AARON’S NASCAR DREAM MACHINES TO FEATURE AARON’S OUTDOORS, MOSSY OAK BRAND CAMO PAINT SCHEMES

ATLANTA, GA (July 30, 2009) - Aaron’s, Inc. of Atlanta, GA (NYSE: AAN), the Aaron’s Outdoors television program and Mossy Oak Brand Camo have teamed together to produce a unique marketing campaign that features specialty paint schemes on three NASCAR racecars and a national register-to-win sweepstakes. Aaron’s will replace its familiar Aaron’s Dream Machine paint schemes with Mossy Oak patterned camouflage and prominently feature the Aaron’s Outdoors logo on the hood and TV panel of the racecars. To help promote the special paint schemes, Aaron’s has also developed a national register-to-win sweepstakes that will award nine grand prize winners camouflaged replica race helmets, each autographed by the three drivers who will pilot the cars.

Aaron’s has had ownership in the Aaron’s Outdoor television program since 2007 and this campaign will promote the partnership of the Aaron’s Outdoors, Aaron’s motorsports teams and Mossy Oak Brand Camo. It is designed to appeal to avid and casual outdoorsmen and NASCAR fans.

The first of these special paint schemes will premiere on the Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) No. 00 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s Dream Machine driven by David Reutimann at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 6, 2009. The paint scheme will again be featured on the R3 Motorsports No. 23 NASCAR Nationwide Series racecar driven by Ken Butler III at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on October 16. The final paint scheme can be seen on the MWR NASCAR Nationwide Series No. 99 driven by Trevor Bayne at Texas Motor Speedway on November 7.

In addition to featuring the special paint schemes on the racecars, the program will include a national register-to-win sweepstakes offering fans a chance to win one of nine replica race helmets featuring Mossy Oak Brand camouflage and autographed by each of the three drivers. Registration for the sweepstakes begins July 30 and ends on Nov. 4. An independent judging organization will choose three winners the week before each featured race.

The specialized racecars and helmet sweepstakes will be promoted through a combination of television, radio and print advertising along with a comprehensive Internet program all designed to drive fans to learn more about Aaron’s and register for the sweepstakes on the www.shopaarons.com/camocontest website.

“Our involvement with the Aaron’s Outdoors television program has been beneficial in communicating Aaron’s business model to the casual and avid outdoorsmen and we are proud to develop this program and combine the Mossy Oak camouflage pattern with our racecars,” said Robin Loudermilk, Chief Executive Officer, Aaron’s, Inc. “Aaron’s knows that our customers and associates enjoy the outdoors and that when they get home, they also enjoy top-quality name-brand furniture, appliances, electronics and computers that are available at Aaron’s. We believe this program will be a hit with race fans, as well as those who hunt and fish.”

“I’m thrilled to be the first to run the Aaron’s Outdoors/Mossy Oak Brand ‘Tree Stand’ Camo paint scheme on the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September,” said driver David Reutimann. “For a majority of fans, being outdoors is just as popular as attending their favorite NASCAR race weekend, so partnering with Aaron’s Outdoors and Mossy Oak Brand is going to be an exciting experience for everyone.”

“I am so grateful to Aaron’s and Mossy Oak Brand Camo who allow me to bring family traditions into your home though our Aaron’s Outdoors television program,” stated Jarrod Brannon, host of Aaron’s Outdoors. “Having this Aaron’s Outdoors /Mossy Oak special paint scheme on David Reutimann’s No. 00 NASCAR Cup Series racecar at Atlanta Motor Speedway is truly a dream come true for me. And with the camo race helmet sweepstakes supporting the race cars, I believe race fans and outdoorsmen will really relate to this program. I can’t wait to see this car on the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway.”


About Aaron’s, Inc.
Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,615 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982.

About Aaron’s Outdoors Television
Aaron's Outdoors TV is featured on CSS and the Pursuit Channel with host, Jarrod Brannen. Jarrod, along with his wife and five children, bring viewers an up close and personal look to some of North America's best game and fishing opportunities. By visiting their website, www.aaronsoutdoorstv.com, you can learn more about the show and how the Brannen Family continues to make time for traditions.

