Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Serve as Unilever Brand Ambassador through 2018
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 22, 2016) – JR Motorsports and Unilever, a team partner since 2009 and one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Refreshments, Home and Personal Care products, announced today an extension that sees Dale Earnhardt Jr. continue as a brand ambassador for the company through 2018. As part of the agreement, JR Motorsports (JRM), the race team co-owned by Earnhardt Jr., will carry Unilever sponsorship on its NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) entries for 20 races in 2017-18.
“Unilever has been an incredible supporter of our program for a long time,” said Earnhardt Jr. “That type of dedication is good for the health of our race team and the health of our sport. I am very appreciative of their commitment and what they have brought to JR Motorsports as a partner since 2009. We look forward to continuing that relationship and growing our partnership in the future.”
Unilever already stands as JRM’s longest-tenured sponsor, with the 2018 extension taking the pair into their 10th year of partnership in NXS competition. Unilever brands including Hellmann’s, Suave, Degree, and Breyers, will be featured as primary sponsors in 10 NXS races in 2017 and 10 NXS events in 2018. Earnhardt Jr. will drive a Unilever-branded Chevrolet for one event in each of those two seasons.
“We are thrilled to extend our relationship with JRM and Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” said Kevin Flagg, Director Shopper Marketing and Marketing Activation, Unilever U.S. “His influence among our retail partners and our consumers continues to be critical both on and off the track. Dale embodies our core mission and values, and his work with us helps improve the lives of others. His impact on successful activation over the past eight years has made our decision to continue our work together an easy one across our top-tier brands.”
Additionally, Unilever will be a presenting sponsor of a Dirty Mo Radio podcast in 2017. Now in its fourth season, Dirty Mo Radio includes a line-up of eight diverse programs, which appeal to different audiences with unique, on-demand content.
Dirty Mo Radio podcasts are available free of charge on DaleJr.com as well as all major podcasting outlets such as iTunes, Stitcher and SoundCloud.
“When JR Motorsports first put an Xfinity car on the track in 2005, we weren’t sure where it would take us,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “With the addition of Unilever to JRM in 2009, it helped pave the way and bring stability to our organization. We will always be grateful for that. We’ve been fortunate to grow over the years with Unilever as a cornerstone partner and we’re thrilled to be with them again in multiple capacities.”
More details on the specific races, driving duties and car numbers surrounding the Unilever extension will be announced at a later date.
About Unilever United States, Inc.:
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Refreshments, Home and Personal Care products with sales in more than 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. In the United States, the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Caress, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Fruttare, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Promise, Q-tips, Simple, St. Ives, Suave, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TIGI, TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe, TRESemmé and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.
Unilever employs approximately 8,000 people in the United States – generating more than $8.5 billion in sales in 2015.
Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) commits to:
· Decoupling growth from environmental impact.
· Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being.
· Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.
Unilever ranked number one in its sector on the 2015 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. The entire Unilever global factory network, as well as its U.S. non-manufacturing facilities, have achieved zero non-hazardous waste to landfill status. For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit:www.unileverusa.com. To connect with Unilever U.S. via Facebook visit: www.facebook.com/unileverusa. To connect with Unilever U.S. via Twitter follow:@unileverusa
ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 13-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. Now in its 15th year of overall competition, JR Motorsports races in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it won a championship in 2014. The company also competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and owns two championships in regional late model divisions. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.
