World Baseball Classic car to race in NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series
Team Mexico’s Sergio Romo and Luis Gonzalez to attend March 1st event in Phoenix
To mark the beginning of World Baseball Classic training camps and exhibition games in Phoenix, AZ, World Baseball Classic Inc. will be sponsoring a car in the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series race on Friday, March 1 in Phoenix, Arizona. The “05” car, driven by Abraham Calderon, as well as the driver’s race suit and pit signage will feature World Baseball Classic branding. The event at Phoenix International Raceway is the first time a NASCAR Mexico Series race has been held outside of Mexico.
World Baseball Classic will be on-site for all three days of NASCAR racing this weekend, with a promotional display space on the midway. Fans will be able to purchase World Baseball Classic tickets and enter to win prizes. World Baseball Classic media partner KHOT-FM in Phoenix will run an exclusive on-air promotion to win a meet and greet with the car driver and World Baseball Classic goods.
In addition to the car, Team Mexico pitcher and member of the 2012 World Champion San Francisco Giants Sergio Romo will serve as the grand marshal and help start the race. Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez will attend the event and participate in race activities.
The 2013 World Baseball Classic, which is the third edition of the tournament, is the premier international baseball tournament featuring the world’s best players representing their countries and territories. Thirty-nine games will be played in seven venues in four nations and territories from March 2 through March 19, 2013. Team Japan is the two-time defending champion of the World Baseball Classic, having won in 2006 and 2009.
Chase Field and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Arizona will host games in Pool D, featuring Canada, Italy, Mexico and the United States from Thursday, March 7th – Sunday, March 10th. Salt River Fields will host the opening game on March 7th at 1:00 p.m. between Mexico and Italy. Team USA, managed by Joe Torre, will debut on the night of Friday, March 8th vs. Team Mexico at 7:00 p.m. at Chase Field in Phoenix.
Tickets are available for games in Phoenix, as well as other tournament venues, online at www.worldbaseballclassic.com. Fans are also able to purchase tickets at the Chase Field Box Office Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-1pm (local time) and via phone at 602-514-8400.
MLB Network and ESPN Deportes will be the exclusive English and Spanish-language broadcasters in the United States and 33 international broadcasters will televise games in 12 languages in more than 200 countries and territories.The World Baseball Classic, which is officially sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will for the first time in 2013 be recognized as the official national team World Championship, with the winner being crowned the 2013 World Baseball Classic Champion and the IBAF World Champion.