Wells Fargo Financial announced it has renewed and extended its sponsorship of NASCAR Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty and his #45 Georgia-Pacific Dodge for the 2004 season. Wells Fargo Financial, the North American consumer finance subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, is continuing the sponsorship as a result of their highly successful partnership with Petty Enterprises. Petty Enterprises is unique in its ability to bring added value to a Winston Cup sponsorship. “We are very happy with our relationship with Kyle and the entire Petty Enterprises team. Wells Fargo Financial is excited to be involved with one of the most celebrated names in all of NASCAR and in the fastest growing spectator sport in America,” said Tom Gibbons, Director of Corporate Sponsorships. “We’re very proud to have Wells Fargo Financial continue its sponsorship of Petty Enterprises,” said Kyle Petty. “We believe they are an excellent partner with our other top-quality sponsors, like General Mills, Georgia-Pacific and Coca-Cola, and are the premier financial services company in the U.S.” The sponsorship has provided significant benefit and impact to Wells Fargo Financial’s business lines through client/dealer incentives and entertainment, customer promotions, driver appearances, show car appearances and employee incentives. NASCAR’s popularity exceeds the NBA, NHL and MLB combined and averages more than 190,000 fans attending each event and more than 5.5 million viewers per race. Over 75 million Americans call themselves fans of the sport. Petty Enterprises, located in Randleman, NC, fields two Winston Cup teams: Kyle Petty’s #45 Georgia-Pacific Dodge and Christian Fittipaldi’s #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge. In addition to the race teams, the associated Richard Petty Driving Experience gives fans and corporate groups the opportunity to ride in or drive a Winston Cup-style stock car at 26 racetracks around the country. The Petty family is well known for its charitable efforts and will complete construction of The Victory Junction Gang Camp , founded in honor of Kyle and Pattie’s son Adam, in 2004. The camp will host children with chronic and/or life-threatening illnesses ages 7 to 15 years old and their families at no charge. The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America has raised millions for charity over the past nine years. Kyle was named 2002 “March of Dimes” Sportsman of the year, 1998 and 2002 True Value Man of the Year and the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated “Person of the Year”. Kyle’s dad, known as “The King”, Richard Petty, NASCAR’s all-time most winning driver with 200 wins and seven championships, is still significantly involved in race operations and charities.(Wells Fargo Financial PR)(8-26-2003)
