New driver, sponsor for Gibbs No.18 NBS team

CONCORD, N.C. -- Officials from Joe Gibbs Racing announced Wednesday that furniture manufacturer Z-Line Designs will sponsor Kevin Conway and the No. 18 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series beginning with the March 24 race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

"It's great to have such an innovative company as Z-Line Designs on board at Joe Gibbs Racing," said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. "Z-Line Designs, much like our race team, is family-owned and run. Their core values are very similar to ours, so it's a perfect partnership. We plan on putting a product on the race track that's just as good the products Z-Line Designs offers to consumers."

Conway, 28, comes to Joe Gibbs Racing with six Busch Series starts and a diverse background that includes experience in AMA Motocross, the World Karting Association, Legends cars (where in 1994 he was the youngest national champion in series history), USAC Midgets, late model stock cars and time in the American Speed Association, ARCA and the NASCAR Busch West Series. He most recently served as a test driver for Ginn Racing.

Conway will pilot the Z-Lines Designs Chevrolet for eight races, while Joe Gibbs Racing Nextel Cup Series drivers Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin will take the wheel at California in February and Richmond in May, respectively. Conway's races include Bristol (March 24); Dover (June 2); Nashville (June 9); New Hampshire (June 30); Chicagoland (July 14); California (Sept. 1); Richmond (Sept. 7); and Kansas (Sept. 29).

"I'm thrilled not only to be driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, but to have Z-Line Designs as my sponsor," said Conway. "The support JGR and Z-Line has given me is incredible. I'm looking forward to getting the season off to a great start and building a long term and very successful relationship between myself, JGR and Z-Line Designs."

Z-Line Designs president and chief operating officer Jim Sexton shares Conway's enthusiaism.

"Z-Line Designs is proud to sponsor the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Team in the NASCAR Busch Series," said Sexton. "With Kevin Conway behind the wheel and as a spokesperson for our brand, we feel confident that we can make Z-Line Designs top of mind among NASCAR's ever-growing fan base. We're also leveraging this sponsorship to build upon our already strong relationships with our vendors. This is more than a sponsorship. It's a platform for new business."