Bass Pro Shops and RCR Partner to Bring Back Famous No. 3

WELCOME, N.C. (January 19, 2010) — Richard Childress Racing and Bass Pro Shops have reached a partnership agreement for third-generation driver Austin Dillon to compete in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado for the majority of the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule.

This RCR/Bass Pro Shops partnership is the latest chapter of a relationship which began in 1998 when the nation’s No. 1 outdoor retailer signed on as an associate sponsor of RCR’s No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo with legendary driver Dale Earnhardt. The relationship continued with Kevin Harvick and the No 29 Chevrolet and, in 2004, Kerry Earnhardt, Dale’s eldest son, drove RCR’s No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Monte Carlo in six Sprint Cup Series races.

“All of us at Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats are tickled to death to once again partner with Richard Childress and the RCR team,” stated Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “Austin is a promising young driver with a great future ahead of him,” continued Morris. “He also has a passion for hunting, fishing, and conservation just like his grandpa.”

Bass Pro Shops was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Springfield, Mo. The outdoor retail leader has 56 stores throughout the United States and Canada, serving over 100 million sportsmen a year.

Dillon, 19, is the grandson of RCR President and CEO, Richard Childress, and the son of Mike Dillon, a former NASCAR driver who is now RCR’s vice president of competition. The Clemmons, N.C., native began his racing career in 2005 driving Bandaleros and Legends cars, progressing to dirt and asphalt Late Model cars by 2007. He earned rookie of the year honors and finished second in the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series East point standings. That same year, Dillon made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Richmond International Raceway in September and earned a fourth-place finish at Memphis Motorsports Park in October in only his second race.

In 2009, Dillon competed in the NASCAR Camping World Series, ARCA Series, Nationwide Series and made two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driving RCR’s famous black No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado. In the fall of 2009, he enrolled in High Point University’s Nido R. Quebin School of Communications as an incoming freshman student.

“I’m very excited about welcoming Bass Pro Shops back to RCR,” said Dillon. “Hunting and racing have always been two of my family’s biggest passions and to be able to bring them together through Bass Pro Shops is truly special. This great partnership will create more awareness to hunting and wildlife conservation.”

RCR won the first NCWTS race, at Phoenix International Raceway, and went on to capture the series’ first championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner driving the No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet Silverado. Skinner won 16 races in two seasons and Jay Sauter would earn four more victories before RCR discontinued the program at the conclusion of the 1999 season. In 132 NCWTS starts, RCR-prepared trucks earned 20 victories, 59 top-five and 85 top-10 finishes.

“It’s great to see the black No. 3 Chevy Silverado back on the track, especially with Bass Pro Shops on board with the program,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “I’m proud to have personally endorsed Bass Pro Shops since 1998 and I look forward to this exciting new chapter of our partnership. The great things Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops do for wildlife and outdoor conservation is very important. Austin and I are proud to spread the word about conservation as well as making the youth of America more aware of the importance and fun of hunting and fishing and conserving the great outdoors.”

RCR has fielded Chevrolet Silverados for eight drivers in the NCWTS: Bill Cooper, Austin Dillon, Mike Dillon, Tim George Jr., Dave Marcis, Jay Sauter, Jim Sauter, and Skinner.

MOTORCRAFT AND QUICK LANE TIRE & AUTO CENTERS
SPONSOR WOOD BROTHERS RACING FAMED NO. 21 FORD FUSION IN 2010
– DAYTONA 500 KICKS OFF 2010 PARTNERSHIP

DEARBORN, Mich., January 19, 2010 – For the 10th consecutive year, Ford Customer Service Division’s Motorcraft brand will team with the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team to compete in the highest form of stock-car racing, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

A new addition to the No. 21 Ford Fusion for the 2010 season is the
co-sponsorship of Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers. Ford Motor
Company’s Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers are the fastest growing
service brand in the country and is on track to reach 600 stores
nationwide in early 2010.

“We are very pleased to have Motorcraft and Quick Lane with us for the
2010 season,” said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Eddie Wood. “We value
Ford Customer Service Division’s involvement with us for the past 10
years, and we are excited to have both Motorcraft and Quick Lane on
our NASCAR Fusions this season. Ford Customer Service Division has
been loyal to us, and we have always been loyal to them. It feels
like family – Wood Brothers Racing with Motorcraft and Quick Lane on
board.”

