MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING
In 2004, Michael finished 13th in points with 1 win, 3 top-5's, and 10 top-10's. In 2005, Michael will drive the Aaron's Dream Machine in 14 NASCAR Busch Series races and field four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup cars with veteran driver Kenny Wallace. Aaron's will also help support Michael Waltrip Racing's Developmental Program. This program gives talented young drivers and crewmembers the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of being involved with a professional motorsports program by offering a stage to showcase and cultivate their talents.
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
April 30 and May 1 mark the return of the Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Aaron's will be the event sponsor for the NASCAR Busch Series Aaron's 312 race and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Aaron's 499 race at NASCAR's most competitive track. The Aaron's 499 was the second highest-rated NASCAR event on the schedule in 2004, second only to the February Daytona 500. Both of these events will be broadcast live on FOX television and MRN radio. See if your product will be presented to the winner of each race in Victory Lane.
ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Aaron's will host Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race for the last time at Atlanta Motor Speedway March 19. NASCAR made changes to the 2005 Busch Series schedule, moving the Aaron's 312 from the fall back to the spring, which will conflict with the Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega. As 2005 is the last year on our current agreement with the speedway, Aaron's will honor the contract and be the event sponsor. The Aaron's 312 at Atlanta will be broadcast live on FX television and PRN radio.
ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Aaron's continues its partnership with the AFL in 2005 as one of four major sponsors of the league. The Aaron's logo will again be on each player’s visitor’s jersey along with dasher board signage during the playoffs and the ArenaBowl. Aaron's will also receive one promotional night with each team through the season featuring a half time, on-field contest with select attending fans for a chance to sit in the Aaron's Dream Seats. While NBC will continue to broadcast games live each Sunday, the AFL has a new agreement with FOX Sports Net this year to broadcast non-NBC games live on Friday's and Saturdays, adding more value to our partnership.
BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
The toughest ticket to purchase in NASCAR is at the Bristol Motor Speedway and Aaron's has entered into a signage and promotion package with the speedway. The Aaron's logo is prominently displayed atop the scoring pylon in the center of the infield directly above giant, high-definition video display screens. Aaron's also has a billboard in turn two, which is regularly seen during the television broadcasts. There are four Aaron's Dream Seats perched in the center of the backstretch concourse as a special promotion for each of their four major events. There is a national, in-store register to win opportunity where fans have a chance to win a trip for two to the speedway and sit in the Dream Seats. Two of the 160,000 attending fans are randomly selected to answer a trivia question for a chance to sit in the Dream Seats. The trivia portion of the promotion is shown live on the giant video screens and replayed before each race.
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Four lucky fans will be heading to Texas for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 hoping to become an Aaron's "Fan 4 Life" at Texas Motor Speedway. The four winners will be randomly paired with a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup star for the April 16 race. If one of the four selected drivers wins the Sunday race, their Aaron's "Fan 4 Life" partner will win Texas Motor Speedway Season Tickets for life, a $1,000 shopping spree at the Speedway World gift shop and a living room set from Aaron's. The winners and a guest will watch the Samsung/RadioShack 500 race in style from custom "living rooms" set up near victory lane. Each of the four-foot-high platforms will be furnished with a comfortable living room setting - complete with television and couches - for the four fans and friends to watch their drivers compete in complete comfort. Travel and accommodations are being be provided by Aaron's and Texas Motor Speedway. In the contest's three-year history, there has been one "Fan 4 Life" winner.
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Pro Challenge Performance Racing owner and President, John Litzinger, will officially announce the 2005 Aaron’s Pro Challenge Dream Series at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Tradeshow. The series is sponsored by Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership, the leader in lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, electronics, appliances and computers.
“This series has been a year in the making, and we’re just thrilled to have Aaron’s on board.” says Team United Sanctioning Association president, Walt Breeding. According to Breeding, the 12-race series starts in February 2005 at Orlando Speed World, and will travel to legendary short tracks throughout the Southeast, culminating with the 50-lap Bristol Invitational in September. Each race will carry series championship points with the nine best finishes counting toward the championship title.
Central to the series is the premier group of Pro Challenge drivers who make-up the Aaron’s Pro Challenge Dream Team, consisting of national team members designated by TUSA at the start of series; regional and local representation designated by tracks and dealers; and ‘wildcard’ qualifiers. With the generous support of Aaron’s, the Dream Team drivers will compete for the national points championship and a share of nearly $50,000 in merchandise, cash and prizes. “Racing involves an important segment of our key demographic,” according to Aaron’s Director of Sports Marketing, Richard Lamprey, “ This series bridges Aaron’s considerable commitment at the professional level with what we expect to be the best short track racing at the grassroots level.”
Built on a 30-year heritage of design and manufacturing excellence, Pro Challenge is redefining the scale of automotive racing. From the Blountville, TN factory in the heart of race country, owners John and Diane Litzinger are committed to bringing an affordable, big time experience to a whole new generation of drivers.
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