Dodge Countdown to Daytona

Dodge Countdown to Daytona was a promotion by General Mills and Dodge that ran in January and February 2001. The promotion coincided with Dodge's return to NASCAR after a 15-year absence from the racing series. The promotion involved "four food categories and more that 40 million packages, making it one of the largest package promotions ever assembled at General Mills," according to a January 15, 2001 press release. 

Specially marked packages of Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Wheaties and Golden Grahams cereals included one of five 1/64-scale diecast models of the 2001 Dodge Intreped R/T stock cars, and buyers of Hamburger Helper packages could send in for three additional "gold edition" cars. The models were made in China by an unknown manufacturer, and the same casting was used in subsequent General Mills promotions as late as 2008 (those later releases are included in this Subject until further information about their release can be found).

Subject ID: 59868

More

Dodge Countdown to Daytona was a promotion by General Mills and Dodge that ran in January and February 2001. The promotion coincided with Dodge's return to NASCAR after a 15-year absence from the racing series. The promotion involved "four food categories and more that 40 million packages, making it one of the largest package promotions ever assembled at General Mills," according to a January 15, 2001 press release. 

Specially marked packages of Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Wheaties and Golden Grahams cereals included one of five 1/64-scale diecast models of the 2001 Dodge Intreped R/T stock cars, and buyers of Hamburger Helper packages could send in for three additional "gold edition" cars. The models were made in China by an unknown manufacturer, and the same casting was used in subsequent General Mills promotions as late as 2008 (those later releases are included in this Subject until further information about their release can be found).

Some of the 2001 releases have a printed code on the baseplate, and at least one also has "2008 TCB" and "Mfd for GMI" embossed on the base.

The original Dodge Countdown to Daytona promo was composed of five regular Variants of the 2001 Dodge Intreped R/T casting:

• Bill Elliott's #9 car sponsored by Dodge Dealers
• Casey Atwood's #19 sponsored by Dodge Dealers
• John Andretti's #43 sponsored by General Mills (Cheerios)
• Kyle Petty's #45 sponsored by Sprint PCS
• Stacy Compton's #92 car sponsored by Melling.

The "gold edition" models could be obtained by redeeming three UPCs from Hamburger Helper packages:

• John Andretti's #43 car
• Buckshot Jones' #44 car
• Kyle Petty's #45 car

Subject ID: 59868

Less