About Mossy Oak Brand Camo
Mossy Oak/Haas Outdoors Inc. Haas Outdoors Inc., headquartered in West Point, Miss., was established in 1986 and is home of Mossy Oak (www.mossyoak.com). Mossy Oak specializes in developing and marketing modern camouflage designs for hunters and outdoorsmen. Mossy Oak patterns can be found on a multitude of products worldwide. Haas Outdoors Inc. is the outdoor industry leader in modern camouflage design, international licensing and marketing. Haas Outdoors Inc. markets its services and products under widely recognized brands including: Mossy Oak, BioLogic, Mossy Oak Productions, Mossy Oak Interactive, LLC, Nativ Nursery and Mossy Oak Properties.

Trevor Bayne - US Cellular 250 Preview

NOTES:

• This week’s No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota at Iowa Speedway … Trevor Bayne will pilot Chassis No. 052 from the Michael Waltrip Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable this weekend at Iowa Speedway. A new chassis for the 2009 season that Bayne drove at Nashville Superspeedway. The Knoxville, Tenn., native qualified this No. 99 Aaron’s Dream machine second and was involved in an incident just past the halfway point and finished 28th.


• Nationwide Stats … In seven NNS starts, the 18-year-old driver has a 9.4 starting average coupled with a 17.3 finishing average. He has completed 1,454 of the 1,574 total laps run this season.


• Iowa Series Debut … This weekend the Nationwide Series rolls into Iowa Speedway for the inaugural NNS race at the .875-mile track, as Bayne jumps behind the wheel of the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota. In 2008, Bayne competed in the NASCAR Camping World East Series race. The rookie driver stared sixth and finished third.


• Vote, Vote, Vote … Go to www.nascar.com and cast your votes for Bayne as the 2009 Most Popular Driver of the Year Award. Fans may vote or submit a write-in candidate once per day and are encouraged to vote throughout the season. Voting ends Oct. 31 for the NNS. Results will be announced at each of the respective series’ season-end banquets.


• After 20 … Over the season’s first 20 races, the No. 99 team has notched four top-10 and 11 top-15 finishes. The MWR team sits 16th in the owners’ point standings. They are only 76 points behind the No. 27 entry owned by Mike Curb in 15th.


• Online with the Times … To keep up with the latest news and information about Bayne visit his official website at www.trevorbayne.com. For minute-to-minute info about Bayne and the rest of the MWR crew, check out www.twitter.com/aaronssports.


• Meet the Press … Bayne will be available inside the Iowa Speedway infield media center Sat., July 31 at 2:45 p.m. local time to field questions from the gathered media.


• Autograph Signing … Bayne will sign autographs on Sat., Aug. 1 from 10 – 11 a.m. local time under the Manatt Grandstand at the north end of the Iowa Speedway concourse.


• Race Broadcast Information … The US Cellular 250 will be televised live on ESPN Sat., Aug. 1 beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also broadcast worldwide on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio beginning at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Qualifying for the 21st event of the 2009 NNS season will air on ESPN2, the same day, at 1 p.m. EDT. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also air live updates of time trials.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:

What are your thoughts on racing at Iowa Speedway?
“I am actually pretty excited to final go to a track that I have raced on before. I raced the Hooter Pro Cup and Camping World East cars there before. I have been able to pick up some solid finishes and I think I am going into this race with a lot more confidence. I also think we can be a little more aggressive on the initial set-up than being so conservative with the car at the beginning and having to free it up all day. I think we can go there with something like what he’d (Jerry Baxter, crew chief) take David Reutimann to the take with and just go out and try to bust off some laps early.”

Do you think Thursday’s initial test/practice at Iowa is important to the teams?
“A lot of these drivers have been to that track in ARCA, Hooter Pro Cup or the Camping World East/West Series. For the teams, I think it is crucial because I don’t know how many of them got to test there. I’m sure a few of them did before the NASCAR testing policy because that was a good track to go test. For teams that haven’t been there at all it’s going to be very crucial because they don’t have the five or six years of notes to go back on. It’s going to be kind of a guessing game for what the track is going to do for the race. No one knows if it’s going to tighten up or free up or just gain more grip as the night goes on. I think you’ll see a lot more adjustments as the race goes on.”

Bayne Thrills in First Trip to ORP

Clermont, Ind. (July 27, 2009) – Trevor Bayne grabbed a career-best seventh-place finish in Saturday night’s Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Additionally, in only his seventh NASCAR Nationwide Series start, the 18-year-old posted the fastest time (22.296 seconds) to earn his first career pole award in the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota.