Motorcraft, a Ford Motor Company brand of automotive parts ranging
from filters and spark plugs to engines and transmissions, will be the
primary sponsor on the Wood Brothers No. 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford
Fusion for 10 races (see schedule below), beginning in February at the
Daytona 500 and culminating with the season-ending Ford 400 at
Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers are operated by Ford and Lincoln
Mercury dealers, but are equipped to provide services for all makes
and models. Quick Lanes offer routine vehicle maintenance services
such as oil and filter changes, and light repair services like brake
repairs and tire replacements, all done by factory-trained technicians
with no appointment necessary for customers.

“It’s a new and exciting year for us. We look to build on the strides
we made last year,” said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Len Wood. “On
our partial schedule in 2009, we achieved five top-10 starts and four
top-16 finishes. We hope to carry that momentum into 2010.”

Bill Elliott, who drove the Coors/Motorcraft Thunderbird to a NASCAR
championship in 1988, is scheduled to be the driver for all of
Motorcraft and Quick Lane’s sponsored races. Elliott, Motorcraft and
the Wood Brothers first joined forces in 2007.

“We are very proud to continue and enhance our long-standing
relationship with Wood Brothers Racing and Bill Elliott,” said Brett
Wheatley, Director of Marketing, Ford Customer Service Division. “The
Wood Brothers celebrate their 60th year in racing and 60th year with
Ford this season. We are thrilled to be associated with such a
tremendous group of people with a rich and successful history in one
of the most popular sports in the country.”

The Wood Brothers are acknowledged pioneers in the sport of stock-car
racing, and have earned 96 wins in 59 years of NASCAR competition –
second most in Ford Racing history.
For the 2010 season, the Motorcraft and Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers
logos will appear on both the No. 21 Ford Fusion in NASCAR and on the
Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car of Bob Tasca III in NHRA.

FordParts.com will also have a presence on both race cars for the 2010
season. Fordparts.com allows customers to shop for, order, and
receive original equipment parts through its new website. It allows
customers to remain connected to a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership
of their choice for the parts expertise, personal delivery assistance,
and post-sale follow-up associated with a traditional purchase at a
parts counter.

In addition to the serving as the primary vehicle sponsor for Wood
Brothers and Tasca Racing, FCSD brings a very aggressive brand
awareness campaign with a significant trackside presence at selected
NASCAR and NHRA events in the form of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing
Experience. The massive display, spreading out over half a football
field, will let race fans connect with Motorcraft and Quick Lane
brands in a unique way.

FCSD and its associated brands have won a place in the hearts and
minds of racing fans everywhere since the mid-1980s, including
sponsoring Ford Hall of Fame drag racer Bob Glidden, a 10-time NHRA
Pro Stock champion, and NASCAR champions Bill Elliott and Dale
Jarrett.

Its brands have visited victory lane and won championships in NASCAR,
NHRA, SCORE, IMSA GT and GTO and SCCA Trans-Am throughout the years.

2010 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers Primary Sponsor NASCAR
Sprint Cup Schedule
February 14 – Daytona International Speedway
March 7 – Atlanta Motor Speedway
April 18 – Texas Motor Speedway
May 30 – Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 13 – Michigan International Speedway
July 10 – Chicagoland Speedway
July 25 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 15 – Michigan International Speedway
September 5 – Atlanta Motor Speedway
November 21 – Homestead Miami Speedway

Stewart-Haas Racing Enters Second Year
The first function of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway was a luncheon hosted by Stewart-Haas Racing, one the surprise teams of the 2009 season.
Stewart-Haas put both its cars in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup in its first season with Tony Stewart as co-owner. Stewart won four races and finished sixth in the standings, while teammate Ryan Newman finished ninth.

“I can promise you one thing, it was a year ago this time none of us knew what to expect, and it was a big question mark as to what was going to happen,” said Stewart.
This year, Stewart said, was a lot more relaxing. At the same time, much more is expected of the team – and Stewart knows it.

“I’m expecting a great year,” said Stewart. “I feel like both of us being able to get in the Chase last year was something I expect both teams to do. I feel like the changes that we went through and the work we’ve done over the winter has prepared both of these teams to have a shot at running for a championship.”

Newman, an engineering graduate from Purdue University, used a mathematical formula to talk about the 2010 season vs. 2009.
“Two points define a slope,” said Newman.” We have our point from 2009. Our point from 2010 will determine our success for Stewart-Haas racing in years to go.Just going out there and having a lot better start to the season in Daytona is extremely important – and getting that definition and that second point so we can define our future at Stewart-Haas Racing is also important for us this year.”

