Andretti Green Inks Deals with 7-Eleven

INDIANAPOLIS -- Racing champion Tony Kanaan is set for future races in his No. 11 car now that Andretti Green Racing (AGR) reached a multi-year agreement with 7-Eleven Inc. to extend the company’s long-running sponsorship program.

"We joined forces when Andretti Green began racing in 2003, the year Tony joined the AGR team, and have worked together over the last five years to build an even stronger 7-Eleven brand through this international platform," Rita Bargerhuff, vice president marketing, 7-Eleven, said in a statement. "Tony exemplifies the leadership, team orientation and values we embrace at 7-Eleven and has been a terrific spokesperson. The unification of open-wheel racing earlier this year has made the IndyCar Series even more relevant to our customers. We’re looking forward to enjoying future successes together."

Kanaan, who drove the Honda-powered Team 7-Eleven car to the 2004 IndyCar Series championship, signed a five-year contract extension earlier this month with Andretti Green that will keep him with the Indianapolis-based team through the 2013 season, explained John Lopes, chief marketing officer, Andretti Green Racing.

"7-Eleven is one of the cornerstones of Andretti Green Racing, and we’re thrilled to extend our agreement with them," Lopes said in a statement. "We’ve accomplished a lot together, but we feel like we can do even bigger things in the future. The Team 7-Eleven car has been a fixture at the top level of the IndyCar Series since it debuted in 2003 and we expect to keep it there for a long time."

In other 7-Eleven news, NBC Sports and Sunday Night Football are teaming with the c-store retailer for its Big Match-Up Promotion that sends four 7-Eleven customers and their guests to watch the live production of "Football Night in America," NBC Sports’ popular Sunday night football studio show, noted Bargerhuff.

"NBC Sunday Night Football and 7-Eleven are working together to offer one of this football season’s most exciting and surprising promotions for some lucky fans. Sunday Night Football has the best announcers, analysts and the dynamic team match-ups again this fall," Bargerhuff said in a statement. "And whether football fans need food and drinks for a tailgate party or to watch the game at home, 7-Eleven is ready to play."

Starting Sept. 7, each week one customer will be selected at random in a 7-Eleven store somewhere in the U.S. to win a trip-for-two to New York to be a part of the VIP behind-the-scenes tour during the show produced at NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Sweepstakes winners will visit NBC Sports’ "Football Night in America" studio as part of a VIP trip to NBC Studios and meet the "Football Night" team.

"Sunday Night is Football Night, not just for die-hard fans but for their friends and family who gather around the TV and watch the game as a social occasion," Mike McCarley, vice president of marketing, promotions and communications for NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, said in a statement. "Partnering with 7-Eleven allows us to reach millions more avid and casual football fans each week and allows those fans to stock up for Sunday night’s big match-up."
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