Bayne paced the field to the green just after 8 p.m. before an estimated crowd of 40,000. The Knoxville, Tenn., native secured the lead from Brad Coleman going into turn two and led the next 34 circuits.

The young Bayne lost the lead in a bizarre situation after Michael Annett crashed his Germain Racing Toyota in Turn 3. As Bayne took the yellow flag and slowed into Turn 1, the pace car hit the track in the middle of the corner.

The rookie driver slowed to stay behind the caution car, and Wallace rammed him from the rear, spinning both cars out. NASCAR ruled that since they didn’t maintain caution speed, they took their positions where they blended in, which place Bayne 11th for the lap 43 restart.

Another caution flag flew on lap 48 for a single car incident in Turn 4. Crew Chief Jerry Baxter summoned his driver to pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires, fuel and a minor air pressure adjustment to the right-rear tire. Since some teams were on different pit strategies, Bayne restarted 23rd on lap 53.

The adjustments seem to help the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota and Bayne began to work his way through the field. He was 20th on lap 56, 14th on lap 59 and worked his way back into the top 10 by lap 67.

The Kroger 200 pole sitter continued to race inside the top 10 until the fifth caution flag flew on lap 90. Bayne made the hard left hand turn down pit road to the attention of his crew. Another routine four-tire pit stop that included a minor chassis adjustment was in order for the No. 99 machine. A lightning-fast pit stop by the Aaron’s Dream Machine over-the-wall crew netted Bayne two spots on pit road and he restarted eighth on lap 96.

Over the next 100 laps¸ Bayne held his own in the top 10 and crossed the start finish line seventh in the final run down.

Carl Edwards grabbed his second win of the season followed by Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski and Steven Wallace.

Next weekend the NASCAR Nationwide Series rolls into Newton, Iowa, for the division’s first ever stop at Iowa Raceway.

The US Cellular 250 will be televised live on ESPN at 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 21st round of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship will be televised on ESPN2 the same day beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:
It’s our first top-10 so you’ve got to be really happy about that but it’s disappointing in the fact that I think we had a car that could win. It’s just so hard to pass here. I think if we could have got back to the lead we could have maintained it but we never had the opportunity to get back there. Overall, it was a good day for the No. 99 team.”

Trevor Bayne - Kroger 200 Preview

NOTES:

• Nationwide Stats … In six NNS starts, the Knoxville, Tenn., native has a 10.8 starting average coupled with a 19th-place finishing average. He has completed 1,254 of the 1,375 total laps run this season.


• Vote, Vote, Vote … Go to www.nascar.com and cast your votes for Bayne as the 2009 Most Popular Driver of the Year Award. Fans may vote or submit a write-in candidate once per day and are encouraged to vote throughout the season. Voting ends Oct. 31 for the NNS. Results will be announced at each of the respective series’ season-end banquets.


• After 19 … Over the season’s first 19 races, the No. 99 team has notched three top-10 and 10 top-15 finishes. The MWR team sits 16th in the owners’ point standings. They are only 133 points behind the No. 62 owned by Rusty Wallace in 15th.


• Looking Back at 2008 … Last season, the Knoxville, Tenn., native competed full-time in the NASCAR Camping World East Series where he finished fourth in the final championship point standings on the strength of one win, six top-three and eight top-10 finishes in 13 starts.


• Online with the Times … To keep up with the latest news and information about Bayne visit his official website at www.trevorbayne.com. For minute-to-minute info about Bayne and the rest of the MWR crew, check out www.twitter.com/aaronssports.


• Race Broadcast Information … The Kroger 200 benefitting Riley Hospital for Children will be televised live on ESPN Sat., July 25 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also broadcast worldwide on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio beginning at 7 p.m. EDT. Qualifying for the 20th event of the 2009 NNS season will air on ESPN2, the same day, at 4:30 p.m. EDT. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also air live updates of time trials.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:

What do you think of ORP?
I have never been to ORP, but I guess it’s more of an Irwindale (Calif.) type race track. Kind of more of a circle short track so I’m looking forward to going there and racing. We ran at Concord (N.C.) Motorsports Park in the Hooters Pro Cup earlier this year and won the race

Trevor Bayne - Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 Preview

NOTES:

• This week’s No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota at Gateway International Raceway … Trevor Bayne will pilot Chassis No. 046 from the Michael Waltrip Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable this weekend at Gateway International Raceway. Scott Speed drove this No. 99 machine at Darlington Raceway in May. He finished 13th after being involved in two separate incidents on the race track.


