TALLADEGA, AL – Aaron’s, Inc., a lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, will sponsor the Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway for the 12th year, May 3-5. The weekend’s events will include special guests serving as Grand Marshals for the Aaron’s 312 on Saturday and the Aaron’s 499 on Sunday, a tribute to University of Alabama’s BCS championship with a custom paint scheme on the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine, and a partnership with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to collect cans to address hunger in Alabama.
Former Atlanta Braves star and Major League Baseball icon, Chipper Jones, will deliver the most famous words in NASCAR – “Drivers Start Your Engines” – for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race. In tribute to the nation’s military, Saturday’s honor has been given to four members of the Wounded Warrior Project – David Boggs, Marine Corps Lance Corporal; Brad Ingram, Army Sgt.; Chris Crawford, Army Sgt. and Andrew Coughlan, Army Specialist.
Other VIP guests include honorary starter and winner of the Aaron’s Weekend of Your Dreams sweepstakes, Jim Bauerle from Carmel, Indiana; 2012 NCAA Championship University of Alabama quarterback, A.J. McCarron; renowned motorsports artist and trophy designer Sam Bass; President of the Armed Forces Foundation, Patricia Driscoll; National Anthem performer, Robin Meade; Ron Allen, Aaron’s Chairman, President and CEO; and Andrea Freeman, Aaron’s VP of Marketing.
The weekend’s events will also feature a tribute to current BCS Champion, the University of Alabama. Aaron’s No. 55 Toyota Camry, driven by two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip, will hit the track for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race and will feature a custom University of Alabama paint scheme.
New this year at Aaron’s Dream Weekend, the more than 200,000 NASCAR fans that attend will have an opportunity to help the hungry in Alabama by bringing cans to the Aaron’s Corporate Display at the speedway. Throughout the weekend, Aaron’s associates, representatives from the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama and can drive volunteers will be collecting non-perishable food items such as canned meat, dry cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, paper towels, toilet paper and hygiene products.
“Aaron’s is proud to recognize so many outstanding organizations at this year’s races, including the Wounded Warrior Project and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama,” Freeman said. “Over one weekend, we have the opportunity to bring the excitement of NASCAR racing to millions of race fans while giving back to local communities and our nation’s military in the process.”
The most competitive racing in NASCAR combined with a mix of southern hospitality returns to Talladega Superspeedway Friday through Sunday for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend. Experience the excitement as the superstars of NASCAR attempt to tackle the high-banks of ‘DEGA at 200 mph. Secure your tickets at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or by calling 877-Go2-DEGA. This is more than a race…This is Talladega!
