Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments, has announced a sponsorship agreement between the company’s compressed air systems, tools and equipment business and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR).

Ingersoll Rand will be an associate sponsor of the OneMain Financial No. 11 car, driven by Elliott Sadler for the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series racing season.

Under the agreement, Ingersoll Rand is outfitting Sadler’s garage and pit box with their latest cordless and pneumatic tools. Ingersoll Rand has been supplying pit crews with the most efficient pit tools on the market since the inaugural NASCAR race in 1959. Today, nearly every pit crew on the NASCAR circuit relies on the Ingersoll Rand ThunderGun™ for quick tire changes. 

“It’s a great opportunity to work with Ingersoll Rand this season,” said Sadler. “It’s a brand that stands for power, durability and reliability, and those are all things that we strive for as a race team. The Ingersoll Rand tools help my crew make repairs faster, which means less time in the garage and more time on the track.” 

This is Sadler’s inaugural season with Joe Gibbs Racing. His first NASCAR Nationwide Series career-start was in 1995. As a veteran driver with more than 16 seasons on the NASCAR circuit, Sadler has competed in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Last season, Sadler took the checkered flag at Phoenix, Bristol, Chicagoland and Iowa, and had 15 Top 5 and 24 Top 10 finishes. 

Joe Gibbs Racing is based in Huntersville, N.C., just 10 miles down the road from the Ingersoll Rand North American headquarters and corporate center. JGR has dominated the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit since 2008, collecting 68 wins in 161 races. JGR also collected one driver and four owner championships over the past five seasons. 

“Other NASCAR teams measure their success against the winning records set by Joe Gibbs Racing. JGR is the team to beat every time their drivers take the track,” said Nathan Schmid, marketing manager – vehicle services, Ingersoll Rand. “Ingersoll Rand is a leader in the compressed air and tool markets, and manufactures best-in-class products. It makes sense for us to partner with a race team with a proven legacy of success — just like Ingersoll Rand tools.

The QTS Group have been unveiled as the new sponsor of the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

The Lanarkshire-based company already back Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock and has extended their sports sponsorship to the Grade Two event on April 22.

Spokesman Alan McLeish said: “We are delighted to announce our strategic partnership with Ayr racecourse, Scotland’s premier horse racing venue.

“The Grand National meeting is a huge spectacle in the UK and we are very proud to be supporting the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

“As a successful local organisation, we like to support other companies and we look forward to what the future holds for Ayr racecourse and The QTS Group.”

The Scottish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Scotland

Somerset County Cricket Club has announced the signing of the biggest title sponsorship deal in their history with South West company St Austell Brewery.

St Austell Brewery will become the club’s Title Partner for the next three years from the start of this season. The deal will see the Tribute Ale logo appear on the front of the LV= County Championship shirt and across the back of the YB40 and FLt20 shirts for the 2013 season.

St Austell Brewery will also supply the Clubs’ drinks provision for the start of the new season with Tribute, viagra  Proper Job and Trelawny all being served at the County Ground.

Chief Executive Guy Lavender said: “We are delighted to have signed a partnership with St Austell Brewery; a regional company who cover many of the areas from which our Membership is drawn.”

“In the current economic environment this is extremely good news for the Club and having got to know the folk at St Austell we think this is a tremendous partnership for both of us.”

“The next three year period will see us move the ground towards international status and we are delighted that St Austell is playing an important part in helping us to achieve that objective.”

James Staughton, herbal Managing Director of St Austell Brewery added: “The partnership with Somerset Cricket is ideal for St Austell Brewery as we develop our business in the South West and nationally. We are looking forward to supporting the club in the years ahead and to seeing Tribute on the team shirts – a first class beer for first class cricket.”

St Austell Brewery have been brewing in Cornwall since 1851 and are a family owned brewer, pub company and the South West’s largest wholesale distributor of beers, ciders, wines, spirits and soft drinks

Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew have announced a new corporate partnerships with Papa John’s Pizza of Central Ohio and hometown White Castle restaurants.

Both restaurants’ products will be offered at Crew Stadium concessions starting with the Crew’s Opening Match against the San Jose Earthquakes on March 16.

“We’re thrilled to welcome these valuable community partners to the Columbus Crew family,” said Crew Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Chris Previte. “Both Papa John’s and White Castle are well-recognized brands with highly respected food offerings that will now be available to fans of the Black & Gold at every home match. Additionally, they are active partners in our community and are excited about engaging with Crew fans in new and innovative ways.”

Papa John’s becomes the official pizza of the Columbus Crew and Crew Stadium, and will be sold in its own permanent in-stadium concession stand – located in the southeast corner of the main concourse – and in-stadium concession sales at southwest & northeast stadium stands. White Castle hamburgers will be offered on the Crew Stadium plaza as well as in the southwest and northeast concession stands.

