Michael Waltrip Racing yesterday converted its shop into a commercial set and filmed eight hours of TV advertising for Aaron's. The six resulting commercials will air this NASCAR season and feature both Waltrip and Mark Martin, who will drive the No. 55 Aaron’s car in the Sprint Cup Series this year. Waltrip: “It’s all about the differences between him and me. Me being big and goofy and him stiff.” Martin added, “And self-conscious” (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal).
HOW THE WEST WAS WON: USA TODAY’s Nate Ryan reports the saloon and hotel at Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Whisky River, a replica Western town on his property north of Charlotte, were “being used for the second consecutive year as the location for a commercial shoot to promote the Sprint All-Star Race.” Drivers Carl Edwards, Mark Martin and Paul Menard were “dressed in gunslinger garb, and Hall of Famer Junior Johnson tended bar in a black hat and vest.” Because Earnhardt “isn't locked into the event," he does not appear in the ad, though he "stopped in to watch it being filmed.” (USA TODAY, 1/25).
LEAVING STREAKS: Window replacement company Window World will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 36 car to be driven by the Yellow Dragon Motorsports team in the Rolex 24 at Daytona Int'l Speedway this weekend. The YDM team is made up of John Andretti, Jarett Andretti, Taylor Hacquard and Anders Krohn. This is the first year that Window World has sponsored a car in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The company has previously sponsored John Andretti in numerous other races, including the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500 (Window World).
TIME ME: There will be a limited edition Chip Ganassi Racing watch designed by the team’s owner its official timing partner, Tsovet, that will be available for purchase (Mickle).
