Nationwide Insurance Broadens NASCAR Footprint with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sponsorship

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Photo: Business Wire)

COLUMBUS, Ohio--()--Nationwide Insurance is proud to announce a two-year partnership with Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 17 Ford Fusion powered by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Nationwide Insurance will be the primary sponsor for three races in 2013, four races in 2014 and will serve as associate sponsor for all other No. 17 team Sprint Cup races.

“We’ve had a 15-year presence in NASCAR and this is the first time we’ve sponsored a car in any NASCAR series,” said Matt Jauchius, chief marketing officer for Nationwide Insurance. “We built a solid relationship with Roush Fenway and two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and Nationwide Insurance member, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and we’re eager to carry that momentum forward and enhance our existing integrated NASCAR marketing platform.”

The No. 17 Nationwide Insurance Ford Fusion will contend in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on Aug. 24 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Sept. 7 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway and Oct. 20 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The race dates in 2014 are yet to be determined.

“This new partnership broadens our reach to NASCAR fans on Sundays,” Jauchius added. “We remain fully committed to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, its teams and drivers, our loyal partners and the rabid fans. Nationwide Insurance continues to have positive conversations with NASCAR regarding the Series entitlement renewal which began in mid-March and are on-going. It’s a very detailed process and we expect it will take a while, but NASCAR is a great place to be for active sponsors, like us.”

Nationwide Insurance is in its sixth year of a seven-year agreement as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series – the second-most popular form of motorsports in the United States - and is the official home, life, auto and farm insurance sponsor of NASCAR.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Nationwide Insurance so much over the past three years as both their champion and as a Nationwide Insurance member,” said Stenhouse. “They feel like family and to be able to continue that relationship with our No. 17 team means so much to me because of who they are and all that they stand for. I’ve had Nationwide on my side for my entire NASCAR career, and I’m excited that they are going to continue being there for me.”

“Nationwide Insurance has been a terrific partner for the entire sport, and we’re proud to be representing them on the track with Ricky and the No. 17 team as their involvement in NASCAR grows,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “Our relationship with Nationwide Insurance has always been a strong one and we’ve constantly been impressed with their marketing prowess and innovation in our sport. We’re looking forward to growing our partnership and driving success for their business – on and off the track.”

About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series’ with championship drivers Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne and Travis Pastrana. Having celebrated 25 winning years in 2012, Roush Fenway is the leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering motorsport’s first team-focused TV show and its award-winning marketing campaigns for RickyvsTrevor.com, “25 Winning Years” and Google+.

About Nationwide Insurance Sports Sponsorships
Nationwide Insurance is committed to supporting the communities where its members and associates live, work and play. The company incorporates sports sponsorships into its marketing mix to build awareness, consideration and relationships with fans by connecting with their passion points.

Many of the company’s sports sponsorships are designed to raise funds for Nationwide Children’s Hospital, including the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, a PGA TOUR event; Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon; Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, on the Web.com Tour and the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ new Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200. Since 2007, Nationwide Insurance’s sports sponsorships have generated more than $6 million to support research and patient care at the hospital, with a goal of raising more than $3 million in 2013.

Additionally, Nationwide Insurance has built a number of strategic partnerships: the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nationwide Arena and the No. 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Nationwide Insurance is an official sponsor of these organizations: Bristol Motor Speedway, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Columbus Clippers, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, NASCAR, Roush Fenway Racing, The Ohio State University Athletic Department and Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition, the company maintains personal services agreements with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bill Haas, Danica Patrick, Dale and Ned Jarrett.

About Nationwide
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides customers a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, pet, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and specialty health services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, On Your Side and the Nationwide frame mark, and are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Contacts

Nationwide
Becky Cox, 704-634-5899 or 614-745-4169
rcox@nationwide.com
or
Roush Fenway Racing
Kevin Woods, 704-957-1138
kwoods@roushfenway.com

Release Summary

Nationwide Insurance announces sponsorship of Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 17 Ford Fusion powered by Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Contacts

Nationwide
Becky Cox, 704-634-5899 or 614-745-4169
rcox@nationwide.com
or
Roush Fenway Racing
Kevin Woods, 704-957-1138
kwoods@roushfenway.com