Michael Waltrip Racing Wraps Two-Day Test with Salo and Trulli

Michael Waltrip Racing officials were pleased with the outcome of a two-day test with Formula One drivers Jarno Trulli and Mika Salo behind the wheel of the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida.

"Both Jarno and Mika have done really well," said Steve Hallam, Executive Vice President of Competition for Michael Waltrip Racing and a 27-year Formula One veteran. “They have both delivered competitive lap times. They bring a different perspective to our ears. We are able to hear about the cars in a different way. Also, Trevor (Bayne) being here is very useful because he is articulate and able to relate their experiences to reality. It has been a really positive test and has brought good value to us."

"They wanted to test our NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota and see what our sport is all about," Waltrip said. "They did an outstanding job and were turning some pretty quick times. We were just as serious about this two-day test as they were. We brought down an entire crew. Toyota, our team and engineers fully supported this effort. We were 100% committed to giving it our all just like we would at any of our tests.”

On Tuesday, Diamond-Waltrip NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Trevor Bayne climbed into the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota seat to shake down the car before Salo took to the wheel for the first time during his one day of testing. For over two years, Salo searched for an opportunity to test a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. Ironically, Salo knew MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman for a little over a year, but what he did not know was that he co-owned multiple NASCAR teams until recently.

“Thanks to Rob, I was able to test a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car for the first time in my life,” said Salo, who turned 208 laps in the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota. “I was very comfortable out there and had a lot of fun. I was quick and I know that if I had today to test, I would be a lot quicker. Now, I want to have 42 other cars around me and see what it is really like.”

“I have never raced on an oval before and New Smyrna is a good place to do my first run,” Salo said. “I would be scared if we were at a high speed circuit. I was just trying to get the feel of the car with the changes they were making. At the beginning, I was running to get comfortable. The car is a lot heavier and has a lot of power. I was comfortable in the car and that’s basically what I wanted. They made different changes. They changed springs, bars and so forth. We tried different things so I could understand what everything does.”

As Salo tested, Trulli observed. Midday the two were surprised when they had a visit from one of the locals - - Mark Martin.

“All of a sudden, Mark Martin was here at New Smyrna,” Salo said. “He sat down in front of me and I listened. I learned some things from him during his time here. I also learned some things from Michael, David (Reutimann) and Marcos (Ambrose) when I attended the race at Phoenix International Raceway.”

Trulli turned his first laps Wednesday morning. Climbing out of the car for the first time he said he was shocked by the differences between Formula One and NASCAR.

"In the beginning, it was a big shock for me," said Trulli, who turned nearly 300 laps today. "It was the first time in my life I was leaving pit road in a closed cockpit. I needed to get used to that feeling of not having my head out. I'm used to being in a stiff car on the ground. The Cup car moves around a lot. It requires skill, feeling and understanding. There are so many different factors and you need to be a smart person to be aware of what is happening around you."

By the one hour lunch break, Trulli had a better feel for the NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry.

"Running here at New Smyrna is easy and very exciting, but racing here might be difficult," Trulli said. "It would take a lot of experience. I prefer a high speed circuit, but at least I have a taste and know the feeling. Today, was important for me to understand what I have to do to get better. In driving the car, I must understand the car. I have to trust it. The center and exit of the corner are important. Braking is crucial here."

Trulli is thankful to MWR and Toyota for the opportunity and admitted his interest was sparked when Juan Pablo Montoya made his move to NASCAR.

"I didn't know about NASCAR until Juan Pablo Montoya made his move," Trulli said. "The world has changed and everyone is looking at different Series. I haven't signed with anyone yet and I've talked to teams. My door is open right now."

MWR benefited just as much from the test as did Salo and Trulli.

"We have two enormously talented drivers that showed interest in trying NASCAR," said Ty Norris, Vice President and General Manager for Michael Waltrip Racing. "MWR wanted to participate because we are always interested in recruiting talent and we have a great desire to expand to a fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup team in the near future. We know the talent pool currently racing in NASCAR, so it is of great interest to us to evaluate talent from other racing disciplines. It just adds another international element to our organization.”

