O'Reilly establishes award for work on track, in pits

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- O'Reilly Auto Parts, the official auto parts store of NASCAR, will sponsor a Sprint Cup Series and a Camping World Truck Series contingency special award this season.

The O'Reilly Auto Parts "People, Service and Performance" award recognizes the team effort made both on the track and in the pits. The NSCS and NCWTS driver who records the fastest lap time and lowest cumulative pit stop time of the event will be the award winner.

In order to be eligible, the driver must finish the race on the lead lap. In the event of a tie, the award will be presented to the driver with the highest finishing position in the event.

The winning NSCS team will receive a $5,000 check each race and the team which wins the most awards during the course of the season will be awarded with a $100,000 year-end bonus. The winning NCWTS team will receive a $1,000 check each race and the team which wins the most awards during the course of the season will be awarded with a $10,000 year-end bonus.

O'Reilly became an exclusive NASCAR partner in a multi-year agreement announced in November.

NASCAR is one of the few professional sports leagues that have created an automotive-specific marketing program for its family of automotive sponsors. The platform, branded as NASCAR Performance, includes exclusive marketing rights, the ability to co-brand products and product packaging as well as involvement in a long list of integrated media programs.