Canadian Tire announces new racing sponsorships

Canadian Tire automotive revved into high gear today by announcing an exciting lineup of auto racing sponsorships and sponsored drivers for the country's biggest races of the year. Currently in its fourth year as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series, which runs 13 races from Antigonish, NS, to Vernon, BC, Canadian Tire added the Honda Indy in Edmonton, the Honda Indy Toronto and the NASCAR Nationwide at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal to its significant racing presence. Canadian Tire today also announced a sponsorship arrangement with Canadian racing legend Ron Fellows, who will join their current drivers, Scott Steckly and Mark Dilley.

"As Canada's largest automotive retailer, Canadian Tire has a long tradition of supporting auto racing and motor sports in Canada," said Allan MacDonald, Senior Vice President, Automotive. "Our racing sponsorships will continue to bring the excitement of professional auto racing to Canadian racing fans – a natural fit for our business of helping customers be ready for driving with our unmatched assortment of automotive parts and accessories."

Fellows, a resident of Mississauga, Ontario, has a distinguished racing record. He is the first non-American to win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and won the NASCAR Nationwide race in Montreal in 2008. Ron will be racing the #88 Chevrolet Impala in the NASCAR Nationwide Race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on August 29.

"I'm thrilled to partner with Canadian Tire and represent Canada's leading automotive retailer at one of this country's biggest auto racing events," said Fellows. "I'm really looking forward to competing in this year's Montreal NASCAR Nationwide Series race as a member of the Canadian Tire team."

Canadian Tire's 2010 racing program includes:

– Title Sponsor of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and Official Automotive Retailer of NASCAR in Canada
– Official sponsor of the Honda Indy Toronto
– Official sponsor of the Honda Indy Edmonton
– NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race as a companion to the Nationwide Race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
– Sponsor of race car driver, Ron Fellows, in the NASCAR Nationwide race in Montreal
– Sponsor of race car driver, Scott Steckly in Canadian Tire car #22
– Sponsor of race car driver, Mark Dilley in PartSource car #9

Milverton, Ontario, resident Scott Steckly is in his second racing season driving for Canadian Tire. A 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion, Scott is driving the #22 Canadian Tire Dodge Avenger, and posted a top five finish at the Vortex Brake Pads 200 at Mosport this past weekend.

Mark Dilley of Barrie, Ontario, is in his first season driving the #9 PartSource Dodge Avenger as part of the Canadian Tire family of drivers. Mark is a veteran driver and most recently posted a top ten finish at the Vortex Brake Pads 200 at Mosport.