Five Finalists Selected in the Nationwide Search, But Only One Will Get to Deliver the Famous Command, “Drivers Start Your Engines”

PITTSBURGH, Penn. (September 5, 2008) – TUMS has announced five finalists in the search to find the Grand Marshal of the TUMS QuikPak 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va. on October 19, 2008. TUMS, one of the most trusted brands for heartburn relief, launched the nationwide search on July 9, 2008 and received hundreds of entries from fans who have provided speedy relief to people in need. From emergency responders to active duty military men and women, hundreds of fans from across the country signed up for a chance to serve as the Grand Marshal of the TUMS QuikPak 500.

Now TUMS is asking fans to visit www.TUMSRacing.com between Friday, Sept. 5 and Friday Sept. 12, 2008 to vote for their favorite finalist. The finalist who receives the most votes will be selected to serve as the Grand Marshal of the TUMS QuikPak 500 on October 19.

The five finalists include:

Victoria Vonderwell of Wilmington, N.C. – Vonderwell is an Emergency Department nurse, who is constantly racing around the ER helping patients. She says that her job – like her favorite sport – could benefit from a speedy “pit crew to tune me up on my breaks.” Vonderwell’s job as an ER nurse forces her to be at the ready to shift into high gear at a moment’s notice. She never leaves home without her trusty TUMS.

Diane Sattler of Asheville, N.C. – Sattler is an emergency response coordinator and huge racing fan. Upon hearing her pager blare, she snaps into action coordinating the disaster action team, American Red Cross volunteers and any additional professional help that may be called upon to help in a given emergency. As she describes it, Sattler’s job is literally to provide relief to community members – fast – just like her favorite heartburn reliever, TUMS.

Robert Hankins of Denver, Colo. – A Martinsville native, Hankins is a huge race fan and a hometown hero. During the race, Hankins will be on leave from his third deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and he has also provided fast relief to his family and community in Colorado Springs, outside of Ft. Carson, where he currently resides. He describes the chance to be the Grand Marshall at Martinsville “the ultimate dream come true for the kid who grew up in a NASCAR town, and who on that very same track, watched many cars race to take the checkered flag.”

Faline Rowland of Shelby, Ohio – Rowland has spent 30 years in active military service. She is currently the Wing Family Program Coordinator for the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield, Ohio. How did she last 30 years? By having a trusty pack of TUMS on her desk and in her pocket. Rowland serves as a liaison for families during deployments, assisting families during emergencies or personal crises. Sure her job is stressful, but she looks forward to Saturday Nationwide races, and Sunday NASCAR Sprint Cup races – all with TUMS by her side.

Wendy Shepherd of Hebron, Ky. – Shepherd is a local, hometown “crew chief.” Just in time for Independence Day this year, Shepherd went to work planning a surprise fundraiser for a neighbor, whose medical expenses were piling up. In addition to her charitable efforts, Shepherd and friends plan all-girls weekends around NASCAR races. One of her favorite moments? “We kidnapped a neighbor’s life-size cardboard replica of his favorite driver and took pictures hanging out.” She calls herself the “unofficial” spokesperson for TUMS Cocoa & Crème antacids as a big believer in the brand.

The lucky finalist who is selected to serve as the Grand Marshal of the TUMS QuikPak 500 will lead the crowd on race day by delivering the, “Drivers, start your engines” race command. The Grand Marshal will also attend a host of pre-race ceremonies, have the chance to meet the drivers and will watch the race from the comfort of a catered skybox suite.

“TUMS, and the all-new TUMS QuikPak, is all about fast relief and putting fans first,” said Steve Kapur, Senior Brand Experience Manager – NASCAR, GSK Consumer Healthcare. “That’s why we invited race fans to both nominate themselves and submit their vote for someone who they think is most deserving of the Grand Marshal responsibilities at the TUMS QuikPak 500.”

The Race to Find the Finalists

Between July 9 and Aug. 30, 2008 race fans were invited to nominate themselves for a chance to serve as the Grand Marshal of the TUMS QuikPak 500. During the registration process, participants were asked to submit an essay answering the question: Why do you deserve to be the Grand Marshal for the day? An independent panel of judges reviewed all of the entries and the five contestants who received the highest scores were named finalists.

About the TUMS QuikPak 500

The TUMS QuikPak 500 will be the first stock car race sponsored by the TUMS brand. The race sponsorship will continue to build on the long-standing relationship between GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare and the .526-mile Virginia short track. The partnership began in 1983 when Goody’s Headache Powder first sponsored the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

About TUMS

For more than 75 years, TUMS has been a fast, effective treatment for heartburn, neutralizing stomach acid on contact. Today, TUMS is the number one selling brand of antacid in America.

About TUMS QuikPak

TUMS QuikPak instant dissolve powder is the newest addition to the TUMS brand lineup. TUMS QuikPak dissolves instantly on the tip of the tongue to neutralize acid on contact without water. Like all TUMS products, the TUMS QuikPak instant dissolve powder is an excellent source of calcium.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette® and NicoDerm®, as well as many medicine cabinet staples, alli®, Aquafresh®, Sensodyne®, and TUMS®, which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.