AMA Pro Racing and Cortech have reached an agreement expanding their existing partnership for the 2013 season, naming Cortech as the presenting sponsor of AMA Pro Racing’s Live Timing and Scoring for both GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track.

The Cortech “Performance Edge” year-end award program will once again be named after the industry-leading motorcycle gear company.

The “Performance Edge” rider award was created in 2011 to recognize the rider who turned the highest number of overall fast lap times in National Guard SuperBike races. Josh Hayes won the initial award in 2011, then backed that up with a phenomenal 2012 season that included ten races where he recorded the fastest lap time. The Mississippian put together a 16-win season, landed on the podium on 18 separate occasions. Hayes was declared the winner of the year-end award for the second consecutive year and will be looking to three-peat in 2013.

Through the partnership, Cortech will have access to exclusive in-market and promotional rights to the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track series marks in addition to on-site activation space within the paddock at every event held this upcoming season. AMA Pro Racing and Cortech will be working hard throughout the season to create ways to expand their collective marketing reach and engage new fans.

NHRA Drag racing champion Jay Payne has agreed a contract extension from longtime sponsor FireIce.

The deal keeps the FireIce brand on Payne’s Peak Motor Oil Top Alcohol Funny Car as a major associate and continues the title sponsorship of Payne’s FireIce Pro Mod car through 2015.

“Jay’s our guy,” said Michael Cordani, CEO of GelTech Solutions, the parent company of FireIce. “Since Jay got the deal with Peak for his Funny Car we’ve been approached by several other teams about helping them but the reality is we never left Jay. We just gave up the primary position so Jay could be better funded. We’ve still been on his Funny Car, and of course the Pro Mod car too, and we’re staying with Jay moving forward.”

Payne’s relationship with FireIce began midway through the 2008 season when a title sponsorship was unveiled on his Top Alcohol Funny Car at the Kansas race. They later added the Pro Mod car when Payne decided to contest both classes.

FireIce is a patent-pending fire suppressant used for direct attack of fires as well as a medium-term retardant for structure protection. FireIce, a GelTech Solutions product, can be used in all types of apparatus such as fire extinguishers, pumper trucks and aerial units for wildfires, as well as home defense units for personal home protection.

“We’re thrilled to know that FireIce will be with us for many more years,” Payne said. “The best way I know how to say thank you is to go out there and win Pomona this weekend, so that’s what we’re going to try and do.”

Richard Childress Racing and AdvancePierre Foods have reached agreement on a partnership program that will see multiple brands from the Cincinnati-based company serving as primary sponsors of multiple race teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Advance Pierre’s Fast Fixin’ brand will be the primary sponsor for Brian Scott and the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro team for two races (July 21 at Chicagoland Speedway and Oct. 5 at Kansas Speedway) and one with Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 team (Oct. 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway). Steak-EZE will sponsor Harvick and the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro team Sept. 28 at Dover International Speedway.

“We are excited and proud to partner with Richard Childress Racing for another year. The RCR team matches everything that Fast Fixin’ and Steak-EZE stand for…quality, pride, fun and family. We wish Kevin Harvick and Brian Scott great luck this season,” stated Trey Taylor, vice president of marketing, brands division for AdvancePierre Foods.

AdvancePierre Foods is a leading supplier of family favorite foods like chicken nuggets, Philly cheese steaks, hamburgers, chicken fried steak and sandwiches to major grocery retailers as well as to foodservice, school, vending and convenience store channels. 

“RCR is proud that we can announce our partnership with AdvancePierre Foods,” said Richard Childress, chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing. “The addition of Brian Scott to the No. 2 team and the already established program of Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 creates a strong program for both the Fast Fixin’ and Steak-EZE brands. We appreciate their confidence in our racing program and look forward to doing all we can for them to realize the best return on their investment with us.”

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced that TranSystems Inc., sales a global engineering transportation firm, has become an “Official Team Partner” as well as an associate sponsor of the No. 15 Indy car driven by Graham Rahal in the IZOD IndyCar Series for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

“All along I have said that one of our goals is to attract the best companies in the world to our team and TranSystems certainly qualifies as one of them,” said Bobby Rahal, co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with CBS LATE SHOW host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan. “Having met with Brian Larson, their CEO, on several occasions it’s clear that this is a well-led company being directed by a guy with a passion for his business and what the future can bring. We look forward to working with him to achieve the goals that he has set forth in this program. We welcome TranSystems with open arms and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

“It’s a pleasure indeed to join forces with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing,” added Brian Larson, CEO and Chairman of the Board of TranSystems “RLL brings exactly what we were looking for to craft a partnership in the racing world: a storied history, a forward lean, a commitment to both ALMS and IndyCar and, with Mike Lanigan, a solid understanding of our business world. Those synergies are what drove us to join RLL.” 

Four-time Olympic triathlete Simon Whitfield has signed a sponsorship deal with American Bicycle Group (ABG) for the next three years.

Whitfield is one of the most decorated Canadian triathletes in history, adiposity with a gold and silver medal in the Olympics, ailment medals at the Pan American Games, cialis Commonwealth Games and too many ITU races to list. He is transitioning this year to longer distance racing and will ride the Quintana Roo (QR) Illicito triathlon bike in non-drafting triathlons and a Litespeed C-Series road bike for any draft-legal racing.