“We are extremely excited to enter into this multi-year partnership with our Columbus Crew,” said Charles Burris, Operating Partner and Franchisee for Papa John’s Pizza in Central Ohio. “This marks the second professional sports partnership in Columbus along with the Blue Jackets, and our organization is ready to kick it off with exciting promotions and a lot of fun for the fans of the Crew.”

Based in Columbus, White Castle is pleased to partner with Ohio’s Major League Soccer club.

“White Castle is excited to partner with the Crew, and especially proud to be serving our one-of-a-kind steam-grilled goodness of White Castle hamburgers and cheeseburgers,” stated White Castle’s Regional Director of Restaurant Operations, Chris Shaffery.  “With our home office right here in Columbus, it’s going to be a kick to bring two great Columbus traditions together.”

ASICS America announced today the fastest American marathon runner Ryan Hall, medicine has extended its partnership with the Japanese athletic company.

One of the premier faces in American distance running, medicine the two-time Olympian and American half marathon record holder became the first American to break the one-hour barrier in the half marathon in 2007.

“I could not be more thrilled to partner with ASICS again this year, see a brand that has been faithful to me throughout my athletic pursuits,” commented Ryan Hall on the renewed partnership. “ASICS goes above and beyond to make you feel like you are part of the family, while simultaneously providing me with the world’s leading high performance footwear and apparel that suit my competition needs.”

During the course of his 8 year relationship with the brand, Hall has participated in a number of exciting initiatives, including a trip to the ASICS Research and Development center in Kobe, Japan, to undergo testing and evaluation to provide feedback on footwear development and design. In addition, the brand collaborated with Hall on a video wall during the 2011 New York City Marathon, dubbed “Run with Ryan,” a popular installation that resonated with millions of running enthusiasts and novices alike.

“We’ve done stellar things with Ryan over the last 8 years, and by renewing our relationship with him in 2013 and beyond, we’re excited to continue to break barriers in the sport together,” commented ASICS Vice President of Marketing, Erik Forsell. “We are committed to constantly improving with our athletes, and Ryan is a perfect example of this mission.”

ASICS also announced a partnership with Deena Kastor.

NASCAR and FDP Friction Science, treat a leading manufacturer and supplier of brake pads, prostate announced today a new agreement that designates the Duralast brand as the ‘Official Brakes of NASCAR.’

With more than 50 years of brake technology and friction development experience, bronchi FDP manufactures Duralast Brakes which are sold exclusively at AutoZone.

“Our brand loyal fan base associates NASCAR with quality and authenticity,” said Jim O’Connell, NASCAR chief sales officer. “NASCAR fans are more likely to shop at automotive specialty stores and the NASCAR bar mark will help differentiate Duralast Brakes at retail.” 

Duralast will also participate in the NASCAR contingency program, with the creation of the “Brake in the Race Award” across both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series. The weekly award will be given to the highest eligible driver in the running order at the time of the first caution of each race. The year-end award winner will be the driver who wins the “Brake in the Race Award” the most times during the course of the season. In the event of a tie, the final series point standings shall serve as a tiebreaker. 

“We are proud of our new alliance with NASCAR,” said Jack Carney, President FDP Friction Science. “We have been developing brake technology since 1969 and will continue to manufacture high-quality Duralast brakes that millions of NASCAR fans can trust.” 

USA Triathlon has announced supplier-level sponsorship agreements with endurance sports industry leaders NormaTec, try Selle Italia and Siliconcoach.

The partnerships will directly benefit USA Triathlon members and programs alike. 

A medical and technology company which created a device to help treat circulation-related disorders, order NormaTec plays a key role in athlete recovery. The NormaTec MVP (Most Valuable Pump) Sports Medicine Technology mimics normal physiology with its patented Sequential Pulse pneumatic waveform to get athletes back into play quickly. 

NormaTec will provide its NormaTec MVP systems to the USA Triathlon National Team program and will make its systems available for use at the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships throughout 2013. Additionally, bronchi NormaTec will sponsor the Recovery Zone at All USA Triathlon-owned national championship events. 

Named the Official Bike Saddle Supplier of USA Triathlon through 2013, Selle Italia is a manufacturer of Italian bicycle saddles whose sole aim is to provide maximum performance and comfort. In addition to providing the USA Triathlon National Team Program with an annual allotment of bike saddles, Selle Italia offers a discount to USA Triathlon certified coaches and elite athletes. 

Siliconcoach video analysis software is utilized by a number of the world’s top footwear companies, national academies and institutes of sport. The Siliconcoach software also has been adopted within classrooms, giving instructors the ability to visually convey the principles of movement, biomechanics and functional anatomy. Siliconcoach has proven to be a dynamic tool that ultimately leads to a greater understanding for coach and athlete.

