Consumers Invited to 'Tango' for a Dodge Durango at the State Fair of Texas

Former Dallas Cowboy and reality TV dancing champion Emmitt Smith is teaming up with the Dodge brand to kick off the "Dodge Durango Tango" dancing endurance contest at this year's State Fair of Texas. Consumers who think they can out-dance the competition are invited to sign up online for a chance to dance the night away. The last dancer standing at the end of the competition will "tango" away with the grand prize, an all-new 2008 Dodge Durango.

While the "Durango Tango" challenge will spring into action on Sept. 27, this one-of-a-kind endurance challenge is expected to last through the night and into the morning hours of Sept. 28, opening day of the fair. To make sure the challenge starts off on the right foot, Smith will lead the "Durango Tango" contestants in a special rendition of the "Texas Tango" and will show off the moves that made him a star on the football field and the dance floor.

"Grab Your Partner"

The Durango is no ordinary SUV and this is no ordinary dance competition. In most cases, it takes two people to tango. But for this contest, each contestant will be provided with a life-sized doll to use as their dancing partner for a portion of the competition. Each contestant will be given props, costumes and accessories on-site that they can use to "dress" their dancing partner when they arrive at the "Durango Tango" challenge.

The last person dancing at the end of the "Durango Tango" challenge will be crowned the champion and awarded an all-new 2008 Dodge Durango. The first four runners-up will each receive a cash prize, and all participants will receive a special prize package filled with Dodge gear.

"To continue our tradition of kicking off the State Fair of Texas with a fun consumer event, we're inviting consumers to show off their bold moves and separate themselves from the competition during the Dodge Durango Tango challenge," said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge Brand Marketing. "Leave it to Dodge, with its 'Grab Life' mentality, to create a competition as unique and bold as the full-size Dodge Durango."

Don't Dance Around It ... Sign Up Now

Individuals interested in dancing 'til they drop can register for a chance to participate in the "Dodge Durango Tango" challenge online at http://www.DodgeDurangoTango.com, beginning Aug. 9 at 12:01 a.m. (EDT) until Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. (EDT). All participants must be 18 years or older with a valid driver's license.

During registration, participants will be asked to submit a 250-word essay answering the question, "Why are your tango, twists and turns worthy of winning a new Dodge Durango?" From all the entries received, approximately 30 contestants will be selected to participate in the "Dodge Durango Tango" challenge at the State Fair of Texas, beginning on Sept. 27.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas to Benefit

For each hour the contest continues, the Chrysler Foundation has pledged to donate $500 per hour (up to a maximum donation of $18,000) to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas. The money will be used to continue the organization's mission to inspire and empower all youth, with special concern for those from disadvantaged circumstances, to achieve their full potential in a positive, safe and fun environment.

The State Fair of Texas officially opens to the public at 10 a.m. (CT) on Friday, Sept. 28 and closes on Sunday, Oct. 21. The fair grounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (CT) daily.

About the Dodge Brand

With a U.S. market share of 6 percent, Dodge is the Chrysler Group's best- selling brand and the fifth largest nameplate in the U.S. automotive market. In 2006, Dodge sold than 1.3 million vehicles in the global market. Dodge continues to lead the minivan market with a 20 percent market share in the U.S. In the highly competitive truck market, Dodge has a 15 percent market share. Dodge is also entering key European volume segments with Nitro and Caliber.

About the 2008 Dodge Durango

The 2008 Dodge Durango sets the standard in the full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) market with a bold, powerful exterior design, best-in-class interior space, superior ride comfort and a plethora of convenience features not typical in competitive models, such as two available V-8 engines - the award-winning 5.7-liter HEMI(R) V-8 engine, featuring Chrysler Group's fuel- saving Multi-displacement System (MDS), and an E-85-compatible, 4.7-liter V-8 engine with the flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) designation.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas began operations in 1965 as part of a national youth development movement consisting of Boys & Girls Clubs of America with 4,000 local organizations that collectively serve more than 4.5 million young people. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas is an organization that stands for traditional values, while providing progressive programs that address the problems faced by the youth of today, including substance abuse, teen pregnancy, gangs and violence. During the first four decades of service in Dallas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas have served over 100,000 members.