AAMCO Transmissions Teams With IndyCar Series For Pole Award
As part of the agreement, AAMCO will sponsor the Pole Award for every IndyCar Series event for the remainder of this season, including the Indianapolis 500. Beginning Saturday, April 28 at Kansas Speedway, the AAMCO Transmissions Pole Award will be presented to the series' top qualifier along with a check for $10,000. The award increases to $100,000 for the polesitter at the Indianapolis 500. To be eligible for the AAMCO Transmissions Pole Award, cars must carry the AAMCO contingency decal.
"We are excited to partner with the IndyCar Series this season to present the AAMCO Transmissions Pole Award as well as have a presence at the Indianapolis 500, one of the greatest sporting events in the world," said Todd Leff, chief executive officer, AAMCO. "This is part of our most comprehensive and integrated sports marketing campaign to date. Our partnership with the IndyCar Series will serve as a great platform to motivate and reward AAMCO center owners and employees."
Pole Day for the 91st Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Saturday, May 12.
"We're thrilled to welcome AAMCO to the Indianapolis 500," said Joie Chitwood, president and chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "AAMCO is an enthusiastic partner of IMS, and on behalf of our Indy 500 teams and drivers, we appreciate the support of the Pole Award. The worldwide appeal of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" will help AAMCO expose its great service and people to an even wider audience."
During each race weekend, AAMCO will play host to local dealers at the track with a select dealer presenting the Pole Award following the completion of qualifying. Additionally, AAMCO is planning internal promotions for race tickets, autographed merchandise and more. In-store point-of-sale materials and promotions in support of the IndyCar Series sponsorship will be made available to all AAMCO dealers to execute in their retail location this season.
"We are pleased to welcome AAMCO to the IndyCar Series family," said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division for the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series. "There are so many similar brand attributes between the IndyCar Series and AAMCO, including speed and quality performance, that make this partnership a great fit."
AAMCO recently announced plans to serve as the co-primary sponsor for the No. 5 Honda-powered Dallara driven by Sarah Fisher for Dreyer and Reinbold Racing. Fisher will be featured in a new television, radio, Internet and print advertising campaign educating consumers about symptoms of car or transmission problems, themed "Don't Worry. I Gotta Guy – AAMCO." The campaign, which is targeted toward women and a younger demographic, is scheduled to launch in May.
Said Mike Ganjei, Chairman of AAMCO's National Creative Committee, "AAMCO dealers will have the opportunity to implement exciting consumer promotions surrounding our sponsorship of the IndyCar series and Sarah Fisher. It gives dealers a great platform to highlight AAMCO's expansion into the complete car care business."
"I'm really excited to see the AAMCO sponsorship expand to also encompass the Pole Award," Fisher said. "AAMCO is very big-picture oriented, and venturing into other elements of our series is smart."