Penske Racing, EGR Unveil Sponsors During NASCAR Media Tour

Penske Racing during NASCAR's media tour yesterday announced a new sponsorship with Kimberly-Clark's Wypall Wipers brand and extensions with Ruby Tuesday and Alliance Truck Parts. Wypall Wipers signed an associate sponsorship that will see Penske Racing crew chiefs in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series wear the Wypall Wipers logo on their uniforms. Ruby Tuesday extended its partnership of Penske's Nationwide Series No. 22 car driven by Brad Keselowski and will serve as the primary sponsor for five races in '11. The restaurant chain also will have placement on the rear deck lid of the No. 2 Miller Lite car Keselowski will drive in the Sprint Cup Series this season. Alliance Truck Parts, a leading provider of replacement parts for the commercial transportation industry, extended its role as the primary sponsor of the No. 12 car driven by Sam Hornish Jr. in the Nationwide Series. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola added Penske driver Kurt Busch to its stable of NASCAR drivers this year. The company will be featured on Busch's uniform and car.

ALONG FOR THE RIDE: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing announced it is bringing two new sponsors into the sport for the '11 Sprint Cup season. The team is adding LiftMaster as an associate sponsor and Widia as a one-race primary sponsor. Both deals are for the No. 1 car driven by Jamie McMurray. LiftMaster makes residential car door openers and commercial door operators. The company has no history in NASCAR. It will receive exposure on the No. 1 ride, have rights to feature the car and driver in advertising and be entitled to some appearances by McMurray. Widia, a new brand developed by tooling company Kennametal, will be the primary sponsor on the No. 1 car for the April 3 Sprint Cup race in Martinsville.

OTHER SPONSORSHIPS ANNOUNCED: DeWalt announced a deal with Richard Petty Motorsports to sponsor the Sprint Cup Series No. 9 Ford driven by Marcos Ambrose for the '11 and '12 seasons. The logo will alternate between the hood of the car and the quarter-panel for each race in '11. Meanwhile, Boost Mobile will serve as the primary sponsor of Travis Pastrana for the seven Nationwide races he drives the No. 99 Waltrip-Pastrana Racing car this season.

TURN ON THE LIGHTS: Energizer announced plans to light up the night around Charlotte Motor Speedway with a special fan promotion at NASCAR’s '11 Sprint All-Star Race. The battery brand will provide every fan who enters the race a small Energizer-powered flashlight. Prior to the race, the speedway will turn off its lights, and fans will turn on their Energizer flashlights, jump-starting the promotion called "Light up the Night." The race typically draws more than 100,000 spectators. The promotion is part of a one-race agreement. Terms of the deal were not available.