• Nationwide Stats … In five NNS starts, the Knoxville, Tenn., native has an 10.6 starting average coupled with an 17.4 finishing average. He has completed 1,071 of the 1,175 total laps run this season.


• Vote, Vote, Vote … Go to www.nascar.com and cast your votes for Bayne as the 2009 Most Popular Driver of the Year Award. Fans may vote or submit a write-in candidate once per day and are encouraged to vote throughout the season. Voting ends Oct. 31 for the NNS. Results will be announced at each of the respective series’ season-end banquets.


• After 18 … Over the season’s first 18 races, the No. 99 team has notched three top-10 and 10 top-15 finishes. The MWR team sits 18th in the owners’ point standings. They are five points out of 17th and only 78 points out of the top 15.


• Meet the Press … Bayne will be available inside the Gateway International Raceway infield media center Fri., July 17 at 3:15 p.m. local time to field questions from the gathered media.


• Autograph Signing … Bayne will sign autographs on Friday, July 17 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. local time on the GIR pit road.


• Meet the Driver … Bayne will sign autographs at the Aaron’s store located at 1068 Lemay Ferry Rd., St. Louis, Mo., from 1-2 p.m. Fri., July 17.


• Meet the Driver Part Two … Bayne along with several other NNS driver will do a Q & A at the GIR midway on Sat., July 18 at 5:45 local time.


• Online with the Times … To keep up with the latest news and information about Bayne visit his official website at www.trevorbayane.com. For minute-to-minute info about Bayne and the rest of the MWR crew, check out www.twitter.com/aaronssport.


• Race Broadcast Information … The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 presented by Ventrilo will be televised live on ESPN2 Sat., July 17 beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also broadcast worldwide on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio beginning at 8:30 p.m. EDT. Qualifying for the 19th event of the 2009 NNS season will air on ESPN2, the same day, at 5 p.m. EDT. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also air live updates of time trials.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:

How do you prepare for race tracks you’ve never been to?
“I used to do the sim racing and stuff. Like when we were going to Nashville I got on the ARCA sim racer and played it but the set-ups are so different, lifting points are different. The tracks are very similar looking and you can kind of tell if there’s an arc here or whatever but driving style is going to be totally different with the sim racing to this unless you have a perfect set-up where you can drive it off in the corner. That kind of screwed me up going to Nashville I was too easy getting into turn three and that was just from a mindset of playing the video games. It’s crazy how it confuses you. I’ve kind of laid off that. Jerry (Baxter, crew chief) has been giving me a few videos. He got me a tape to watch for this weekend from a race a couple of years ago and that kind of stuff helps me out a lot. The biggest thing is talking to guys like David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip even, they’ve been a big support and Mike Bliss as well. They’ve all helped me out a ton every race track we’ve been to so far, they’ve been an open notebook and really put everything out there for me.”

NAPA Team Rebounds to Finish 20th Place at Chicagoland Speedway

Waltrip’s Result Moves NAPA Team Up One Position in Owner Points Standings

JOLIET, Ill. – A good call in the pits by crew chief Bootie Barker and smart driving by Michael Waltrip helped the NAPA AUTO PARTS team rally back from a disappointing start to Saturday night’s LifeLock.com 400 to finish 20th place at Chicagoland Speedway. The top-20 result moved Waltrip up to 30th position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup owner points standings. “We finished 20th and David Reutimann and Marcos Ambrose finished 12th and 11th,” said Waltrip who started the LifeLock.com 400 in 37th position. “

The whole MWR organization looked pretty good out there on the track at Chicagoland Speedway. Trevor Bayne started it off by finishing 12th in the Nationwide Series race on Saturday night. Then all three of our Cup cars had top-20 results. It was a pretty good weekend for us. “We are still a couple of rungs down the ladder from where we need to be. It is obvious that Hendrick Motorsports has it going on. They are all over it. David is still in contention for that top-12 spot in points to be a part of The Chase. We will keep plugging away and find out what we need to do to get those MWR cars better.”

