Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats to Sponsor Austin & Ty Dillon in 2012
Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats will be the primary sponsor throughout the year on the No. 3 truck during Ty Dillon’s first full season in the series. The No. 1 outdoor retailer leader will also be the primary sponsor for five races of Austin Dillon’s rookie season in the Nationwide Series and an associate sponsor throughout the season.
“We are pleased to once again partner with our good friend and hunting buddy Richard Childress for the 2012 racing season," stated Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “Austin and Ty are both remarkably talented racers with a promising future ahead of them. They are also tremendous ambassadors for the outdoors and hunting and fishing. I look forward to seeing them both race and hopefully spending a little time with them and grandpa out hunting or fishing."
The RCR/Bass Pro Shops partnership began in 1998 as an associate sponsor of RCR’s No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo with legendary driver Dale Earnhardt. The relationship continued with Kevin Harvick and the No 29 Chevrolet and, in 2004, Kerry Earnhardt, Dale’s eldest son, drove RCR’s No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Monte Carlo in six Sprint Cup Series races. Austin Dillon picked up the mantle in 2010, earning two victories and the Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors before capturing the championship in just his second season in the series. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats also was a sponsor for Ty Dillon’s championship season in the 2011 ARCA Series presented by Menards.
“The continuation of the Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats partnership with my grandsons is rewarding, both professionally and personally," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We are proud to fly the Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats banner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and look forward to being successful with both race teams."
Bass Pro Shops was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Springfield, Mo. The outdoor retail leader has 58 stores throughout the United States and Canada, serving over 112 million sportsmen a year.
“I’m a hunter and a fisherman so it’s really cool to have the support of Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats," said Austin Dillon. “It means a lot to me that Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro are going to follow me to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. We were able to win some races for them and a championship in the Truck Series so I hope we can find them continued success in the Nationwide Series this year."
“It’s an honor to be a part of the Bass Pro Shops family," said Ty Dillon. “I’m really excited that they will be embarking on my first full season in the Truck Series with me. Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats have been a huge part of my career and my goal is to bring them as much success as my brother, Austin, did these past two seasons."