Ryan Newman invited him to 'Go Racing.'

As part of the surprise, Alltel Wireless, America's largest network, and Newman provided Funell with an all-expense-paid trip for two to Bristol, Tenn. to attend the race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, August 25-26, 2007. To add to the VIP experience, Funell will have a very personal reason to cheer the No. 12 Alltel team to victory lane, as his name will appear on the Alltel Dodge that weekend.

"Alltel is dedicated to providing our customers with unmatched personalized experiences," said Frank O'Mara, executive vice president of marketing for Alltel Wireless. "This racing initiative is a great way to thank our customers and reward them for choosing Alltel as their wireless provider. We hope to celebrate with both Ryan and Jimmie in the winner's circle."

Newman has made previous unannounced stops at retail stores in Albuquerque, N.M., Augusta, Ga., Kannapolis, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., and Tampa, Fla., to award customers with trips to 'Go Racing.'

"It was as much a rush for me as it was for Jimmie when I gave him the good news from Alltel that he was chosen for this opportunity," said Newman. "Hopefully the addition of his name to the paint scheme will help take the No. 12 Alltel Dodge to Victory Lane."

Funell, who stopped by the Alltel retail store to see the No. 12 Alltel Dodge show car, was thrilled with the surprise visit by Newman.

"This is truly a dream come true. I just went to the store to see the show car and possibly upgrade my phone, so I didn't expect to receive anything, let alone meet racecar driver Ryan Newman," said Funell. "I can't wait for my friends and family to see my name on the No. 12 Alltel Dodge as Ryan races around the track at 120 miles per hour."

To find out where the No. 12 Alltel Dodge will make its next pit stop, and for more information on Ryan Newman and the Alltel Race Team, please visit www.alltelracing.com.

Alltel Wireless offers exclusive features including "My Circle," allowing customers to choose who they call for free – any 10 numbers, any network; Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their rate plan any time, without extending their contract and Celltop, Alltel's exclusive, patent-pending technology providing customers an easier way to access, manage and organize a wide range of information already available on their phones.