Ryder Cup's Boo Weekley to join Earnhardt's sports auction

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 26, 2008) – When Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked PGA Tour golfer Boo Weekley to join him at the fifth annual Dale Jr. Celebrity Sports Auction in Concord, he had no idea the credentials Weekley would bring to the Oct. 13 event that raises money for The Dale Jr. Foundation. “I wanted him there because I’m a fan,” Earnhardt said. “I had no idea he would go on a tear and be a conquering hero!” Weekley was one of 12 American golfers who wrestled the coveted Ryder Cup trophy away from the heavily favored Europeans last weekend at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., ending a nine-year drought for Team USA in the prestigious biannual golf classic. In his Ryder Cup debut, Weekley won two matches and halved the other to score 2.5 points for the Americans. He was one of only three American golfers not to sustain a loss. His heads-up match against European Oliver Wilson on the final day resulted in a decisive four-stroke victory, propelling Team USA to its first Ryder Cup victory since 1999. “We were racing at Dover last weekend, but I kept tabs on how Boo was doing,” Earnhardt said. “I never really followed the Ryder Cup so intently before, but when Boo made the team, I was immediately drawn to it. It was a great performance by the Americans, and Boo did an awesome job. I can’t wait to congratulate him in person.” Weekley will join Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Elliott Sadler, Kerry Earnhardt, Brad Keselowski and Landon Cassill at the charity event on Monday, Oct. 13, at the Concord Convention Center inside the Embassy Suites hotel. Fans can purchase tickets at www.TheDaleJrFoundation.com, www.WhiskyRiverCharlotte.com, or the JR Nation retail store inside JR Motorsports. All proceeds raised by The Dale Jr. Foundation will go toward its support chain, including Make-A-Wish Foundation and Victory Junction Gang Camp. “Boo is as unique an individual as you’re going to get, not only in golf, but in the entire sports world,” Earnhardt said. “If you watch him play golf and listen to his interviews, you can’t help but appreciate how true he is to himself. He is a great addition to this Celebrity Sports Auction, and I hope fans truly appreciate what he just accomplished.” Aside from general admission tickets, fans also have the option to buy Super Tickets, which consists of a private meeting and photograph opportunity with the celebrities, or Bundle Tickets, which will gain admission to both the Celebrity Sports Auction and the kickoff concert on Oct. 12 featuring multi-platinum country music artist Gary Allan at Whisky River. Additionally, there are more than 75 sports memorabilia and collectable items available for bidding, including a U.S. Navy “Dale Jr. Division” firesuit worn by Earnhardt, a Cleveland Browns helmet autographed by Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Jim Brown, a signed fiddle by Charlie Daniels, and tickets to a Boston Red Sox game in team owner John Henry’s seats.