Office of Highway Safety brings Impaired Driving Awareness to the Centennial Celebration of the

Delaware State Fair

Dover, DE (July 22, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety has partnered with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain for the fourth year in a row, in the “Use Your Melon, Drive Sober, Arrive Alive DE,” campaign and will be on-site at the Delaware State Fair during its centennial celebration year from Monday, July 22^nd from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, to Tuesday, July 23^rd from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. He’ll be engaging with fans to promote the “Use Your Melon,” campaign and be available for autographs and photo opportunities. The No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro Show Car will be on-site at the OHS booth during all 10 days of the Delaware State Fair. The OHS booth includes an interactive display including games, a selfie station, hero cards, and more. 

“As the Office of Highway Safety celebrates its 50th Anniversary, our staff is braving the extreme temperatures to bring the message of impaired driving dangers to Delaware State Fair attendees. Our focus is not only on the reduction of driving while intoxicated with alcohol but on helping Delawareans understand that driving while impaired also means driving under the influence of drugs including prescription or otherwise,” Christopher Klein, Acting Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

The Dover International Speedway is partnering on-site with the OHS at the fair and is giving away ticket vouchers for the Monster Energy Cup Series race on October 6^th, and ticket vouchers for the Xfinity Series race on October 5^th. The tickets will be distributed throughout the run of the fair through game participation and electronic surveys concerning impaired driving. Also, there is a special VIP grand prize package giveaway that will include tickets to the Sunday race, Meet & Greet with Ross, and a tour of the trailer/garage on Sunday. The Monster Mile is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary and will be hosting many special events throughout the weekend including live music, interactive displays, games, free sampling, and surprises.

“Ross and his team originally approached OHS with the melon campaign messaging based on his family’s farming legacy. He’s an 8^th-generation farmer and a 4^th-generation watermelon farmer. The “Use Your Melon,” campaign’s focus is on impaired driving and its dangers which can include alcohol, recreational drugs, and even prescription medications. In other words, “Use Your Melon,” when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle,” Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist, and Public Information Officer, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Be on the lookout for over 1 million watermelons throughout the state of Delaware with the “Use Your Melon,” brand stickers on them, plus Carvertise-activated cars that are driving throughout the state through the end of October with the watermelon branding. The “Use Your Melon,” branded vehicles promote the same melon messaging that Ross is promoting for the Office of Highway Safety to hundreds of thousands of motorists, passengers, and pedestrians all summer long. 

This Highway Safety Collaboration in Motorsports in Delaware includes the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, Ross Chastain Racing, Dover International Speedway, JD Motorsports with Gary Keller, Melon 1, and Carvertise.

Frequently asked questions on the consequences of life after a DUI can be found at http://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/FAQs.  For more information on Delaware DUI fatalities and arrests, visit http://www.arrivealivede.com/DriveSober.

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by clicking on:

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About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues.

FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.

OHS partners with Ben Kennedy Racing, Junior Motorsports, and Tommy Baldwin Racing

Dover – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) has an action packed weekend (Sept. 27-29) at the Monster Mile reminding fans to Drive Sober and Arrive Alive.  On Friday September 27^th, OHS is the title sponsor for the ‘Drive Sober 150’ NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with Grand Marshalls- Bill and Muriel Elliott of the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers and Sgt. Andrew Rubin of Newark PD waving the green flag.  OHS is also teamed up with #96 Ben Kennedy and Ben Kennedy Racing for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race in the ‘Drive Sober 150’.

OHS will also be teaming up with #7 Regan Smith of Junior Motorsports Saturday in the ‘5-Hour Energy’ NASCAR Nationwide Series race, and then on Sunday with #36 JJ Yeley of Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) in the ‘AAA 400’ NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.  Race fans will have several opportunities to meet the drivers throughout the weekend including the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver autograph session Friday September 27^th from 1-2pm at the Lucas Oil display in the FanZone.  Then OHS will host autograph sessions with #7 Regan Smith of Junior Motorsports at the Drive Sober display Saturday from 10:15 am-11:00 am and on Sunday with #36 JJ Yeley of TBR from 9:30 am- 11:00 am.

OHS will be promoting the Drive Sober message all race weekend with various actives in the Monster Mile Fan Zone including Choose Your Ride police cruiser-cab, designated driver pledges, show cars, and t-shirt giveaways for participants of the DUI Pit Stop Challenge game.

