TrackCouture Press Releases

TrackCouture Launch Party and Charity Poker Tournament Huge Success

$100,000 Poker Pot Donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Click to enlarge photos. Shannon Spake, host of the Speed Channel's NASCAR Nation, and Denny Hamlin, driver of the number 11 Nextel Cup car, pose with an I love 11 TrackCouture shirt. David Stremme, driver of the number 40 Nextel Cup car relaxes at the TrackCouture Celebrity Launch Party & Charity Poker Tournament. Guests battle it out at the final table for $100,000 in the tag-team, no-limit Texas Hold'em. From left, Andy O'Hara, ppc Racing, Lindsay Farkash, T W Design, Denny Hamlin, driver of the number 11 Nextel Cup car and his girlfriend Kristin Buntain, Craftsman Truck Series driver David Ragan and crew chief of the number 50 Craftsman Truck team, Mike Puccia. Winners of the TrackCouture Charity Poker Tournament, Andy O'Hara and Lindsay Farkash show off one of their $50,000 checks. Both winners chose to donate their winnings to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis for a total donation of $100,000. From left, Lisa Heros, co-president, TrackCouture, Andy O'Hara, ppc Racing, Lindsay Farkash, T W Design and Kathleen Smith, co-president, Trackcouture.

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, June 7, 2006 – TrackCouture demonstrated race-themed apparel for women is fashionable for both NASCAR and non-NASCAR fans at the company's launch party and charity poker tournament Sunday, May 21 at the Cans Bar & Canteen in Charlotte, North Carolina.

With an officially licensed NASCAR clothing line, TrackCouture is redefining women's race-wear. Throughout the party waitresses wore tanks supporting their favorite drivers as well as other race-inspired tanks such as Pit Lizard and Race Royalty. Mannequins throughout the bar displayed other apparel offerings including raglans, t-shirts, hoodies and skirts. TrackCouture's pink and black colors were visible throughout the party's interior décor.

Guests had the opportunity to play tag-team, no limit Texas Hold'em for a charity of their choice. Andy O'Hara, director of sponsorship relations for ppc Racing and Lindsay Farkash from TW Design won the $100,000 pot and chose to donate the money to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. At the final table O'Hara and Farkash beat out Denny Hamlin, driver of the number 11 Nextel Cup car and girlfriend Kristin Buntain, and Craftsman Truck Series driver David Ragan and his crew chief Matt Puccia from Roush Racing.

The decision to donate the money to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was a very personal one for O'Hara. Last October his nine-year-old daughter McKenzie was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and admitted to St. Jude.

"The staff at St. Jude were incredible throughout McKenzie's treatment," said O'Hara. "She is now cancer free and it is all due to the wonderful work they do at the hospital. It is very rewarding to be able to win this money for them and show my appreciation of the care and support they gave my entire family during McKenzie's treatment."

Dallas native Farkash also had a personal reason for donating her winnings to St. Jude.

"I learned about St. Jude through a very dear friend," said Farkash. "My friend learned the Thursday before the party that he was a cancer survivor. When he was initially diagnosed he was given less than a 10 percent survival rate. He was treated at St. Jude and it is a miracle he is still here."

A last minute replacement for DJ AM, Jus-ske demonstrated why he is one of the hottest DJs in New York, playing some of the music industry's hottest dance tunes until the early hours of the morning. DJ Jus-ske's impressive resume includes playing at private parties for Mariah Carey, Usher, P-Diddy and Jay-Z.

"We wanted to officially launch our brand in Charlotte because of the city's close ties to NASCAR," said Kathleen Smith, co-president of TrackCouture. "Our launch party and charity poker tournament was a huge success. I am overjoyed that Andy and Lindsay both chose to donate the money to St. Jude since the hospital is located in my home city. People began playing poker for fun once they had been eliminated from the poker tournament and DJ Jus-ske definitely kept the dance floor filled."

TrackCouture's launch party and poker tournament was planned and executed by Bottle Rocket, a sports marketing and event planning company from Memphis, Tennessee. Eye Dialogue Lighting and Sound created a unique atmosphere throughout the bar with a pink light display. Tab Energy donated 16 cases of the energy drink.

About TrackCouture
TrackCouture is a Memphis-based lifestyle brand focused on creating, producing, distributing, promoting, and selling NASCAR licensed merchandise. TrackCouture apparel is available at www.TrackCouture.com, and select items are available in select Parisian stores, and licensed race team stores. The NASCAR.com SuperStore and NASCAR retail shops will carry the TrackCouture line later in the year. Licensed merchandise includes driver logo merchandise based on licensing agreements made with racing teams and drivers.

Link to EyeDialogue.com for info about Lighting...