Andretti and Marcus Ericsson Drive Allegra Into Indianapolis 500
Even at the Indianapolis 500, it takes more than slapping a logo on a race car for a brand like Allegra to emerge from the pack.
The Sanofi-produced over-the-counter allergy medication doesn't get much return from having its trademark shade of purple simply make fast left turns in Indianapolis on Memorial Day weekend. Instead, the brand drilled a bit deeper for the race's 109th installment, bringing 2022 Indy 500 winner, 2023 runner-up, and allergy sufferer Marcus Ericsson into the fold to share his story and add some depth to the sponsorship.
When you're an allergy pill claiming a non-drowsy formula and '0% brain interference,' there are few stronger tests of your brand thesis than having it quell allergies at a clear-headed 220 miles per hour.
'I have a strong brand, and I want to make sure that my partners can take advantage of that, and we can sort of win together and both have benefits from the partnership,' Ericsson told ADWEEK from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 'I always try to make sure that happens, and hopefully, having a strong month of May and winning the race will make it an even better partnership. I think the Allegra car will look pretty good in victory lane in a couple of weeks.'
Meanwhile, when fans watching the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway—tuning into the race on Fox on May 25—see Ericsson pull into the pits, they'll get a chance to play around with the Allegra Pit Shop. His team at TWG Motorsports' Andretti Global has outfitted its pit crew in purple jumpsuits with QR codes on the back, allowing fans to scan the codes and win prizes, including a trip to an upcoming race.
Andretti Global pit crew are part of partner Allegra's Indy 500 campaign. Scott Heins.
The Andretti family began its Indianapolis 500 legacy when Mario Andretti won the 1969 installment. As a team owner, Andretti has won six races since 1995—a total that's still second overall in Indy 500 history to reigning champion Penske's 20. If there was any trepidation about how racing professionals working for a family with that racing pedigree would react to purple gear and QR codes on their backs, it disappeared once the cameras arrived.
'We had a photo shoot/media day with the pit crew, and we were probably not nervous, but it's like, OK, who's going to want to do that?' said Jill Gregory, president of Andretti Global. 'We couldn't keep these guys off camera: They are like, 'Finally, someone's paying attention to us.''
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CNET
5 hours ago
- CNET
20+ of the Best Memorial Day Mattress Deals Still Live: Your Last Chance to Save on a New Bed
Memorial Day may be over, but several top mattress brands are still offering extended sales. If you're thinking about upgrading your sleep setup, this is your final opportunity. These leftover deals won't last much longer. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. CNET's sleep experts have spent years testing mattresses to help you find the best options for your budget and sleep preferences. Right now brands like Casper, Purple and Nectar are still running major discounts. You'll find deals on everything from memory foam and hybrid mattresses to bedding and sleep accessories. We'll keep updating this page with the latest prices, so check back often before these extended Memorial Day offers disappear. Best overall Memorial Day mattress sales Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Bedding's beds are known for their quality and affordability, so it is notable that its prices have dropped 30%. CNET's best overall mattress, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature, drops below $999 for a queen with this sale. The Aurora Luxe, our favorite cooling bed of all time, is just less than $1,700. Down from $2,265, this is an excellent price for a bed that will help hot sleepers rest better. The 25% off sale is sitewide with the code MEMORIAL25. Details 25% off sitewide with code MEMORIAL25 See at Brooklyn Bedding Close Leesa Leesa's ultra comfortable mattresses are some of my favorites. The Leesa Sapira Chill, our pick for the best luxury mattress, is on sale for $1,584. That's more than $679 in savings. It's still expensive but this is a good deal for the quality, especially because Leesa