John Cena is starring in a new commercial that is set to air during the NASCAR Daytona 500. In the commercial, Cena teaches the “Gillette Young Guns” how to wrestle. This is not Cena’s first appearance in the world of NASCAR. Last year, Cena was a part of the Gillette company’s celebrity racing challenge. The former WWE champion is good friends with NASCAR driver Carl Edwards and has showed up to a few races wearing Edwards’ uniform.
The Gillette company issued the following press release today: New Television Campaign Introducing Newest Gillette Razor Features Six of NASCARâs Elite Drivers and World Wrestling Entertainment® Star John Cena DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.–(NYSE:PG) â” Gillette today announced the addition of two of NASCARâs most talented drivers â” Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin â” to the 2008 Gillette Young Guns team. Bowyer and Hamlin officially join Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman as Gillette Young Guns. The pair, each whom qualified for last seasonâs NASCARâs Chase for the Cup championship, was welcomed into the Gillette family as part of a ceremonial âfirst shaveâ fan event held during Speedweeks activities at Daytona International Speedway. Gillette will jump start the 2008 NASCAR season by unveiling a new Gillette Young Guns television campaign, entitled âWresting Ring,â during FOXâs telecast of the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 17. The creative will feature the Gillette Young Guns drivers, along with World Wrestling Entertainment® (WWE) superstar John Cena. âThe addition of Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin represent Gilletteâs continued commitment to excellence as we kick off another NASCAR season with our Gillette Young Guns team,â said Mike Norton, External Relations, Gillette. âThese two superstars have showcased their outstanding talents and are perfect partners to help launch our latest shaving products including the Gillette Fusion Power Phenom razor.â Since its inception in November 2003, the Gillette Young Guns program has been comprised of many of NASCARâs most talented drivers. The newest Gillette Young Guns, Bowyer and Hamlin, have quickly become stars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entering just their third full-time season. Bowyer, the Richard Childress Racing driver, earned his first-career Cup win at the opening Chase race in New Hampshire in 2007, while adding five top fives and 17 top 10s en route to third place in the final Chase standings. Hamlin, a two-time Chase participant for Joe Gibbs Racing, has three-career victories in NASCARâs top series, including last summer at New Hampshire, along with 12 top fives and 18 top 10s in 2007 to finish 12th in the final Chase standings. John Cena learned how to drive a Sprint Cup race car while participating in last summerâs network television reality series, âFast Cars & Superstars â” The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race.â In the commercial, which introduces the new Gillette Fusion Power Phenom┢ razor, Cena has the racing stars on âhis turfâ â” inside a wrestling ring â” and he looks to return the favor by teaching the drivers a series of high-intensity wrestling moves â” until the Gillette Young Guns turn the tables. The 30- and 60-second television commercials, filmed in Charlotte, NC, were created by BBDO New York and open with the six Gillette Young Guns drivers lined up side-by-side in a wrestling ring facing Cena, who is preparing to demonstrate various wrestling holds on each of drivers. One-by-one, he calls a driver forward for their lesson and just as Cena is ready to jump into action, the Gillette Young Guns jump on Cena. To his astonishment, Cena is on the receiving end of a variety of wresting moves such as a âDrop-Kick,â âBoston Crabâ and even a âSuplex,â and before too long the WWE star finds himself flat on his back outside of the ring dazed and staring straight up at the lights, stating: âWhoa, these guys are phenomenal!â The spot then reveals that the driversâ phenomenal moves are possible because they started their day with a shave from the new Gillette Fusion Power Phenom razor. The creative concludes with Newman taking a running start and propelling himself over the top rope to deliver a âsplashâ onto Cena, with the wrestling personality exclaiming â” âNeewwmannn!â â” as the Gillette Young Gun driver falls toward Cena. As with all of the previous Gillette Young Guns commercials, Newman once again plays the role of the âultimate prankster.â âFor the latest Gillette Youngs Guns television spots, we put forth a unique and fun approach by bringing together the 2008 Gillette Young Guns drivers with another phenomenal athlete, WWE superstar John Cena,â said Norton. âLast year Cena experienced the thrill of racing, and we are proud to continue our relationship with him as he takes the Gillette Young Guns into the wresting ring to introduce the latest advancement in shaving technology â” the Gillette Fusion Power Phenom razor.â ‘âWrestling Ringâ will run exclusively during NASCAR programming throughout the 2008 NASCAR season, including FOX and TNTâs NASCAR race broadcasts. In addition, online and viral efforts are in development, and consumers can also view the commercial and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage by logging on to GilletteYoungGuns.com.
