Company focuses NASCARR sponsorship on Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series while maintaining strong presence in the Nationwide Series
Atlanta (November 3, 2011) -Rheem Manufacturing Company officially announced a comprehensive plan to continue its involvement in various NASCAR racing series.
Rheem has completed a multi-year agreement with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) to be the primary sponsor of the No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick for 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races as well as being the co-primary sponsor with Budweiser for NASCAR’s annual mid-season All-Star race over the term of the agreement. Rheem will also be a major associate sponsor of the No. 29 Chevrolet for the remaining 26 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in which Budweiser or Jimmy John’s are the primary sponsor. Rheem will continue its co-sponsorship with MenardsR of RCR’s No. 33 Chevrolet driven by Paul Menard and others in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for 12 races in the 2012 season.
“Rheem and RCR have created a strong partnership over the years and this new agreement allows us to continue building on that strong foundation,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Rheem shows its commitment to the sport by its involvement on multiple levels at RCR, as well as its commitment to great causes like the ‘Chasing the Cure’ program for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, so we couldn’t be happier to be working with them for years to come.”
Rheem also announced an agreement with Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR) to be the season-long, primary sponsor of the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado that will compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2012. As a part of the agreement, RCR has formed a technical alliance with ESR to provide engineering, testing and technical assistance to the team while also receiving support from Chevrolet and ECR Engines. After successfully competing in several NASCAR races for Rheem in 2011, Cale Gale has been signed to drive the No. 33 Rheem truck full time for ESR in 2012.
“I am looking forward to 2012 and being a part of the Rheem racing family. Rheem has become synonymous with winners for many years, and to have their support as we move forward with Cale is really special,” said ESR owner, Eddie Sharp.
The 2012 season marks the sixth consecutive year that Rheem has participated with sponsorships in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. Rheem experienced immediate success by winning its first race as a sponsor in February 2007-the Daytona 500. Since then, the company has recognized and rewarded nearly 10,000 plumbing and HVAC contractors by hosting them at its Rheem VIP Racing Experience hospitality events. Rheem uses its motorsports program to develop strong business-to-business relationships, build consumer brand awareness, promote sales, and advocate for special causes such as breast cancer awareness and youth programs.
“Rheem is very pleased to expand our association with RCR and Kevin Harvick, as well as to kick off a new relationship with Eddie Sharp Racing. We are especially excited to have our company’s flagship brand associated with NASCAR’s most elite level of racing, the Sprint Cup Series. We are equally happy to have our entire family of brands participating in the fast-paced and thrilling Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. NASCAR has proven to be a perfect fit with our professional contractor network, while providing excellent brand exposure to the tens of millions of NASCAR fans who value performance, durability and commitment to excellence. We can hardly wait for the start of the 2012 season,” said Ed Raniszeski, Rheem corporate director, strategic relationships.
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About Rheem Manufacturing Company
Rheem Manufacturing Company (www.rheem.com) is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar and hybrid heat pump water heaters; whole-home standby generators, controls, swimming pool and spa heaters; indoor air-purification products; and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets. The company’s premium brands, including Rheem, Raypak, Ruud and Richmond have been recognized with countless industry and consumer awards for reliability, innovative design and high quality. Rheem is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI), and is a primary sponsor of RCR’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesR car and KHI’s No. 33 NASCAR Nationwide SeriesR car. Harvick was named Nationwide Series “Driver of the Decade” in 2010.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Development Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 RCR Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.
About Eddie Sharp Racing
Eddie Sharp Racing (TeamESR.com) is a 40,000 square foot championship winning race team housed in Denver, NC. After just four short years of competition within the ARCA Racing Series, the team impressively accumulated upwards of 20 race wins. 2009 was a pivotal year for ESR, as they dominated the series with six race wins, 15 top-fives and 19 top-10s en route to the series championship with driver Justin Lofton. In 2010, ESR made the transition to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 2011, Sharp and Lofton were reunited within truck competition. In 2012, ESR will expand to three teams, with Lofton set to return to the No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado, Cale Gale set to join the team behind the wheel of the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado, and a third driver to be named later.