is adding a free sleep bundle that includes two pillows and a microfiber sheet set. Details 30% off select mattresses + free sleep bundle See at Leesa Close Nectar Hands down, Nectar does some of the most generous sales of all the mattress brands, which is good because some of the newest Nectar beds can be pricey. For Memorial Day, Nectar beds are up to 50% off, and bundles are 66% off. That means you can get the Nectar Classic Hybrid for $799 instead of $1,531. If you want to update your whole bedding setup, add the optional bundle for only $179. It includes a sheet set, two cooling pillows and a mattress protector. The all-foam model of this bed is only $649. Finding quality queen mattresses for less than $1,000 can be difficult, so this sale is big if you're a fan of dense memory foam. Details Up to 50% off mattresses + 66% off bundles See at Nectar Close Helix Helix's early access Memorial Day sale is 25% sitewide with a free bedding bundle if you buy a Luxe or Elite mattress. Here at CNET, we're big fans of Helix mattresses, especially the comfy pillowtops on the Luxe models. The Helix Midnight Luxe, which I recommend to just about anyone who wants a medium mattress, is down to $1,780 with this sale. Admittedly, the Luxe beds are on the more expensive side. You can drop a tier to the core collection for more affordable beds. The Helix Midnight is $999 right now. If you choose from the core collection, you'll miss out on the free bedding bundle that includes a sheet set and mattress protector. The bedding bundle's value isn't more than the difference between the two prices so I don't think the free offerings are enough to move the needle for you. I'm currently testing the Helix Frame, which is on sale for $187. I highly recommend it for people who want a no-fuss bed frame that is easy to assemble. Seriously, it took me less than 5 minutes to put it together. Use the code MEMDAY25 to cash in on these savings. Details 25% off sitewide + free bedding bundle with select mattresses with code MEMDAY25 See at Helix Close Saatva For Memorial Day, Saatva is running deals where you can save up to $600 off a mattress. The amount off will depend on the total of your purchase. A $950 to $1,999 purchase will save you $200, plus an extra $100 off if you get an adjustable base or upholstered bed frame with the mattress. You won't get that $600 off unless you spend more than $4,500. It's not the most generous sale we've seen from Saatva, but it's still a nice chunk of change off the price of a luxury bed. The Saatva Classic, our favorite firm bed, is only $1,799, $300 off of the usual price. If you're looking for a bed specifically for back pain, the Saata Rx is reduced to $3,049 for a queen. Details Take up to $600 off See at Saatva Close Casper Casper mattresses are up to 30% off for Memorial Day. The savings will vary by bed. Casper's best-selling all-foam bed, the One, is on sale for only $799 for a queen. That's 20% off. The more expensive the beds, the higher the discount. The Casper Snow cooling mattress is 30% off, which drops the price to $1,745. Details Up to 30% off mattresses See at Casper Close Bear Bear is a brand that makes affordable beds that will surprise you with how comfortable they are. The Memorial Day sale from Bear makes the beds almost impossible to pass up. There's sales of 35% off sitewide with two free pillows when you buy a mattress. The Bear Original mattress is one of my favorite all-foam mattresses for the price. With the sale, you can get a queen for only $649. The Pro Hybrid is only $1,113, a great price for a hybrid bed. Details 35% off sitewide + 2 free pillows + 40% off mattresses with code MD4TY See at Bear Close DreamCloud I'm a big fan of DreamCloud beds and I helped my brother buy one during the Presidents Day sale. Little did I know the Memorial Day mattress sale would be even better. I'm not sure I've ever seen a sale with up to 60% off. The DreamCloud Classic all-foam bed is only $799 for a queen, and the hybrid is only $649. If you're a pillowtop lover, I highly recommend DreamCloud. Details Up to 60% off mattresses See at DreamCloud Close Best Memorial Day sitewide mattress deals Plank Plank is offering a 25% off sitewide sale right now. That's a great sale for people who want extra-firm mattresses. The Plank Firm, a flippable all-foam mattress, is easily