John Edwards, NWR Driver, Feels “Out of His League” At Baseball Event

Throwing a curve at the Race car driver

 What makes Newman Wachs Racing driver, John Edwards, nervous these days? Edwards joined Entergy Nuclear CEO, Mike Kansler, in throwing out the first pitches at the Mississippi Braves baseball game in Jackson, Miss., at the “Nuclear Clean Air Energy” Night on June 26.

This task caused some apprehension for Edwards; the 18-year old from Cincinnati, OH, who would much rather guide his Atlantic Championship race car at nearly 170 mph than throw a baseball in front of thousands of eager fans. Fortunately, both Edwards and Kansler both made quick work out of the traditional opening act of America’s pastime, and joined nearly 4,000 fans as they watched the Mississippi Braves go down to the Birmingham Barons in the closing innings.

I’m just glad I didn’t bounce the pitch on the way to home plate, and I’m proud to be here to promote a good cause– the benefits of nuclear energy,” a smiling Edwards said.

It was a night of food, fun, and fireworks at Trustmark Park, home to the Mississippi Braves, a farm team of the Atlanta organization, as Edwards, team owner Eddie Wachs, and the Entergy-sponsored race car helped to spread the message about the benefits of “Nuclear Clean Air Energy” to the fans attending. The event was also an opportunity for Entergy employees at Entergy’s national nuclear headquarters in Jackson and their nearby nuclear power facility, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, to meet their driver, see the race car and enjoy the baseball game.

 “We are racers in the first order but we are also nuclear energy proponents as well. Racing, clean electricity production and baseball were a great combination to promote together on this night,” stated Wachs.
          

Entergy, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and NWR are enjoying their second year of a beneficial partnership that combines the highly visible motorsports arena and the need to promote an important message. Nuclear energy supplies electricity to one out of every five homes and businesses in the United States. The production of nuclear power produces no carbon emissions and no greenhouse gases. It accounts for 71% of America’s carbon-free source generation. The importance of this message has led to the partnership between NWR and the nation’s second largest nuclear fleet operator, Entergy.

Edwards drives the #36 MAZDASPEED/ Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ Newman Wachs Racing Swift 016 in the Atlantic Championship Series and currently sits 3rd in Championship standings. He won the season-opener in Sebring, FL and finished 2nd in Salt Lake City. Next up for Edwards and the team is Round 5 of the Championship at Lime Rock Park, CT July 18.                                                                    

Newman Wachs Racing was founded by the late actor, Paul Newman and business leader, Eddie Wachs. Based just outside Chicago, NWR is in its fourth season on the Atlantic Championship series with two “Nuclear. Clean Air Energy” cars supported by MAZDASPEED, along with the Nuclear Energy Institute and Entergy Corporation. Newman Wachs Racing heads into its fourth year of competition in the Atlantic Series in 2009. In its four years of competition, NWR has earned 1 pole position, 4 victories, 9 podium finishes, and 17 top-fives. www.newmanwachsracing.com

The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development program has identified the Atlantic Championship Series as the top rung of the open-wheel ladder and supports drivers at all stages of their racing careers. Starting with the Skip Barber Series and ending with Atlantics, the backing from Mazda is essential to young drivers’ in their path to the top. The MAZDASPEED ladder grants a scholarship to the Champion of every supported Series, allowing them a chance to make the jump up and continue to live out their dream of becoming a professional racing driver. www.mazdausa.com

The Nuclear Energy Institute is the policy organization of the nuclear energy and technologies industry and participates in both the national and global policy-making process. NEI’s objective is to ensure the formation of policies that promote the beneficial uses of nuclear energy and technologies in the United States and around the world. www.nei.org

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, has annual revenues of more than $13 billion and approximately 14,700 employees. Entergy is the second-largest nuclear generator in North America and safely operates plants that power more than 10 million homes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York and Vermont. www.entergy-nuclear.com
 
For more information visit www.newmanwachsracing.com

- Aislinn Miller -