Kellogg Company Returns as a Primary Sponsor of Edwards' No. 99 Ford

CONCORD, N.C. (Dec. 15, 2011) – Roush Fenway Racing and Kellogg Company have announced the multi-year extension of their NASCAR partnership.  Kellogg will serve as a primary sponsor of the No. 99 Ford for four Sprint Cup races in 2012, teaming its famed Kellogg's™ Frosted Flakes cereal and Cheez-It®  crackers with perennial championship contender and fan favorite Carl Edwards.

Kellogg has been involved with NASCAR for many years, including serving as a primary sponsor of the No. 99 Ford with Roush Fenway for the past two seasons.  Edwards finished as runner up in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup and has accumulated 19 wins during his stellar Cup career. He also has 89 top-five finishes, 144 top-10 finishes and 10 pole awards in just over 250 starts.

Edwards secured a position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup NASCAR "playoff" six times in seven attempts, and finished second in 2008 and 2011.  In addition, he won the 2007 Nationwide Series Championship. This season, Edwards and the No. 99 team led the Sprint Cup point standings for 23 of the 36 weeks.

NASCAR DRIVER GREG BIFFLE TO PARTICIPATE IN 2012 ROSE PARADE

CONCORD, N.C. (Dec. 14, 2011) – NASCAR driver Greg Biffle will help Natural Balance Pet Foods make a “splash” in the upcoming 123rd Rose Parade on January 2nd, 2012.  In 2010 the Natural Balance float rolled into the Guinness Book of World records as the world’s longest float and in 2011, took the record for the world’s heaviest float.

This year the Natural Balance float will be 116 feet long and feature a tropical floral setting. After extensive training, the dogs on the float will actually surf on 65-foot long waves in over 6,600 gallons of water on a float weighing more than 100,000 pounds. A specially designed “wave” machine is incorporated into the design of the float and creates a wave every minute.

The Rose Bowl Parade will air live from Pasadena, Calif. on ABC at 11:00 a.m. EST.  Check out Biffle and Tillman, the World’s Fastest Skateboarding Bulldog at www.GregBiffle.com and get a sneak peek at the building of the float at www.naturalbalanceinc.com.

GORDON PICKED TO LEAD NO. 22 SHELL/PENNZOIL DODGE TEAM

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 14, 2011) – Penske Racing announced today that Todd Gordon is the new crew chief of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Cup Series. The internal move comes on the heels of a successful 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) campaign, during which Gordon led the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Charger to six wins and six pole positions.

“Our first priority is always to look within the walls of Penske Racing when making personnel decisions,” said Roger Penske. “We want to reward success. The path we are taking with Todd mirrors what we did with Paul Wolfe who led the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge to a Chase berth in 2011. We think Todd can get the job done in the same manner.”

Gordon made the move to Penske Racing in January of 2011. He and Brad Keselowski quickly developed a driver-crew chief rapport that resulted in another successful season, helping make the No. 22 Dodge one of the premier entries in NNS competition.

“I can’t thank Roger and everyone at Penske Racing enough for this vote of confidence,” said Gordon. “It’s an honor to step into a race-winning team. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is an organization full of talented people that know how to get the job done. I look forward to getting the Shell/Pennzoil Dodge back in Victory Lane.”

Penske Racing continues to evaluate drivers to fill the seat of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge.
Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 350 major race wins, 412 pole positions and 23 National Championships. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.

Brian Pattie Joins Michael Waltrip Racing

Veteran Crew Chief To Lead Clint Bowyer's No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota In 2012

CORNELIUS, N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing today announced that Brian Pattie will serve as crew chief for Clint Bowyer's No.15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2012.

"Brian is someone whose been on our radar for a very long time," said Waltrip. "He brings a strong technical background, along with great leadership and Chase experience. We have high hopes for Brian, Clint and the 5-hour ENERGY team heading into 2012 and we think this is the perfect mix of talent, experience and leadership."

Pattie joins the team after 18 victories in a long Nationwide Series career with a variety of drivers and a Sprint Cup stint at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as crew chief for Juan Pablo Montoya. He guided the former open wheel driver to a spot in the Chase in 2009 and a victory at Watkins Glen in 2010.

"Michael Waltrip Racing is an up-and-coming team making improvements every day," said Pattie, a Zephyrhills Fla. native who began his duties at MWR on Dec. 1.

Penske Racing and Kurt Busch Mutually Agree to Separation

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 5, 2011) – Penske Racing announced today that it has reached a mutual agreement with driver Kurt Busch to end its driver/race team relationship, effective immediately.
The team will evaluate its options for the driver of the No. 22 Sprint Cup Series car in the future while Busch will seek new opportunities with another race team.

"I appreciate the victories that Kurt has brought Penske Racing and our sponsors over the past six years," said Roger Penske. "While I am disappointed that Kurt will not be racing for our team in the future, both Kurt and I felt that separating at this time was best for all parties, including our team and sponsors. I wish Kurt the best in his future racing endeavors."

NO. 99 AFLAC FORD FUSION CREW BEST IN THE PITS FOR 2011

NO. 99 AFLAC FORD FUSION CREW BEST IN THE PITS FOR 2011

Carl Edward's Pit Crew Wins the 2011 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award and $100,000 Grand Prize

LOS ANGELES (December 1, 2011) – There's no insurance for good finishes like a great pit crew.  And the pit crew for the No. 99 AFLAC Ford Fusion of Carl Edwards did just that – delivering the best average finish of 4.9 for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Edwards' second place finish in the final standings. That hard work, flawless performance and strong motivation earned them the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award for 2011 and a $100,000 bonus.

The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, which is determined by a vote of each team's crew chief, is given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during Champion's Week in Las Vegas – and the $100,000 grand prize.

Richard Childress Named 2011 NASCAR Buddy Shuman Award Winner

WELCOME, N.C. (December 1, 2011) - Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing, was named the 2011 NASCAR Buddy Shuman Award winner today during the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon at the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las
Vegas.

The NASCAR Buddy Shuman Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the growth of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing. The award is named in honor of Louis Grier "Buddy" Shuman, a pioneer NASCAR driver who died in a hotel fire in 1955. It has been presented by NASCAR and Federal-Mogul's (NASDAQ: FDML) Champion® spark plug brand. Previous winners include Bill France Jr., Richard Petty, Dr. Joe Mattioli, Rick Hendrick, Dave Marcis, Dale Inman, Robert Yates and Jim Hunter.