Brian Vickers led the field to the green flag for the fifth time this season. However, it was not long until Mark Martin showed everyone that he was the class of the field. Meanwhile, Waltrip’s car on the other hand, was extremely loose on throttle so when the first caution of the day came out on lap 39 for debris, Barker called his driver in for a wedge and air pressure adjustment. The NAPA Toyota took the restart in 32nd position and Mark Martin was the leader.

The loose-handling condition continued causing Waltrip to lose several positions on the track. The next chance to work on the car came under green on lap 94. This time track bar was added to the help tighten up the car. It caused the NAPA Toyota to improve slightly and enabled Waltrip to run in 33rd. A second caution for debris was thrown on lap 131. The NAPA driver requested a significant adjustment to help him out on the track so Barker added spring rubbers to the left rear of the car. When the green flag waved on lap 136, Waltrip was 34th and Martin remained the leader.

The NAPA team opted to take a gamble and stay out when the third caution of the race happened on lap 211. Barker and his driver felt there was a good chance that another caution would be triggered during the double-file restart. What they needed was simple -- a yellow flag thrown before Waltrip was forced to pit for fuel. If it happened, the NAPA team would regain one of their two laps back. Their decision paid off. On lap 219, Sam Hornish Jr. lost control of his car on the backstretch.

The NAPA team went from 33rd to 26th due to the strategy. The final 50 laps saw three more caution flags to slow the race down on laps 227, 246 and 261. The team chose to pit on two of those occasions to help Waltrip’s car. Each time his car got more manageable. It also allowed him to contend for positions just outside the top-20. Then the final 15 laps saw an exciting shootout between Jimmie Johnson, Brian Vickers, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch and Mark Martin. “I thought they were going to crash,” said Waltrip to his spotter Ty Norris. “I let off figuring they were wrecking but then they didn’t. It was wild running up through there.”

Despite their efforts, none of the drivers who took over the top spot for brief moments could keep up the pace with the veteran Martin. He retook the lead for the final time on lap 251 to collect his series-best fourth victory of the season. As for Waltrip, he got the job done to pick off six more positions before the checkered flag waved to score 20th place. As for Waltrip’s teammates, JTG-Daugherty Racing’s Marcos Ambrose led the way. He finished 11th. As for David Reutimann, he also battled an extremely loose car. He collected 12th place. He currently sits in 14th position in the championship standings – less than 80 markers out of The Chase.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is off this weekend. Waltrip will be in the broadcast booth in Kentucky with Rick Allen and Phil Parsons for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event on Saturday. It can be seen starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on SPEED.

Bayne Captures 12th Place at Chicagoland Speedway

Joliet, Ill. (July 11, 2009) – A great call by crew chief Jerry Baxter to stay out on the race track during the first caution flag on lap 91 paid off in the form of a 12th-place finish for Trevor Bayne in Friday night’s Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. This was Bayne’s third 12th-place finish in four starts behind the wheel of the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine. The No. 99 team has now grabbed 10 top-15 finishes in just 18 NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season.

In Friday afternoon’s qualifying session, Bayne lapped the mile-and-a-half Joliet, Ill. oval in 30.585 seconds (176.557 mph). The lap was good enough for the eighth-place time, lining up the Knoxville, Tenn. driver on the outside of the fourth row for the Dollar General 300.

60,000 fans packed the Chicagoland Speedway grandstands for the 18th race of 2009 NASCAR’s No. 2 division. After starting eighth, Bayne made quick work of the competition, rocketing up to sixth just two laps into the 300-mile event. Unfortunately, the forward progress didn’t last long. Lacking overall grip, the 18-year-old fell back to 13th before green-flag pit stops began on lap 52. Three laps later Bayne peeled off the racing surface, under green-flag conditions, for routine service including a fresh set of Goodyear Tires, a full load of fuel and a slight chassis adjustment.

The chassis adjustment didn’t seem to help the handling on the No. 99 Toyota, and Bayne lost a lap to the leaders on lap 61 but continued to run in the top 15. The first caution flag finally flew on lap 91 for debris. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, the call was made to stay on the race track and receive the lucky dog placing the No. 99 machine back on the lead lap. The Aaron’s Racing team was listed 12th for the restart on lap 96.

Since the Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota stayed out during the first caution and a second caution had yet to come out, Baxter was forced to call his rookie driver to pit road 25 laps later. Four tires, fuel and a major chassis adjustment was in order, and Bayne returned to the racing surface two laps down in 20th.