“We are very excited to work with each team and partner this weekend by reminding fans to make the smart choice of choosing a designated driver before the race starts,” said Jana Simpler, Director for the Office of Highway Safety. “That designated driver can be a friend, family member, or a cab ride home.  We want fans to have fun this weekend but also be safe and have a sober ride home.”

The Choose Your Ride Delaware State Police (DSP) cruiser-cab will patrol the campgrounds Saturday morning with NASCAR driver JJ Yeley and DSP Sgt. Shavack.  The police cruiser-cab is a custom taxi cab wrap on half of the Delaware State Police patrol car.  The intent is to convey a special message for impaired drivers: choose your ride.  Yeley and Sgt. Shavack will stop and talk with campers about making the smart choice of having a designated driver or calling a cab if fans decide to drink this weekend along with handing out giveaway items and signing autographs.

“Through the continued partnership of the Delaware State Police and The Delaware Office of Highway Safety, we continue to combat and raise awareness of the deadly consequences of drunk driving,” said Sergeant Paul G. Shavack, Director of Public Information for the Delaware State Police.  “We hope that this hybrid police cruiser-cab sends a simple but powerful message and serves as a great visual reminder to “Choose Your Ride” before getting behind the wheel intoxicated.”

Race fans will also have two opportunities to take a pledge to not drive impaired.  The first one is by signing their name on the #36 Drive Sober TBR show car.  Race teams, drivers, and media will also take the pledge in the infield by signing the #36 Drive Sober race car in the Sprint Cup garage.  The second pledge can be taken at the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers tent located next to the OHS FanZone booth.  Fans who take the HERO pledge get special access into the Designated Drivers tent which has 2 tv’s, skydeck, games, snacks, and coupon for a FREE hot dog and soft drink.

For a full list of OHS race weekend activity visit www.ohs.delaware.gov  or follow OHS on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Like OHS on Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE. For OHS Drive Sober campaign updates visit www.DUIrealtime.com.

‘Drive Sober 150’ presented by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety to promote safe driving throughout race weekend

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety and Dover International Speedway have announced a new partnership that will see the state office become the title sponsor for the newly branded “Drive Sober 150” NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, which takes the green flag at 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.

Throughout the Sept. 27-29, 2013 race weekend at the Monster Mile, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) will promote traffic safety, with a special focus on the dangers of impaired driving and the importance of not getting behind the wheel while under the influence.

“This fall we are excited to expand our Drive Sober campaign with the sponsorship of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race,” said Jana Simpler, director for the Office of Highway Safety. “Our partnerships with Dover International Speedway and NASCAR teams have helped to share our messaging with a dynamic audience we otherwise could not have reached on our own. We are thankful for the partnerships and support we receive from the Speedway and the racing community.”

The OHS presence isn’t a new one at the Speedway, as it has been a track partner with a large interactive exhibit in the track’s FanZone on race weekend, promoting everything from the importance of buckling your seat belt to driving sober. Planned activities at the race this year include driver autograph sessions, a Designated Driver tent, games using fatal vision goggles and much more.

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety has also previously served as the primary sponsor on J.J. Yeley’s No. 36 Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) Chevrolet, and will continue to partner with TBR in the “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sept. 29. OHS is also expanding its partnerships to include primary sponsorship of Ben Kennedy in the No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet for the “Drive Sober 150” NASCAR K&N Pro East Series race, and Regan Smith in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet for the Sept. 28 NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

“We’re thrilled to have the Delaware Office of Highway Safety promoting this very important message throughout race weekend,” said Michael Tatoian, executive vice president and COO of Dover Motorsports, Inc. “The Office of Highway Safety does so much great work in our state to make our roadways safer, and the ‘Drive Sober 150’ gives them the chance to spread that message on a national level too.”

The Friday, Sept. 27 “Drive Sober 150” presented by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race kicks off a tripleheader weekend of action at the Speedway, followed by the Saturday, Sept. 28 NASCAR Nationwide Series race and Sunday, Sept. 29 “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the third event in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

For tickets or more information, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com. You can also keep up with the Monster Mile at Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway or on Twitter at @MonsterMile.  Follow OHS on Twitter @DEHighwaySafe or on Facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

Dover – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) will again team up with NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley at the Monster Mile next weekend (September 28-30) to remind fans to Drive Sober and Arrive Alive. This time Yeley will pull a double duty and drive the #27 Nationwide car with Go Canada Motorsports (GCMI) on Saturday and then on Sunday drive the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) car for the Sprint Cup race.  Yeley will be promoting the Drive Sober message all race weekend with OHS at various events and activities in the Monster Mile Fan Zone including t-shirt giveaways for participants of the Tipsy Tricycle, and signing autographs at the OHS booth.

