AKRON (June 21) — Goodyear christened its newest blimp today "Spirit of Innovation" following a naming contest for the airship, which will be based in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Lesa France Kennedy, president of International Speedway Corp. and a member of NASCAR´s board of directors, christened the blimp along with Lynn Keegan, wife of Chairman and CEO Robert Keegan.
The winning name was submitted by Matthew Harrelson of Uniontown, Ohio. The grand prize is the use of the blimp for a day.
"The response from the American public was both overwhelming and gratifying, and I was pleased that the name Spirit of Innovation was chosen," Keegan said.
More than 21,000 names were submitted in the contest, which ran from April 11-30. Goodyear had planned to fly the new blimp alongside the Akron-based Spirit of Goodyear, but approaching thunderstorms prevented the flight.