Bass Pro Shops/DEI

[texastrophies]

ATLANTA, Ga. – (Nov. 1, 2004) – Bass Pro Shops and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. have solidified their relationship even further with a multi-year agreement that will return the team's No. 1 Chevrolet into full competition.

Bass Pro Shops is currently the primary sponsor on the Chance 2 Motorsports No. 8 Chevrolet driven by Martin Truex, Jr. in the NASCAR Busch Series. The newest agreement maps out a plan for Bass Pro Shops and Truex, Jr. for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 seasons.

Truex, Jr, who currently leads the NASCAR Busch Series standings, will have Bass Pro Shops as the primary sponsor in all 35 Busch races in 2005 for Chance 2 Motorsports. In addition to the Busch endeavors, Bass Pro Shops will sponsor Truex, Jr. in seven Nextel Cup Series races next year, as well. The schedule tentatively calls for both Daytona and Talladega races, Michigan, Indianapolis and Homestead. In addition, they will be an associate sponsor on the No. 8 and No. 15 Nextel Cup teams of DEI.

For the seven Cup races in 2005, Truex, Jr. will drive the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for DEI. In 2006, Bass Pro Shops will then move to the Nextel Cup Series with Truex, Jr. and the No. 1 Chevrolet to compete on a full-time basis.

The announcement was made at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday evening with representatives of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Chance 2 Motorsports and Bass Pro Shops on hand.

“On behalf of Teresa Earnhardt, CEO and President of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and co-owner of Chance 2, we would like to thank Bass Pro Shops and their associates,” said Richie Gilmore, Director of Motorsports for DEI. “Because of the commitment they have made, DEI and Chance 2 can carry on the legacy of Dale Earnhardt and that's to compete at the top levels of NASCAR each week.”

“All of us at Bass Pro Shops are extremely excited about our new sponsorship with Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Chance 2 Motorsports and Martin Truex, Jr.,” said Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shop founder. “Martin is not only a great driver, but he's also a super young man who has proven to be a great ambassador for Bass Pro Shops and the outdoors.”

The No. 1 Chevrolet was the first Nextel Cup Series car fielded by Dale and Teresa Earnhardt for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. beginning in 1996. Since then, the No. 1 Chevrolet team has two victories and four Bud Pole Awards to its credit. When Truex, Jr. begins driving the No. 1 Bass Pro Shop Chevrolet in 2006, it will mark the team's return to full-time competition in the Nextel Cup Series since 2003.

“Everything just keeps getting better and better with Bass Pro Shops and our race teams,” Truex, Jr. said. “To have them go from a part-time primary sponsorship to full time, and into the future like this, says a lot about them. I've really enjoyed getting to know Johnny Morris through this past year and all the great people I've met from Bass Pro around the country.

“You can have all the best equipment, best team and best luck. But, you can't really do any of that without the best sponsor to help you along. We not only have that for next year, but for quite awhile as my career progresses through the NASCAR ranks.

“In addition to Bass Pro, I'd like to thank Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and everyone at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. for their support along the way. The No. 1 team was the first Cup team that Dale and Teresa put on the track and I can't wait to drive it back into Victory Lane.”

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Chance 2 Motorsports are two premier racing organizations headquartered in Mooresville, NC. DEI currently operates two NASCAR Nextel Cup teams with drivers Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Michael Waltrip. The company also has one NASCAR Busch Series team with driver Paul Menard and co-owns Chance 2 with driver Martin Truex, Jr. For further information on DEI and its teams go to www.DaleEarnhardtInc.com.

A major catalog and Internet retailer, Bass Pro Shops, headquartered in Springfield, MO, currently has 23 locations across the United States and attracts some 60 million visitors a year. New stores will soon open in Toronto, Canada; Las Vegas, NV and Harrisburg, PA. For more information on Bass Pro Shops go to www.basspro.com

[Chrud]

Let me guess...you got that from the DEInsider, right? I did! That is going to be awesome!

[IowaDeerHunter]

Chrud is that a magazin or what is it?

[Chrud]

It's an email newsletter. Go to DEI's website for more information.

[TheDeerHunter]

That is awesome! Truex has really proven himself in the busch series and it looks like he will hopefully win the championship this year. Next year I think he will be another continder again. Good Luck to him and I can't wait to see the paint scheme!

[Chrud]

[ QUOTE ]
Next year I think he will be another continder again.

[/ QUOTE ]

Next year he is likely to be the ONLY contender. Kyle Busch is being rushed out of the Busch series (same with Vickers last year) and I don't have a clue who is going to replace him. No one else has gotten seat time for Hendrick.

I still don't like what RH is doing with his Busch drivers. Yes, Vickers and Busch were very good, but they haven't/won't do anything in Cup for several years. They need more seat time in Busch. I think he is rushing them too early.