the firmest mattress I've ever tested. Right now, you can get it for less than $1,000. If you're looking for a hybrid bed, I'd recommend the Plank Firm Luxe, also on sale for just under $1,300. Use the code MEMORIAL25 for this sale. Details 25% off with code MEMORIAL25 See at Plank Close Avocado Avocado beds are easily the best organic beds out there. Besides the eco-friendly construction, the Avocado Green mattress has the most green certifications of any brand. Avocado's Memorial Day sale is up to 20% off mattresses, bedding and furniture. That drops the cost of a queen Avocado Green bed to $2,099. Use code HONOR10 for 10% off select eco organic mattresses, pillows and bedding. Use code HONOR15 for 15% off select green mattresses. Use code HONOR20 for 20% off select luxury organic mattresses. Details Up to 20% off mattresses, bedding and furniture See at Avocado Close Titan Titan is running a 25% off sitewide Memorial Day sale covering beds, accessories and bases. The Titan Plus mattress is CNET's choice for the best firm mattress for heavy people because of its extra-durable construction. This sale means you can get a queen Titan Plus mattress for only $937 with the code MEMORIAL25. Finding a quality bed for less than $1,000 is hard, so this is an excellent sale for heavy back and stomach sleepers. Details 25% off sitewide with code MEMORIAL25 See at Titan Close Nolah Nolah's 35% off sitewide sale includes two free pillows with your mattress purchase. The Nolah Evolution is my favorite mattress for those looking for a soft mattress. The pillow top is one of the plushest options out there and a queen is currently on sale for $1,383 with two free pillows. This sale is across Nolah's beds, frames and bedding. Details 35% off sitewide + 2 free pillows See at Nolah Close Dreamfoam Budget brand Dreamfoam from Brooklyn Bedding is running a 25% off sitewide Memorial Day sale with the code MEMORIAL25. The beds are priced well for the budget tier, so this sale only sweetens the deal. The Dreamfoam Doze, our favorite cheap firm mattress, is only $180 for the 7-inch model. The 11-inch model, which I recommend for side sleepers, is $251 for a queen. These beds aren't going to knock your socks off with special features or cooling covers, but they're the most affordable online beds we've tested. Details 25% off sitewide with code MEMORIAL25 See at Dreamfoam Close Naturepedic Through June 2, Naturepedic is offering 20% off sitewide with the code MEMORIAL20. That means the Naturepedic Serenade mattress is only $1,599. Organic beds tend to be more expensive so it's not a bad price for an eco-friendly bed. Details 20% off sitewide with code MEMORIAL20 See at Naturepedic Close Essentia Another organic mattress that's on sale is the Essentia Grateful Eight. With the 25% off sale, you can snag this bed for only $2,125.50 for a queen. That's $708 in savings. Essentia is also offering free gifts with purchase on eligible mattress orders. The Essentia sale includes more than beds. You can also get Essentia pillows, foundations and organic bedding. If you're looking for sleep essentials made from clean, non-toxic materials, you won't want to miss this sale. Details 25% off sitewide See at Essentia Close Big Fig Big Fig makes mattresses able to support bigger bodies up to 1,100 pounds, and right now you can get 25% off the brand's mattresses with the code MEMDAY. You can get the same discount on bedding and foundations when you purchase a bed as well. We like Big Fig's flagship mattress for its sturdy hybrid construction and comfort for all sleeping positions. Details 25% off sitewide with mattress purchase See at Big Fig Close Zinus Save up to 60% on Zinus' signature green tea mattresses this Memorial Day. You can get the Zinus original organic green tea mattress for $499, or opt for the ultra cooling version for $599. Plus, get an extra 10% off sitewide with code MEMORIAL10. Details Up to 60% off mattress + extra 10% off sitewide with code MEMORIAL10 See at Zinus Close Memorial Day mattress and accessory bundle deals Birch Birch is one of our favorite organic mattress brands. For Memorial Day, you can get 25% off with two free pillows when you buy a mattress with code MEMDAY25. Birch Natural is our pick for the best organic hybrid mattress, and you can get it for $1,399 during this sale. While 25% is in line with