Bill Elliott & Wal-Mart team up for Daytona in July

Bill Elliott talks about his Wal-Mart sponsorship during last week's annual NASCAR Media Tour

UPDATE Wal-Mart announced it is expanding its Race Time 2012 program to give fans more accessibility to discounted race tickets, driver appearances and fan events at stores, a greater selection of authentic NASCAR merchandise and a special sponsorship of Bill Elliott at the Coke Zero 400. Wal-Mart’s Race Time program, launched last year as the largest retail promotion in NASCAR history, gives fans authentic merchandise and fan events at Wal-Mart stores in every NASCAR Sprint Cup series race market. This year, Wal-Mart has more than tripled the number of companies offering displays of authentic merchandise, doubled the number of fan events at stores and increased the race markets where the $99 Wal-Mart Family Track Pack will be offered. For more about Wal-Mart’s Race Time 2012 program and the races the $99 Wal-Mart Family Track Pack will be available at Walmart.com/NASCAR. Wal-Mart/Mitchell Communications Group.

01/26/12 Wal-Mart announced Thursday that they will expand their merchandise program in 2012, the 50th anniversary of the retail giant. While the merchandise partnership isn't new, Wal-Mart will take to the track for the first time with a Chevy built by Turner Motorsports and driven by Bill Elliott. However the effort, as of now, is for only one race; the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. The company wanted to get on the track this year with the #50 Chevy and Elliott to help celebrate the 50th birthday of the company in July and just wants to 'have a lot of fun with it', said Rand Waddoups, senior director Entertainment Properties and Brands for Wal-Mart. The company has no shop has hired no personnel and has no plans beyond the single race. 'But we have six months yet', Waddoups added.