Penske, AAA team up on No. 77 for select Cup races

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Penske Racing announced Tuesday the establishment of a multi-year agreement for its Sprint Cup program with the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) and its affiliated clubs.

Starting in 2009, the Auto Club will be displayed as primary sponsor for select events on the Penske Racing No. 77 Dodge driven by three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. in the Cup Series. Hornish will debut the No. 77 Auto Club Dodge in February at the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.

In addition, the motor club will serve as primary sponsor of the No. 77 Car in Sprint Cup Series events at Kansas in October and Texas in November, and as co-primary sponsor for Hornish and the No. 77 team, alongside Penske Truck Rental, at the April Talladega and June New Hampshire Cup Series races.

"We are very proud to welcome the Auto Club as a significant sponsor with Penske Racing for 2009 and beyond," team owner Roger Penske said. "The Auto Club, with it's affiliation with AAA is a great brand and company and has served as an alliance partner with Penske Truck Rental for the past decade. We look forward to having the Auto Club and AAA brand represented with the No. 77 team."

The Auto Club will serve as a major associate sponsor of the No. 77 team for all other Cup Series races with Mobil 1 serving as the primary sponsor for these races.

"We are excited to join the Penske Racing Sprint Cup team," said Thomas V. McKernan, Auto Club CEO. "This agreement is much more than a racecar sponsorship -- it is an extension of our long-standing partnership with the Penske Corporation. We have had a long-term relationship with Penske through the Penske Truck Rental member discount program and through some of its auto dealerships that are part of our vehicle purchasing program. This is just the latest addition. We see it as part of a larger package that includes member and employee benefits and discounts and community outreach, too."