Bayne, Aaron’s Racing Team Take Top-15 Finish at Phoenix

Event/Date: Able Body Labor 200/Nov. 14, 2009

Venue: Phoenix International Raceway – Avondale, Ariz.

Starting Position: 37^th

Finishing Position: 15^th

Avondale, Ariz. (Nov. 14, 2009) – Trevor Bayne and the No. 99 Aaron’s team overcame a poor qualifying effort to finish 15^th in the Able Body Labor 250 at Phoenix International Raceway.

While the end result just missed the mark in terms of expectations, the 15^th-place effort earned the Knoxville, Tenn., native his seventh top-15 finish in only 15 starts.

On Saturday morning, Bayne announced he would drive the No. 99 NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota fulltime in 2010 for the newly-formed Diamond-Waltrip Racing.

The good news off the track didn’t transform to good news on the track when Bayne struggled in qualifying and started the 200-lap event 37^th. However, the young driver didn’t let the poor qualifying effort discourage him as he picked up nine spots before the first caution flag flew on lap seven.

He hit pit road two laps later for four fresh Goodyears, fuel and a minor chassis adjustment to help with the tight-handling conditions. The 18-year-old driver restarted 33 on lap 12.

Bayne began picking his competitors off one-by-one and by lap 37 he was listed in the 13^th spot. His forward progress came to a halt when tight-handling conditions returned to the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota.

The second caution flag of the day flew on lap 77 for debris. Veteran crew chief Jerry Baxter summoned his driver to pit road for another round of adjustments to hopefully cure the tight-handling conditions. A solid pit stop by the over-the-wall crew allowed Bayne to restart 10^th on lap 83.

The rookie driver worked his way up to the ninth before the tight-handling conditions returned. Over the final 100 laps Bayne raced in and around the top 15. The young phenom crossed the finish line 15^th in his final start for 2009.

Carl Edwards grabbed his fifth NNS victory followed by Kevin Harvick, Reed Sorrenson, Clint Bowyer and Brad Keselowski.

Next weekend, NASCAR’s junior circuit will close out the 2009 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

ESPN2’s live coverage of the 300-lap event will begin Saturday, November 21 at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying will air live the same day beginning at 11:30 a.m. EST on SPEED. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also provide live updates of time trials.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:

“We got to pass a lot of cars, that’s for sure. We started 37th after qualifying and going out first, that killed us. I love this race track. It’s one of the most fun places I’ve been just because you get to drive it. It’s not riding around holding the steering wheel. We had a pretty good car at the beginning. We followed the 18 (Kyle Busch) and the 29 (Clint Bowyer) all the way up through the field. Once we got to about 12th we leveled off with everybody. We kept trying to adjust it and made some good adjustments and we made some bad adjustments and unfortunately some bad adjustments were at the very end. We had to try something, we were maintaining where we were at and we needed to try moving forward. We just lost too much rear grip and fell back a couple extra spots. I think if we would have left it alone we could have stayed in the top 10, but you know you have to try stuff. You have to keep moving forward because you know everyone else is going to be. It was a good run, I guess. Good job in the pits. The car was halfway clean until about 20 (laps) to go and then they got in the right side of us in the wreck in turn four. It was a decent day and we learned a lot.”

Good Weekend for Waltrip at Phoenix Despite Being Caught Up In Wreck

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Michael Waltrip Racing had a prosperous weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The organization announced contract extensions with Toyota and Best Western along with a multi-year partnership with Gary and Blake Bechtel that puts driver Trevor Bayne in the No. 99 Nationwide Series Toyota in 2010. The same held true for driver Michael Waltrip as his team had solid practice sessions and an 11^th-place starting spot for Sunday’s main event. His NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota was fast in the race but, a wreck on the restart on lap 119 ended the team’s chance for a top-15 finish. The two-time Daytona 500 champion was able to get back on track after repairs to finish in 36^th position.

