JTG Daugherty Racing Announces 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Line-up
CORNELIUS, N.C. (February 4, 2011) – JTG Daugherty Racing is proud to announce their sponsor line-up for the No. 47 Toyota Camry as 2000 Series champion Bobby Labonte competes for a spot in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase.
“Thanks to our sponsors we are primed to meet our ultimate goal and that’s to be in the Chase for the championship,” Labonte said. “JTG Daugherty Racing has the good fortune of being associated with some of the best brands in the business and that will allow us to be in position to be a contender.”
“We are indeed fortunate to have substantial corporate partners lined up again for 2011 and to have a driver of Bobby’s caliber piloting the No 47 Toyota,” said JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter. “Bobby is a proven winner and he will help us achieve our goals of winning races and selling cases for our sponsors.”
To kick off the season, Labonte leads JTG Daugherty into their first-ever Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. For the 33rd annual event, the team is proud to announce a new partnership with Cequent, a TriMas company, and the Reese Towpower® brand. Reese Towpower® hitches will sponsor the No. 47 Toyota for the first time during the Shootout on Saturday February 12. In addition, Reese will sponsor the car in the All-Star event at Charlotte Motor Speedway and return as primary at Pocono Raceway in August. Reese Towpower®Towpower has pioneered the technology that has set the standard for today’s most advanced towing.
For the Daytona 500, The Kroger Co. returns as primary sponsor of the No. 47 Toyota. The Kroger Co., the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 334,000 associates who serve customers in 2,461 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states. The Kroger family of stores includes: Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.
In 2011, Kroger is partnering with the USO to celebrate the 70th anniversary as the leading organization that provides morale-boosting programs and services to enhance the quality of life for troops and their families around the world. In honor of our retired and active duty members of the military and their families, Kroger is donating $400,000 to the USO during the pre-race ceremonies at the 2011 DAYTONA 500.
As a special tribute, Kroger and JTG Daugherty Racing have placed a very special logo on the hood of the No. 47 car for the DAYTONA 500. The logo includes the names of more than 350 Kroger associates from across the country who are active duty and reservist members of our nation’s military. These men and women have served in our armed forces while employed by the Kroger family of stores.
“It is such a privilege to be able to have a small part in thanking the men and women in uniform for the service they provide to our country and communities to keep us safe,” Labonte said. “I’m proud to carry the USO logo on our Toyota Camry. It’s pretty special for all of us at JTG Daugherty Racing to be able to do that thanks to Kroger and all of our partners behind this program.”
Every sponsor is significant to the racing program’s success, but one has been with JTG Daugherty Racing every step of the way. Kingsford® Charcoal returns to the team for its 14th year to remind fans that ‘Racing Season is Grilling Season’. Kingsford® Charcoal will be primary at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway (April), Dover International Speedway (May), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May), Daytona International Speedway (July) and Michigan International Speedway (August).
Just after Vegas, the familiar face of Little Debbie® can be seen on Labonte’s car at Auto Club Speedway. Since 1960, Little Debbie® snacks have remained a value leader. More than 75 varieties are available.
Following the 400-mile event in California, Lance® Sandwich Crackers takes over the reins for the April event at Martinsville Speedway. Labonte’s machine will also fly the Lance® colors at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (October). Since its inception in 1913, Lance® has been dedicated to providing fresh, great tasting snack options for a busy lifestyle.
Shifting from snacks to famous baked beans, Bush Brothers & Company returns for their ninth year with the team and Bush’s® Baked Beans will be a primary of the No. 47 Toyota Camry for seven races including Texas Motor Speedway (April), Talladega Superspeedway (April), Bristol Motor Speedway (August), Atlanta Motor Speedway (September), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (September), Dover International Speedway (October) and Kansas Speedway (October).
Another longstanding team partner, Clorox® launches their first of six primary races at Phoenix International Raceway in February. They are also slated to prominently be displayed at Kansas Speedway (June), Pocono Raceway (June), Infineon Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway (October), and Phoenix International Raceway (November). Clorox® branded products promote healthy habits both at home and in the classroom and helps prevent the spread of cold and flu germs along with many other uses. Clorox® will be leveraging their sponsorship to remind race fans that their brand is the world’s most effective disinfectant.
JTG Daugherty Racing is proud to announce partnership renewal with Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Kimberly-Clark Corporation will highlight several key brand introductions by taking primary space for the races at Kentucky Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, and the October event at Talladega Superspeedway. Every day, 1.3 billion people trust Kimberly-Clark products and the solutions they provide to make their lives better with well-known family care and personal care brands such as Cottenelle® Kleenex®, Scott® Products, Viva, Huggies®, Kotex®, Poise® and Depend.
JTG Daugherty Racing has signed the RainEater wiper blade brand to have primary billing at Michigan International Speedway in June. RainEater is the industries newest aftermarket wiper blade brand offering consumers superior all-weather performance with their aerodynamic frameless and full feature traditional wiper blades.
“JTG Daugherty Racing is thriving and signing new sponsors in addition to activating existing partnerships,” crew chief Frank Kerr said. “It’s exciting to be part of the company’s growth. We have a fresh start with strong backing from our sponsors and the addition of a champion driver. We’re very confident about this year and ready for Daytona.”
Associate sponsorships for 2011 include Glad® Bags & Wraps, KC Masterpiece®, Hidden Valley®, Tom’s®, Coca-Cola®, and Sullivan-Palatek®.
“We have all the right ingredients and personnel in place to be successful,” Labonte said. “We are extremely focused and serious about being one of 12 teams competing for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and we have the ability to do it thanks to all of our great partners.”
