Jeff Burton drove the No. 29 in 10 races, posting a victory and seven top-10s. Credit: Autostock

Holiday Inn to sponsor RCR Busch car in 2007

Burton, Wimmer to share driving duties in No. 29 Chevrolet

ATLANTA -- Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts will expand its winning NASCAR Busch Series program with Richard Childress Racing in 2007 to a full season of competition with co-drivers Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer.

Jeff Burton won at Dover in the No. 29 Busch Series car. Credit: Autostock

The program is the next step of this season's 10-race program with Burton behind the wheel of the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS. In those 10 starts, Burton earned one victory (June 3 at Dover International Speedway), five top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

Wimmer is also scheduled to drive RCR's No. 33 Chevrolet, with sponsorship from Holiday Inn, in this season's Nextel Cup Series season finale, Nov. 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"It's an honor to be able to continue and grow our relationship with an American icon like Holiday Inn," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "Jeff Burton, Pat Smith [crew chief] and the entire team have done a solid job on the competition side and the folks at Holiday Inn have done a great job in promoting their program to their customers.

"We've had pretty good success the past couple of years running a two-driver program and we think that will only continue with the Holiday Inn team in 2007."

Burton and Wimmer will split the 35-race season down the middle, though which driver runs an 18th race is yet to be determined. RCR won the 2003 Busch Series owner championship with Kevin Harvick and Johnny Sauter. This season, RCR's No. 21 team earned the driver title with Harvick and the owner title with Harvick running the majority of the races and Burton running five, including a win March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"We are thrilled with the opportunity to build upon the tremendous partnership established between Holiday Inn and Richard Childress Racing, and continue to grow our place in the NASCAR community," said Mark Snyder, senior vice president of brand management for Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts in the Americas. "A full season at the track with Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer behind the wheel of the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet takes us to a whole new level, and is sure to provide even more racing excitement for Holiday Inn guests and NASCAR fans everywhere."

Scott Wimmer has five Busch Series victories. Credit: Autostock

Wimmer comes to RCR with sound Busch Series credentials. The 30-year old Wausau, Wis., native has five wins, 17 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes in 120 Busch Series starts. He also has two top-10 finishes in the series point standings in the three years he has competed full time (2001-03) -- third in 2002 and ninth in 2003.

"We're excited about bring Scott Wimmer to RCR to give him an opportunity to showcase his talents," Childress said. "His record shows he knows how to win races and finish strong in the point standings so we feel that teaming him up with Jeff Burton and the rest of the Holiday Inn team will make for a very strong combination."

Plans for 2007 also call for Wimmer to compete in two still-to-be-determined Nextel Cup Series events in RCR's No. 33 Chevrolet with primary sponsorship from Holiday Inn.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity to drive for Richard Childress and his Busch Series program," Wimmer said. "Being teamed up with Jeff Burton, and having Kevin and Clint [Bowyer] to draw from, is one of the big reasons why I decided to drive for RCR. I've raced in NASCAR for almost six years and have never had a teammate. It's something I've always been missing in my career so I'm really looking forward to it, especially with someone the caliber of Jeff Burton.

"Growing up in the Midwest, I think I had every birthday party from the time I can remember until I was 14 or so at a Holiday Inn Holidome so it's great to be driving for them. We had a lot of fun in those Holidomes and I'm looking forward to having just as much fun in their racecars."