Two-Time NASCAR Champion Austin Dillon will drive No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Talladega, Daytona
WELCOME, N.C. (April 8, 2014) - The nation's No. 1 outdoor retail leader, Bass Pro Shops, will join Richard Childress Racing in commemorating Austin Dillon's rookie season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with primary sponsorship of the No. 3 Chevrolet SS at Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway.
"All of us at Bass Pro Shops are excited about continuing our friendship and business relationship with our long-time friend Richard Childress and sponsoring Austin Dillon during his rookie season in the Sprint Cup Series," said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. The No. 3 car is where we got our start so it's great to see it back in action."
A longtime motorsports supporter, Bass Pro Shops' association with Dillon dates back to 2010, when the company partnered with RCR for Dillon's first foray into fulltime NASCAR competition with sponsorship of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Bass Pro Shops/Dillon duo earned the Camping World Truck Series Championship in 2011 and Bass Pro Shops was also partners with Dillon and RCR in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
"Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops have been alongside me for a majority of my racing accomplishments," said Dillon. "I have photos of a giant Bass Pro Shops logo on the hood of my first Bandolero car when I was just starting out racing. They've been featured on my dirt late model and Bass Pro Shops was the primary sponsor of my truck when we won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship. I have countless memories of growing up hunting and fishing with Johnny and his son, John Paul. They are true friends so it means so much that they can be a part of my rookie season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, especially at tracks like Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway that have so much history with RCR."
Bass Pro Shops first began its association with RCR and its No. 3 Sprint Cup Series car in 1998 with an associate sponsorship of the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo made famous by seven-time Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Bass Pro Shops also serves as a major associate sponsor throughout the 2014 season, joining Dow, Cheerios, Realtree Outdoors, American Ethanol and the University of Northwestern Ohio as RCR supporters associated with the No. 3 Sprint Cup Series entry this season. The outdoor retailer currently sponsors Dillon's younger brother, Ty Dillon, in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
For additional information on today's announcement, and all that's happening at RCR, please visit rcrracing.com.
Bass Pro Shops® currently operates 77 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada visited by over 120 million people annually. Bass Pro Shops® also conducts an international catalog and internet retailing operation-the American Rod & Gun® wholesale division--which sells to more than 7,000 independently, owned retail stores worldwide. Outdoor World® Incentives also sells Bass Pro Shops® gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America. The Bass Pro Shops® restaurant division has 28 locations. The company's Tracker Marine Group® ( www.trackerboats.com ) manufactures and sells Tracker®, Nitro®, SunTracker®, Tahoe®, Grizzly® and Mako® boats through Bass Pro Shops® retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide. The Resort Group ( www.bigcedar.com ) includes Big Cedar Lodge® and other resort properties including restaurants and golf courses. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops® store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bassproshops.
Richard Childress Racing ( www.rcrracing.com ) has earned more than 200 victories and 15 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Its 2014 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Dow/Cheerios/American Ethanol Chevrolet), 2011 Brickyard 400 champion Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet) and 2008 Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar/Quicken Loans/WIX Filters Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Brian Scott (No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet), 2012 Camping World Truck Series rookie of the year Ty Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/WESCO/Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet), Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 South Point Hotel and Casino Chevrolet) and a multi-driver lineup with the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet team.