Newman’s crew chief, Tony Gibson, said his main goal for 2010 is to get Newman and the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet to Victory Lane.

“For us, we want to come out and win races,” said Gibson. “We let a few get away last year. We want to win races and be a threat to win a championship. Making the Chase was awesome, but that’s not good enough.
We’ve got to step up our game.”

The entire team has done that, especially when compared to this time last year. Then, the team was frantically working on cars to get ready for the season. And there weren’t that many finished cars around.
“The main thing for me is now I can look out of my office and see cars actually sitting out on the floor,” said Bobby Hutchens, Stewart-Haas Racing director of competition said. “This time last year, it was a pretty empty shop. I kind of feel like we’re two months ahead of last year’s schedule, if you could call it that.”

Darian Grubb, crew chief of Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet team, agreed.
“Last year we were building,” Grubb said. “But now, it’s actually good to be able to say we’re strengthening. The areas we felt like we had some weaknesses, we know where those are and we were able to make a few changes here and there.”

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 19, 2010 – For the first time ever, American’s favorite muscle car will pace “The Great American Race.”

For the first time in 40 years, a Ford Motor Company car will be pacing the field for the NASCAR season-opening Daytona 500 when the 2011 Mustang GT, powered by the all-new 5.0-liter V-8 engine, officially starts the race on Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway.

“Having the opportunity to pace America’s biggest auto race with a Ford icon like the 2011 Mustang GT is truly an honor,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “And to have the new 5.0-liter engine powering the car will be a great way to demonstrate its power and class-leading fuel economy.”

This latest version of Ford’s legendary muscle car will be a Race Red glass roof coupe with an all-new 5.0-liter V-8 engine capable of producing 412 horsepower, while delivering a class-leading 25 mpg on the highway.

The one-of-a-kind model will feature a special Daytona 500 paint scheme, Ford Racing suspension, strut tower brace and mufflers, unique painted wheels, and special interior treatment, including specially branded lit sill plates.

The 2011 Mustang GT Daytona 500 Pace Car model is one of only 50 special editions that will be built and sold to the public.

“Everybody loves Mustang,” Allison continued. “That was evident last year from the fan reaction when we announced it was going to be our new model in the NASCAR Nationwide Series starting later this year. This is just another way to showcase a true American icon in its most natural environment.”

The last time a Ford served as pace car for the Daytona 500 was 1970 when a Ford Torino GT convertible led the field to the green flag.

And while Mustang may be a rookie when it comes to pacing the Daytona 500, its 45-year history is firmly entrenched in racing and winning championships. Mustang captured championships last year in the Grand-Am KONI and SCCA SPEED World Challenge, in addition to leading Robert Hight to his first NHRA Funny Car championship.

Another element that makes this year’s pace car even more unique is that it will be auctioned off for charity before the actual race. Later this week (Jan. 23), the Mustang GT Daytona 500 Pace Car will be offered at the annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Collector Car Auction, which is taking place in Scottsdale, Ariz. Seven-time Daytona 500 champion Richard Petty, the newest member of the Ford Racing family, will be on site to help hand over the car to the winning bidder.

All proceeds over the manufacturer’s suggested retail price from the pace car auction will go to help cure childhood diabetes through a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

ROBBY GORDON MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCES ALLIANCE WITH BAM RACING
RGM Will Supply Technical Support, Cars and Personnel for Both Single-Car Operations

Charlotte, N.C. (January 18, 2010) – Officials from Robby Gordon Motorsports announced today that they have formed an alliance with BAM Racing, who will be fielding the No. 49 Warner Music Nashville Toyota during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Robby Gordon Motorsports will provide the team with technical support, race cars and personnel.

BAM Racing will make their debut at Daytona International Speedway with David Gilliland behind the wheel. Gilliland raced for Robby Gordon Motorsports in the Richmond Race last September, piloting the No. 7 to a 24th-place finish. He has been successful at superspeedways throughout his NSCS career capturing the top starting position twice on these unique track formations – the 2006 October Talladega race and the 2007 Daytona 500.

“I’m very excited for our new alliance with BAM Racing, especially heading into the Daytona 500 next month,” said Gordon. “Our team has worked with David [Gilliland] a few times in the past, and we seem to mesh very well. This alliance puts RGM in a great position to basically have a ‘teammate’ on the track that we can work with throughout the weekend to improve our car, as well as to help BAM Racing improve their car. Hopefully both teams will be able to capitalize on that and bring home strong finishes at Daytona.”