Swift Response LLC, impotent makers of FLEX SEAL, ed has completed a marketing partnership with JD Motorsports for the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series season.

The relationship will kick off at Daytona, by sponsoring the No. 4 FLEX SEAL Chevrolet driven by Danny Efland in this weekend’s DRIVE4COPD 300, at Daytona International Speedway. FLEX SEAL will also be the Associate Sponsor of the No. 01 car driven by Efland’s teammate Mike Wallace in the same race.

The multi race marketing partnership will place the familiar FLEX SEAL logo across the No. 4 machine for multiple races throughout the year. The deal will also include Mike Wallace in the No. 01 Chevrolet for races both as a primary and associate sponsor.

“I am excited to partner with FLEX SEAL for the 2013 racing season at JD Motorsports. They have a neat brand that I look forward to supporting throughout the year. Everyone has seen the commercial with Phil in the boat, and I hope the fans will rally around the product to make this partnership successful for the future.” –Danny Efland, driver of the No. 4 FLEX SEAL Chevrolet

“JD Motorsports is looking forward to working with Swift Response LLC and their FLEX SEAL brand for 2013. We are pleased with their decision to join our team, and want to provide results on and off the track to support their brand.” –Johnny Davis, owner and CEO of JD Motorsports

Arko Custom has signed on as associate sponsor for Tommy Baldwin Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet, driven by JJ Yeley during Daytona 500 Speedweeks. 

Arko Custom, a large format digital print and media provider based in Atlanta, GA, will begin its co-sponsorship during Thursday’s Budweiser Duel, the pair of 150-mile qualifying races that will set the starting order for the Feb. 24 Daytona 500, otherwise known as The Great American Race. Though heavily involved in motorsports and sports marketing, this will be the first sponsorship endeavor for Arko Custom and its parent company, Graphics Central Inc., also based in Atlanta.

“Arko Custom joins Golden Corral and our other great sponsors as we work towards a great Speedweeks for the No. 36, hopefully culminating in a big finish for JJ and all of us at Tommy Baldwin Racing in Sunday’s Daytona 500,” said Tommy Baldwin Jr., owner, Tommy Baldwin Racing. 

Tommy Baldwin Racing is coming off its best year in 2012, highlighted by leading three laps in last year’s Daytona 500 along with a third-place finish by the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet at Talladega in October. Veteran driver JJ Yeley takes over the No. 36 in 2013, with Dave Blaney taking over the new No.7 team for Tommy Baldwin Racing. Yeley has been competing in NASCAR Sprint Cup since 2004 and has seven top ten finishes and one pole in his career driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hall of Fame Racing and Robinson-Blakeney Racing. 

“Tommy Baldwin’s 36 team is poised to take advantage of the momentum from a solid 2012 with a new driver that has raced for and against the best that NASCAR has to offer,” said Tyler Alexander, founder and president of Arko Custom. 

The first 150 mile race of the Budweiser Duel begins at 2 PM ET on Thursday, Feb. 21, with JJ Yeley running in Duel 2 starting at 4 PM at Daytona International Speedway. The front-row qualifiers and the highest 15 finishers in each Duel will earn a spot in the Daytona 500, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 24 at 1:00 PM ET. The Duel will be televised by SPEED TV and the Daytona 500 on FOX.

LPGA legend and 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam has been named an ambassador for IMG Media’s Golfing World.

Golfing World is a diverse media platform, covering TV, web, mobile and In-Flight, delivering an unrivalled mix of golf content daily to millions worldwide. Golfing World covers all aspects of the game including the latest highlights, exclusive features and behind the scenes news from all the major tours, as well as instructional tips, destination reviews and player interviews.

As part of the agreement, Golfing World will cover Annika throughout the year at various events. These include major championships, ANNIKA Foundation junior tournaments, corporate outings and elsewhere. Annika joins a stellar list of Golfing World Ambassadors that includes Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen, Natalie Gulbis and Beatriz Recari.

“We’re excited by the possibilities of this new partnership with Golfing World and our long-time associates at IMG,” says Annika, a 2003 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee. “Despite stepping away from competitive golf in 2008, my schedule is even more hectic nowadays. Golfing World’s video platform will give fans a unique glimpse into my travels across the globe as I pursue my new passions like fitness and nutrition, girls’ junior golf and course design. We look forward to sharing the content across our websites as well.”

Rupert Hunter, VP IMG Media, said: “Golfing World is very excited to be working with Annika in her capacity as a brand ambassador for our ever evolving media platform. To have the opportunity to work so closely with one of the game’s greats and share the wide variety of her business interests with golf fans around the world is something we are very much looking forward to.”