Homestead, Fla. (November 8, 2011) – The 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season finishes up with the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 19. But that is just the start of a new partnership for Rusty Wallace Racing and the No. 62 Pilot Flying J race team.
The No. 62 Pilot Flying J Toyota Camry, driven by 25-year old Michael Annett, will sport a new look at Homestead as they recognize new Mars Inc. brand sponsor Combos.
“Mars Inc. is already one of our great retail partners, and this is the first time we have partnered with an in-store brand on our race car,” said Laura Palenkas, Pilot Flying J vice president of marketing. “Since Combos is one of the most popular snack foods at our Pilot Flying J travel centers it’s a natural tie and we are thrilled to have them on board.”
The No. 62 car will feature a bag of combos on the rear quarter panel with the treats spilling out across the rear of the car. The featured flavor of these stuffed pretzel snacks is buffalo blue cheese, but Combos come in a variety of other flavors as well. In conjunction with the Pilot Flying J and Combos partnership for the Homestead race, Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J locations are offering a two for $4 promotion on assorted flavors of Combos through the end of November.
“This partnership called for more than just a logo decal,” said Palenkas. “We worked hard to make Combos a part of our look and give Mars Inc. great on-track exposure. I think everyone is pleased.”
Annett is currently in 10th place in the Nationwide Series championship point standings with six top-10 finishes so far this season. He has recently chosen St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in Memphis as his choice charity, also sporting the St. Jude logo onboard the No. 62 Pilot Flying J Toyota to honor patients of the pediatric cancer research center.
“We think Michael Annett and our new Mars partnership is a winning combo,” said Palenkas. “It is a great way to finish the year and get a jump start on our planning for next season.”
Homestead-Miami Speedway has been host to the NASCAR Nationwide Series since it opened in November 1995. Located in Homestead, Florida, this exciting 1.5 mile track is best known for nose-to-nose finishes that keep fans on their feet to the end.
As a top-10 contender, Pilot Flying J is looking for a great finish at Homestead with Combos on board Annett’s No. 62 Toyota Camry.
For more information about Pilot Travel Centers, visit http://www.pilottravelcenters.com, and for more information about Flying J, visit .
For more information on Michael Annett, please visit www.michaelannett.com and follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michaelannettracing and on Twitter at @MichaelAnnett.
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About Pilot Flying J
Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America.
About Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employs 70,000 associates at 250 sites, including 151 factories, in 67 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world’s largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. These segments produce some of the world’s leading brands: Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANELâ„¢, SERAMIS®, and COCOAPROâ„¢. For more information, please visit www.mars.com.