Fortunately, the rest of the field was forced to make green-flag pits 25 laps later allowing Bayne to make up one lap on the leaders and jump to the 13th position. As luck would have it, the second caution flag waved on lap 184 and the call to stay out on lap 91 finally proved beneficial. Baxter summoned his young driver to pit road for another set of tires and fuel and Bayne restarted 13th on lap 191.

The 18-year-old driver was able to pass one car in the final nine laps and crossed the finish line 12th, the first car one lap down. Joey Logano grabbed his third win of the season followed by Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers, Jason Leffler and Kevin Harvick.

Next weekend the NASCAR Nationwide Series rolls into Madison, Ill., for the division’s annual stop at Gateway International Raceway just five minutes from downtown St. Louis.
The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 will be televised live on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 19th round of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship will be televised on ESPN2 the same day beginning at 5 p.m. EDT.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:
“We didn’t have the best car tonight but Jerry (Baxter) made a great call to stay out during the first caution and we finished 12th. I can’t believe we finished 12th again. I guess we just need to get over this hump. It was great to have Michael (Waltrip) on the radio tonight helping me get better each lap. I am continuing to learn and hopefully we can grab a top 10 soon.”

Trevor Bayne - Dollar General 300 Preview

NOTES:
· This week’s No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota at Chicagoland Speedway … Trevor Bayne will pilot Chassis No. 054 from the Michael Waltrip Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. This is a new chassis for the 2009 season that Bayne raced at Kentucky Speedway. He qualified Chassis No. 054 eighth and was running in the top 10 when a speeding penalty regulated the No. 99 team to a 12th-place finish.

· Additional Races for Bayne … MWR and Gary Bechtel have added four additional races to Bayne’s schedule. Now the 18-year-old driver will drive a total of 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series behind the wheel of the No. 99 machine sponsored by Aaron’s. The nine races left on Bayne’s schedule include: the July race at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, Mo., the July 25 race at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind., the August 15 race at Michigan International Speedway, the August 21 race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, the September 5 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the November 7 race at Texas Motor Speedway and finishing up at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway on November 14.

· Welcome Back, Bayne … Bayne returns to the seat of the Aaron’s Toyota after a two-race hiatus. During that time, teammates Scott Speed captured an eighth-place finish at New Hampshire International Speedway while Michael Waltrip crossed the finish line 11th last weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

· Nationwide Stats … In four NNS starts, the Knoxville, Tenn., native has an 11.2 starting average coupled with an 18.8 finishing average. He has completed 872 of the 975 total laps run this season.

· Vote, Vote, Vote … Go to

www.nascar.com and cast your votes for Bayne as the 2009 Most Popular Driver of the Year Award. Fans may vote or submit a write-in candidate once per day and are encouraged to vote throughout the season. Voting ends Oct. 31 for the NNS. Results will be announced at each of the respective series’ season-end banquets.

· After 17 … Over the season’s first 17 races, the No. 99 team has notched three top-10 and nine top-15 finishes. The MWR team sits 18th in the owners’ point standings. They are 29 points out of 17th and only 96 points out of the top 15.

· Jump on the Bayne Wagon … Bayne and the No. 99 team are looking for sponsorship. For more information please contact Danielle Randall-Bauer at (704) 688-0765 or by email at

drandallbauer@everest-marketing.com.

· Race Broadcast Information … The Dollar General 300 will be televised live on ESPN Fri., July 10 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also broadcast worldwide on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio beginning at 7 p.m. EDT. Qualifying for the 18th event of the 2009 NNS season will air on ESPN2, the same day, at 3 p.m. EDT. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also air live updates of time trials.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:

Have you tried to get any tips from anyone about how to drive Chicagoland Speedway?
“I have talked to David Reuitmann and Martin Treux Jr. about Chicagoland Speedway. They said it was pretty easy to get around. They compared it to Kentucky a little bit. However, once I get a little practice time on the race track, I am pretty sure I will have some more questions for these guys.”

This weekend there are going to be a lot more Cup regulars driving in the Nationwide race. Does that make you reevaluate your goals for this weekend?
“I don’t think it does. We have been able to race with the 60 (Carl Edwards) and the 18 (Kyle Busch) and they are the best in the Nationwide business right now. I think our goals are the same. We want to go out there and learn as much as we can and try to keep the car in one piece. However, I think this will give me a good chance to prove myself with some of the other Cup guys.”