“OHS is very excited to partner with J.J again to promote the Drive Sober message,” said Jana Simpler, Director of the Office of Highway Safety. “He is a great spokesperson for this partnership and we thank new partners Tommy Baldwin Racing and Go Canada Motorsports for helping us spread the message to the NASCAR fan base and creating more buzz among the audience we are trying to reach with this message.”

OHS & Yeley have a full schedule of fan activities including the OHS exhibit in the Monster Mile Fan Zone all weekend long. OHS staff will be giving out t-shirts to those who attempt to ride the Tipsy Tricycle around an obstacle course while wearing DUI goggles that simulate impairment. All those 21 years and older are invited to participate.  Fans can watch Yeley demo the Tipsy Trike on Trackside, hosted by Krista Voda, on SPEED TV Friday night.

Saturday Yeley will debut the # 27 Drive Sober. Arrive Alive DE Chevrolet with GCMI in the ‘OneMain Financial 200’ NASCAR Nationwide Series race.   After the race Yeley will meet up with fans again in the Dover Downs Casino Colonnade to sign autographs from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Special giveaways will be available to fans.

Then Sunday, Yeley will be back in the FanZone to sign autographs from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  and then race fans around the Tipsy Tricycle course before jumping into the #36 Drive Sober. Arrive Alive DE Chevrolet with TBR in the ‘AAA 400’ NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

The partnership between OHS and J.J. Yeley began at the 2011 Dover May race where Yeley was a guest speaker at the 10^th Anniversary kick off of the Click It or Ticket campaign to promote seat belt use.

“J.J. has been such a great supporter of traffic safety and we really enjoy working with him to promote our campaigns at both the spring and fall races at the Monster Mile,” said Alison Kirk, Community Relations Officer for OHS. “Having the opportunity to work with TBR and GCMI to bring our messages to such a large audience and to really get the fans involved in the activities is what this is all about. We hope to continue to partner with J.J. and NASCAR teams in the future to keep spreading traffic safety messages.”

For a full list of OHS race weekend activity visit www.ohs.delaware.gov/pdfs/2012/2012_Monster_Mile_Fall_Race_Weekend_Schedule.pdf or follow OHS on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe and J.J. Yeley at www.twitter.com/jjyeley1 and Like OHS on Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE and J.J. Yeley Offical Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/JJ-Yeley-Official/188904204467053. For OHS Drive Sober campaign updates visit www.DUIrealtime.com.

About Tommy Baldwin Racing: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin formed Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) in 2009. Baldwin utilized a declining economy to open a NSCS team with a stringent budget. The team worked to build to full-time competition, and by the 2011 season, the team’s third season, TBR competed in every race and locked the No. 36 Chevrolet in the top-35 in NSCS Owner Points. Dave Blaney drove the No. 36 Chevrolet to TBR’s highest finish of third in the October 2011 event at Talladega Superspeedway. TBR also fielded a second car for select races in the past two seasons with multiple drivers.

Based in Mooresville, N.C., TBR will compete in the NSCS in 2012 with NASCAR veterans David Reutimann and Dave Blaney. The team will also compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Ryan Blaney, Bobby Santos and Ryan Truex.

For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, visit tommybaldwinracing.com or follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/TBR.HBR, and Twitter, twitter.com/TBR_Racing

About GC Motorsports International: GC Motorsports Inc was formed in 2011 when Canadian businessman Steve Meehan purchased the assets of the #27 NASCAR Nationwide Series team that had previously competed under both the names Brewco Motorsports and GCMI. The team collectively has over 800 series starts, 10 wins, 70 top fives, and 183 top ten finishes. Since 1995 the team has featured drivers such as Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader, Ward Burton, Scott Wimmer, Casey Atwood, Johnny Sauter, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Robby Gordon.

For more information on GC Motorsports, email Matt Crews at mcrews@fullcircle360.com.