By Bill Klingbeil
CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 1, 2012) – Today Armored AutoGroup announced a multi-year sponsorship extension with Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) in the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series that will carry the partnership through 2013 and beyond.
Armored AutoGroup’s STP brand, one of the most recognized in motorsports, will continue to serve as the primary sponsor of four-time WoO champion Donny Schatz and the No. 15 J&J Sprint Car he pilots. The company’s Armor All brand will maintain its role as an associate sponsor.
Schatz, who will clinch his fifth WoO championship by making a qualifying lap tonight during the season-ending World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, has carried both brands on his No. 15 machine since joining TSR following the 2007 WoO season.
The sponsorship extension further demonstrates Armored AutoGroup’s commitment to showcasing STP’s “power and performance” through its partnerships with successful drivers and teams, ensuring that the familiar red and blue colors of STP remain a victory lane mainstay.
“Everyone at STP is proud to continue our relationship with Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing,” said Jamie Kistner, senior brand manager of STP. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of the success he has attained over the last five years, and we look forward to seeing what next year holds.”
“We’re excited to build on STP’s rich racing heritage with such a strong community as the World of Outlaws. When you’re winning races like Donny did at the Knoxville Nationals, it provides a great opportunity to engage fans and tell the STP story.”
After winning consecutive WoO titles driving for his family-owned team in 2006 and 2007, Schatz left for TSR in 2008. He made his first season driving the No. 15 Armor All ride a memorable one by earning his third straight championship. In 2009 at the Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals, Schatz drove a special-schemed STP machine that celebrated Mario Andretti’s 1969 Indianapolis 500 winning car to victory. It was Schatz’s fourth straight Knoxville Nationals triumph, and just over two months later, he earned his fourth consecutive WoO title in Charlotte. After back-to-back runner-up finishes in the WoO standings in 2010 and 2011, Schatz has returned to championship form in 2012 by winning 11 times, including his sixth Knoxville Nationals title and his fifth Williams Grove National Open victory.
“It’s been a huge honor to continue the history STP has in motorsports,” Schatz said. “We’ve had the privilege of working with Armor All and STP these last few years and have been involved in a number of great promotions with fans that share our passion for racing. It’s been a lot of fun, and we’re going to work as hard as we can to continue adding to the STP legacy.”
The partnership continues a terrific relationship between Armored AutoGroup and TSR, as TSR’s reach stretches from the WoO with Schatz and his teammate, 20-time WoO champion Steve Kinser, to the United States Auto Club (USAC) and TSR drivers Levi Jones, a seven-time USAC champion, and Bobby East, who recently earned the 2012 TRAXXAS USAC Silver Crown Series championship.
“We have a tremendous short-track program and it wouldn’t be possible without partners like Armored AutoGroup and their STP and Armor All brands,” said Stewart, who has earned a total of 15 owner championships in the WoO and USAC series since 2001. “The relationship has been a perfect combination – seeing a brand with such strong racing ties matched up with a driver that is on top of the sport right now. I’m so proud of Donny and our team, and I’m looking forward to seeing them knock down more wins and championships with STP in the future.”
Donny Schatz Driver of the No. 15 STP/Armor All/Chevrolet World of Outlaws Sprint Series Car
Date of Birth: Aug. 10, 1977
Hometown: Minot, N.D.
Residence: Fargo, N.D.
Marital Status: Married, Erica
Children: Daughter, Savanna
Highlights: Current leader 2012 World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series championship standings with 11 victories so far this season …2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 WoO Sprint Car Series champion …2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 Knoxville Nationals (Iowa) winner (only second driver to win the event six times) … 2012 Williams Grove National Open winner (first driver to ever win the event five times) …124 career WoO Sprint Car Series A-Feature victories … Nine-time $50,000 Sprintcar International winner in Sydney, Australia… Winner of every major Sprint Car race during his 16-year WoO Sprint Car Series career… 1997 WoO Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year… 1996 WISSOTA National 360 Sprint Car champion… Made Sprint Car debut at age 15at State Fairgrounds Speedway in Sedalia, Mo., in 1993.
About Armored AutoGroup
Armored AutoGroup Inc., headquartered in Danbury, Conn., is primarily comprised of the Armor All®, STP® and Tuff Stuff® brands. The current Armor All product line of protectants, wipes, tire and wheel care products, glass cleaners, leather care products and car washes are designed to clean, shine and protect interior and exterior automobile surfaces. The STP product line of fuel and oil additives, functional fluids and automotive appearance products have a broad customer base ranging from professional racers to car enthusiasts and “Do-it-Yourselfers”. Tuff Stuff cleaning products are formulated to tackle the toughest jobs.
Armored AutoGroup has a diversified geographic footprint with direct operations in the United States, Canada, Australia and the U.K. and distributor relationships in approximately 50 countries.
About Tony Stewart Racing
Tony Stewart Racing is the title-winning World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and USAC team of three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. The team fields two entries in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series – the No. 11 Bass Pro Shops/J.D. Byrider/Chevrolet/Maxim for 20-time series champion Steve Kinser and the No. 15 STP/Armor All/Chevrolet/J&J for four-time series champion Donny Schatz. TSR also fields entries for seven-time USAC champion Levi Jones and two-time USAC champion Bobby East. Based in Brownsburg, Ind., Tony Stewart Racing operates out of a 25,000-sqaure-foot facility. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.TonyStewartRacing.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TonyStewartRacing and on Twitter at @TonyStewart_rcg.