Yates Racing sponsor news 2009-01-29

ACADEMY SPORTS + OUTDOORS ANNOUNCES FIVE RACE SPONSORSHIP OF BOBBY LABONTE AND THE NO. 96 FORD FUSION

CONCORD, N.C. (January 29, 2009) -- Hall of Fame Racing today announced that Academy Sports + Outdoors, a leader in the sports and outdoor industry, will sponsor Bobby Labonte and the No. 96 Ford Fusion for five races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2009. The Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway will mark the first race for Academy Sports + Outdoors as primary sponsor.

"I'm thrilled to have Academy Sports + Outdoors on the car this year," said Labonte. "Being a Texas native I'm looking forward to working with a Houston-based company that is a leader in sports and outdoor equipment. I consider myself an outdoorsman so I'm excited to represent Academy this year."

"Our continued partnership with Yates Racing makes sense for Academy Sports + Outdoors and we welcome Hall of Fame to the relationship," commented Rodney Faldyn, President of Academy Sports + Outdoors. "Many of Academy's loyal customers are huge NASCAR fans and our sponsorship is a way of supporting the sport they love. We look forward to another successful year with Yates Racing and with Bobby Labonte."

Academy Sports + Outdoor's will debut with the No. 96 Academy Sports + Outdoor Ford Fusion at Bristol Motor Speedway. The retail leader will again race at Darlington Raceway in the Southern 500, Daytona International Speedway in the Coke Zero 400, Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Pep Boys Auto 500 and Talladega Superspeedway in the Amp Energy 500.

The 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will drive the No. 96 Ford Fusion for the full 2009 season with Hall of Fame Racing. Labonte has 21 career wins and 113 top-five finishes in 547 starts in the Sprint Cup series. The 2009 season will mark Labonte's 17th full season in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.

-credit: yr