a lot of the other sales, the two included pillows are a $149 value, so that's a nice addition. Details 25% Off Sitewide + 2 Free Eco-Rest Pillows with code MEMDAY25 See at Birch Close Purple Purple offers up to $700 off mattresses and bases for Memorial Day. The amount you save depends on the mattress and base. For example, the Purple Restore hybrid is $300 off. The sale also varies by base, like the Premium Smart Base, which is $300. Put those together, and you'll get closer to $600 off. You don't have to buy a base to get the discount on the mattress but you have to get a mattress and a base to receive the discount on the base. The sales don't stop there, as Purple is offering 30% off bedding, pillows and more. Details Up to $700 off mattresses + bases See at Purple Close Layla Up to $200 off is Layla's typical holiday sale, although the two free pillows do sweeten the deal. If you're interested in a Layla mattress, now's a good time to buy. You also get 50% off all bases and accessories with your mattress purchase. Our pick for the best bed for side sleepers, the Layla Hybrid mattress, is $200 off, bringing the queen's price down to $1,499. The memory foam model is $949, which is $150 off. Details Up to $200 off mattresses + two free pillows See at Layla Close All other Memorial Day mattress deals Mattress Firm Mattress Firm is offering several sales through the Memorial Day weekend. Most notably, select beds from top brands like Tempur-Pedic and Serta are up to 60% off. Qualifying mattresses also unlock a free base valued at up to $499 with the code ELEVATE. Details Up to 60% off select mattresses See at Mattress Firm Close Sleep Number Sleep Number's Memorial Day is up to 50% off iLE smart beds. The C2 smart bed, one of the more affordable beds from Sleep Number, is 10% off. That means a queen price is only $1,169. The Climate360 smart bed that actively warms or cools you is $2,000 off, dropping it to $7,999. The customizable smart beds from Sleep Number are well into the luxury price range so seeing chunks off is nice. Sleep Number is also offering BOGO 50% off pillows and sheets. That includes one of my favorite sheets, the True Temp sheet set. They're breathable and great for hot sleepers. Details Up to 50% off iLE smart beds See at Sleep Number Close Amerisleep We've reviewed Amerisleep for a long time, and its beds have appeared on several of our best lists. For Memorial Day, you can save $600 on mattresses using the code MD600. That means the AS2 is only $949 instead of $1,549. You'll be hard-pressed to find such a quality queen bed for less than $1,000. If you've been considering Amerisleep, now is a great time to buy. Details Save $600 on mattresses with code MD600 See at Amerisleep Close My Green Mattress If you've been looking for a more affordable organic bed than popular options like Avocado, you should check out My Green Mattress. You can now snag organic mattresses, bedding and bases from My Green Mattress for 10% off. The Natural Escape organic hybrid bed is only $1,529 for a queen during the Go Green Mattress Sale. The Pure Eco Organic Kids Mattress is not included in this sale. Details 10% organic beds, bedding and bases See at My Green Mattress Close Is Memorial Day a good time to buy a mattress? Memorial Day is a good time to buy a mattress if you're in the market for one. Some of the sales are generous, especially the ones that throw in extra pillows and bedding. I've been doing this long enough to notice sales trends across brands. For instance, Saatva usually peaks around $600 off mattresses, while Nectar has been known to mark 50% off. Most big names offer sales within a specific range, so if you can't afford a mattress right now, don't sweat it. There's always another holiday coming. Should you wait until Prime Day to buy a mattress? No, it's not necessarily better to wait until Amazon Prime Day in July to buy a new mattress. While some brands will offer deals around that time, nearly all mattress companies offer discounts around Memorial Day. Additionally, upcoming tariffs may increase the prices of mattresses across the board, so if you want to snag a new bed for a lower price, significant sales are happening now. Our sleep and deals experts monitor the web to uncover the best discounts and help you save big. Check back, as we update our deals pages often.
