Richard Childress Racing Continues Long Term Partnership with BB&T Corporation

Richard Childress Racing announced Tuesday the extension of its longtime partnership with BB&T Corporation for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season.

The full-service financial institution will serve as primary sponsor for five races on the No. 31 Chevrolet, retaining its status as official bank of the 43-year-old Welcome, N.C.-based organization.

“BB&T has been a great partner of RCR over the years so we’re very pleased to renew our program with them,” Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing said. “It’s always beneficial working with a partner like BB&T that has strong ties to the area.”

BB&T’s primary race sponsorship occurs within the corporation’s branch footprint, which covers 12 states and Washington D.C. The No. 31 Chevrolet, driven by Jeff Burton, will debut in March at Bristol with other appearances coming at Martinsville, Richmond, Darlington and a special edition co-branded paint scheme with Caterpillar at the Sprint All-Star Race. The newly designed burgundy and gray paint scheme will also adorn the No. 31 entry at Dover in June.

“The fact that we are entering the sixth year of our partnership is a testament to RCR’s ability to exceed our expectations year after year,” Steve Wiggs, chief marketing officer at BB&T said. “We have been friends with Jeff since we started with RCR in 2007. He is a terrific driver and representative for BB&T, RCR and NASCAR.”

The relationship between RCR and BB&T began at the start of the 2007 Nationwide Series season and moved up to Cup Series action in 2009.

“The move to Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Chevrolet team will be a new piece of the puzzle,” Childress said, “but I’m sure the strong effort the folks at BB&T put into their program will make it a great success for us and them.”