“It was a great week for MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing),” said Waltrip. “We announced our Toyota extension and Best Western coming back to our team as a sponsor. I’m really proud of the effort our team put together, but disappointed in the end result, obviously.

“We lost power steering so we pitted twice during the caution to try and fix it. It put us midway in the pack. The guys in front of me messed up and got together. I slowed down and because I still didn’t have any power steering, I tried to turn right at the last second to miss the 96 (Erik Darnell), but I couldn’t turn. A couple guys passed me and it caused them to get in it. Ty, my spotter, said it wouldn’t have mattered if I had power steering or not. I was doomed. That’s what happens when you get caught in the back. It’s a shame, but the NAPA Toyota was strong.”

Martin Truex Jr., who will be driving the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota next season, led the field to the green flag. Waltrip was in close pursuit during the first green-flag sequence. His only complaint was the right-side tires had too much air in them. Waltrip ran comfortably in the top 15 before making his first stop for four tires and fuel on lap 70.

Not long into the next run, Waltrip lost his power steering. It was a handful, but he persevered until the first caution of the day was thrown for debris. Crew chief Gene Nead brought Waltrip in for service on laps 116 and 117. The team put on four fresh tires and added fuel. The second stop saw the crew add power steering fluid. Waltrip returned to the track in 24^th position.

The race returned to green on lap 119, but the restart was anything but clean when Brad Keselowski was hit from behind. Waltrip had nowhere to go and was collected in the mess. The NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota sustained significant damage to the front of the car and was forced to go behind the wall for repairs. The NAPA team’s hard work enabled Waltrip to refire the engine on lap 171.

For the remainder of the race, the NAPA Toyota was on track going from 39^th to a 36^th-place finish.

As for Waltrip’s teammates, David Reutimann and Marcos Ambrose, their finishes reflected the type of car Waltrip had before his accident. They finished 10^th and 11^th, respectively,

Meanwhile, points leader Jimmie Johnson rebounded from last weekend’s crash to win his third victory of the season. His lead over teammate Mark Martin is 108 points heading into the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Following Johnson to the finish line to round out the top 10 were Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon and David Reutimann.

Next Sunday, it’s NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It gets underway at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC, MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

Trevor Bayne to Drive the No. 99 Diamond-Waltrip Racing Toyota in 2010

PHOENIX, Ariz. (November 14, 2009) – Diamond-Waltrip Racing (DWR) announced today that Trevor Bayne has signed a multi-year contract to drive the No. 99 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in 2010. Additionally, MWR has signed a contract with Bayne to run a minimum of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2011 with an eye on full-time Sprint Cup competition by 2012.

Currently, Diamond-Waltrip Racing has limited sponsorship from Aaron’s for the 2010 season and is still searching for additional sponsor support for the remaining races.

“We are extremely excited to have Trevor behind the wheel of the No. 99 Toyota,” said Gary Bechtel, co-owner of DWR. “Even though the No. 99 team is not fully sponsored, we are committed to running Trevor in the entire season so he can compete for the championship. He has shown a lot of promise this season and we expect him to be one of the frontrunners next year.”

“From the first lap he took in our car this past summer, we knew Trevor was special,” remarked Michael Waltrip. “Thanks to Gary and Blake Bechtel, we now have the opportunity to show the rest of the world what we already know about Trevor – he is young, smart, talented and will be an impact player for MWR and Diamond-Waltrip Racing. Some sponsor is going to want to grow through the ranks with him and we’re ready to deliver a winner.”

The Knoxville, Tenn., native joins DWR with an impressive résumé that includes more than 20 championships in go karts, Allison Legacy Series and the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series.

Bayne’s on track success continued when Dale Earnhardt Inc. signed the youngster to its driver development program in 2008. That year he began competing in the NASCAR Camping World East where he grabbed his first series win at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on July 21. He went on to earn six top-five and seven top-10 finishes and finished fourth in the NASCAR Camping World East point standings.