Fox Sports
5 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Juan Soto 'trying to do a little bit too much' at the plate, Mets president says
NEW YORK — Typically, an end-of-May press conference with David Stearns would revolve around the team's performance up to this point. The Mets president of baseball operations has said that he views Memorial Day as a mark on the baseball calendar that paints a sample size of how the team is performing. But the Mets, who spent 35 days in first place and have the sixth-best record in Major League Baseball, are doing alright. It's their $765 million slugger that's sparking interest and concern. Juan Soto just recorded the worst 50-game start to a season in his career. He entered Friday night hitless in his last 16 at-bats. He has a .224 batting average and .745 OPS, both of which are well below his career averages of .281 and .941, respectively. As May comes to a close, Soto has just eight home runs and has grounded into 10 double plays. For perspective, Soto had 15 home runs at this point last year, and he grounded into 10 double plays in his entire season with the Yankees. "This hasn't been a month where he's performed up to the Juan Soto standard that everyone's become accustomed to, and that's a very, very high standard," Stearns said in a press conference on Friday at Citi Field. "But players go through ups and downs, even the best of players go through ups and downs, and it's our job to continue to help him get through that." Most astonishingly, Soto this year is batting .130 with runners in scoring position. Putting up goose eggs in high-leverage situations is unlike him. In his career, he boasts a .286 batting average with runners in scoring position. "Do I think he's trying to do a little bit too much right now? Yeah. I think he's probably trying to do a little bit too much right now," Stearns said. "And that is natural for a player who cares about improving." How difficult is it to break out of that cycle of pressing at the plate? "I don't know," Stearns said. "I mean, I've clearly never sat in that seat. None of us has, and it's a very unique position that he's in. … Maybe it'll take a bloop, or a couple of bloops. Or maybe it takes connecting on one or two, to exhale a little bit. But I would imagine it is difficult when the results don't come." Soto is coming off a career year in the Bronx, where he hit 41 home runs, scored a league-high 128 runs, and recorded a .288 batting average to go with a .989 OPS. After helping the Yankees get to the World Series, he went through a noisy free agency that commanded the full attention of the league, before winding up in a bidding war between the Bronx and Queens. In December, his free agency finally culminated in a seismic decision to sign with the Mets. Soto's 15-year, $765 million deal is the largest contract in professional sports history. Sure, baseball pundits expected Soto, a generational hitter, to sign a record-breaking deal. But the contract he ended up commanding was a shock to every corner of the industry. Fairly or not, for the rest of his Mets career, Soto's performance will be judged in the context of that contract. The bright lights won't dim even when the Mets (34-22) are playing well right now, one-third of the way through the regular season. Stearns maintained that Soto, while frustrated with his results, is too talented to allow these struggles to persist. He's confident the slugger will turn his season around soon. "He's still helping us win games, and I'm aware that the OPS isn't where he would want it," Stearns said. "It's not where we would want it. It's not where our fans would want it. I get that. But I can't say it's not for lack of work behind the scenes. He's working, he's trying. He certainly wants results at a higher level than what we've seen so far. I'm pretty confident we're going to get those. "But, I also understand it is natural when a player signs a big contract — and this was a really big contract — because the results aren't immediate, there are going to be questions, and there are going to be reactions. And I certainly get that. And I think Juan does too." Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar . recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Grand Strand hotel occupancy sees 3-year high over Memorial Day weekend, Myrtle Beach chamber says
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Memorial Day weekend hotel occupancy along the Grand Strand was the highest it's been in three years, according to early data from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. The occupancy rate reached 81.2% on May 23, up 3.4% from the same day in 2024, according to STR, a CoStar Group company. The rate climbed to 92.8% on May 24, a 2.9% year-over-year increase. The rates also exceeded 2023 levels. 'This early data underscores the resilience of our destination and the momentum we're carrying into the summer,' said Stuart Butler, chief marketing officer at Visit Myrtle Beach. 'While we did see a slight dip in mid-week occupancy leading up to the Memorial Day weekend, Friday and Saturday were strong. These figures reflect overall market averages, and we recognize that individual property performance can vary. That said, we're encouraged by the results and by the continued interest in Myrtle Beach heading into peak season.' Below is the 2025 lodging occupancy data from STR, followed by 2024 data for the same day of the week: May 18: 48.9%, 48.5% May 19: 49.5%, 53.7% May 20: 50.5%, 55.5% May 21: 51.5, 56.9% May 22: 59.5%, 61.4% May 23: 81.2%, 78.6% May 24: 92.8%, 90.2% More details can be found on the chamber's website; full results for the Memorial Day Weekend, including the statistics for May 26-27, will be available on June 6, the chamber said. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
