The Hartford Set to Sponsor Richard Childress Racing
Hartford, Conn., February 13, 2009 – With its iconic stag logo ready to stand firm on the hood at top speeds of 200 miles per hour, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) announced today that it will sponsor Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolet Impala SS and driver Clint Bowyer at the following three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this year – Dover International Speedway on May 31, New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 28, and Pocono Raceway on August 2.
The Hartford will also be an associate sponsor of RCR’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevy and driver Jeff Burton in the Sprint Cup Series. Both Bowyer and Burton will be spokesmen for the program, which will focus primarily on automobile and home insurance.
"NASCAR fans know how important a car's performance is on the track and on the road,” said Michael Concannon, senior vice president, personal lines. “The Hartford’s knowledgeable customer service team and outstanding claims managers are fanatical about helping drivers keep their lives uninterrupted.
"The Hartford has a long history of working with industry-leading partners, so Richard Childress Racing is a natural fit. We are committed to winning in the marketplace and we admire RCR’s winning spirit. We are confident this partnership will help raise our profile among consumers who are shopping for insurance,” added Concannon.
With $3.9 billion in personal lines written premium in 2008, The Hartford, through its nationwide network of 7,500 independent insurance agents and its AARP auto and homeowners program, is one of the nation's leading names in automobile and home insurance.
"It's important for us to look for partners that share our team's commitment to excellence," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "The Hartford is a terrific company with a rich history of strength, leadership and optimism. We look forward to working with them this year."
Bowyer begins his fourth full season of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing with RCR in 2009. He has two career Sprint Cup Series victories and has made the Chase for the Championship the past two seasons, finishing third in 2007 and fifth last season. He also earned the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship with RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet team.
This sponsorship adds to The Hartford's list of sports marketing efforts, which include being an Official Corporate Partner of the NCAA(R), sponsorships in men's and women's golf, and the founding sponsor of the U.S. Paralympics. SportsMark Management Group is the sports marketing agency of record for The Hartford and is consulting with RCR to activate the sponsorship.
For more information about The Hartford’s commitment to racing, see www.thehartfordracing.com. Please call (877) Hartford to get an auto quote today.
About The Hartford
The Hartford is one of the nation's largest financial services companies and a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and Ireland. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com.
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