“Simon has proven himself over the years and his results speak for themselves,” said Mac McEneaney, Director of Sales for QR and Litespeed. “But, he also has a creative side to him that excites his fan base in social media. Look at the public support in Canada for Simon to carry the country’s flag during the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics.”

Whitfield didn’t take the decision to switch brands lightly. “I spent time researching the QR and Litespeed product lines after hearing some really positive feedback from some trusted pro friends who are familiar with the brand,” said Whitfield. “Now that I’ve had some time on the bikes, I’m looking ahead to a career-changing season.”

In 2013, Whitfield will make the jump to Rev3 events and 70.3 races, with the goal of winning the Ironman 70.3 World Championships and the HyVee 5150 US Championship.

“Simon likes to win, and is thoroughly dedicated to making that happen,” noted Peter Hurley, CEO of American Bicycle Group. “His feedback is going to be important as we move forward with new product developments.”

Litespeed, founded in 1986, produces and manufactures high-quality road bicycles and bicycle frames. 

International Polo Club Palm Beach has announced for the sixth consecutive year, luxury Swiss watchmaker, PIAGET, will be sponsoring the esteemed USPA Gold Cup.

As the exclusive watch and jewelry sponsor, and the official timekeeper of the International Polo Club Palm Beach and the Palm Beach Polo Season, PIAGET salutes the club’s 10th Anniversary Season with the launch of their new, luxury Polo FortyFive Black watch, which will join their highly successful iconic collection of polo watches introduced in the late 1970s.

“PIAGET brings to IPC and our upcoming 2013 season, the style, panache, and world-renowned cachet commensurate with their brand and international polo,” said John Wash, IPC president. “IPC has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with PIAGET, and we are honored to have them involved with our organization. Their reputation for excellence makes them an ideal sponsor.”

“Having our brand aligned with the nation’s most prestigious polo club makes this the perfect partnership,” said Larry Boland, president of PIAGET.

First played in 1974, the 26-goal USPA Gold Cup is a symbol of professionalism, good sportsmanship, and high-goal polo at its finest. The tournament has been played at various polo clubs across the nation, but found a home at the International Polo Club (IPC) in 2007.

Tthe Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and G-Force Racing Gear announced that the Georgia-based motorsports safety products manufacturer will expand its support of the ARCA Racing Series.

G-Force will become the title sponsor of the tours’ Safety Team and presenting sponsor of the ARCA Safety Initiative. The new three-year agreement will officially kick off during ARCA’s 50th visit to Daytona International Speedway on February 16 for the Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real.

“We are excited to continue the strong relationship we have built with ARCA and pleased to be able to extend our support of the ARCA Safety Initiative through the 2015 season,” said Jeremy Curtis, director of sales and marketing for G-Force.

The ARCA Safety Initiative was launched in 2006 in an effort to explore, examine and react to the elements that comprise the safety environment in the sport. The plan came out of a desire to achieve a higher level of responsibility of safety in the ARCA sanctioning body.

Today, ARCA strives to provide the safest environment possible for the drivers, teams and race fans through education, information, emergency planning and industry certification. As a title and presenting sponsor, G-Force joins the core of that safety effort for the sport.

“G-Force has long been a strong and loyal supporter of ARCA,” said Mark Gundrum, vice president of business development and corporate partnerships for ARCA. “Their willingness to increase their involvement to become the presenting sponsor of the ARCA Safety Initiative and title sponsor for the Safety Team means a lot to us, the sanctioning body, but even more to the participants.”

G-Force Racing Gear was founded by sportscar racer, Bob Postell in the 1990’s. G-Force is based on the core principles of providing the best safety gear for the best prices. The tagline, “Quality, Innovation and Value” has a staple of business for G-Force Racing Gear. Today, G-Force Racing Gear is distributed and throughout the world to both novice and professional racers by a worldwide network of speed shops, trackside sales and other retail outlets.

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading and most diverse auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 100 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has announced a multi-year partnership with Monster Beverage Corporation, denture naming Monster the Official Energy Drink of the track.

In addition to becoming the exclusive energy drink provider of Mid-Ohio, Monster will have its own unique brand of facility presence and signage. Bringing added excitement to Mid-Ohio fans will be the MonsterFreestyle MX team, performing at a selected event this summer.

“Monster’s partnership activation is among the strongest in motorsports, especially within NASCAR. With the addition of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 to our already packed schedule, Monster will bring a lot to the table for our fans and facility,” said Craig Rust, Mid-Ohio president.

The multi-year deal begins immediately, meaning fans will see the Monster impact beginning at the track’s first 2013 event, the Diamond Cellar Classic, on June 14-16.

“We’re pumped to expand our motorsports footprint to include one of America’s great road courses. Congratulations to Mid-Ohio on securing the NASCAR Nationwide Series and we can’t wait to get things rolling there in 2013,” said Eric Johnson with Monster Energy.

Based in Corona, Calif., Monster Beverage Corporation is the leading marketer and distributor of energy drinks and alternative beverages.