In 2009, the young phenom debuted in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Bristol Motor Speedway in March where he finished 23^rd. Since jumping onto the Nationwide Series scene, Bayne has grabbed one pole (Indianapolis Raceway Park), two top-10 and six top-15 finishes.

“This is what I have worked my entire life for,” remarked Bayne. “I am excited to finally make it to this level of competition. I have been dreaming of this moment since I began racing go karts. I am very grateful to Gary and Blake Bechtel and the entire MWR organization for giving me this awesome opportunity. I can’t wait to get to Daytona next year to begin a race for the championship.”

Bayne and the new Diamond-Waltrip Racing team will begin their quest toward a NNS championship next year at Daytona International Speedway.

Gary and his Son Blake Bechtel Join Forces with MWR to Form Diamond-Waltrip Racing

PHOENIX, Ariz. (November 14, 2009) – The principals of Diamond Ridge Motorsports and Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced today the formation of Diamond-Waltrip Racing which will enter a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series team starting in 2010 for driver Trevor Bayne.

Diamond-Waltrip Racing, co-owned by majority owners, Gary and Blake Bechtel and owners, Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman, has purchased the assets and associated car owner benefits of Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 99 Toyota Camry team. Drivers Scott Speed, Michael Waltrip, David Reutimann, Patrick Carpentier and Bayne have shared the No. 99 Camry this year. The No. 99 team’s best year was 2007 when Reutimann finished second in the Nationwide Series Driver points standings.

Diamond-Waltrip Racing will field its team for Bayne out of Michael Waltrip Racing’s Cornelius, N.C., facility and will continue to be managed by MWR personnel. The team has secured limited sponsorship and is seeking additional race sponsors for 2010.

“I am really excited to get back on the team ownership side with MWR,” said Bechtel. “MWR seems to be one of the fastest growing and most successful teams right now in NASCAR. They have been able to prove their success on and off the race track and have excelled in sponsor relations.”

“The Nationwide team is very important to me because it started in my garage behind my house and it’s where I first developed my relationship with Aarons,” stated Waltrip. “Having someone as passionate about that team as me is why I’m honored to have Gary and Blake Bechtel as my partners. They are all in for this team’s success and have given us the opportunity to race Trevor Bayne full-time. This is just another way Michael Waltrip Racing is securing its future with great sponsors and partnerships.”

Bechtel jumped onto the NASCAR scene in 1990 when he formed Diamond Ridge Motorsports. Bobby Hamilton was slated as the first driver for Bechtel’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. His first race was in the 1990 Coca-Cola 600.

Bechtel’s success on the race track didn’t come until he started his NASCAR Nationwide Series program in 1995. Steve Grissom was tabbed as Bechtel’s first Nationwide Series driver. In only 15 races, he notched two wins, four top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

The success continued over the next five years. All told, he earned 10 wins, 30 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes in 174 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts. At the end of the 1999, Bechtel sold his entire operation to Joe Gibbs and moved to California.

The new Diamond-Waltrip Racing team will make its debut next season during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Bayne will be behind the wheel of the DWR No. 99 Toyota machine as he makes his bid for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.

MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH TOYOTA THROUGH END OF 2012

PHOENIX, Ariz. (November 14, 2009) – Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced today the extension of its partnership with Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The new agreement will keep the emerging organization with the manufacturer through the end of 2012.

MWR launched its full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams in 2007 during Toyota’s inaugural year in the premier series. With Toyota’s support, MWR has won three poles, the 50^th running of the Coca-Cola 600 and competed for a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship until the final regular-season event at Richmond International Raceway in September.

In 2010, MWR will field the No. 00 Aaron’s/Tums/Best Western Toyota Camry full-time with driver David Reutimann, the No. 55 Toyota Camry with Michael Waltrip on a limited basis and the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry full-time with Martin Truex Jr. Additionally, MWR signed a two-year technical alliance extension with JTG-Daugherty Racing to field the No. 47 Toyota Camry with driver Marcos Ambrose.

MWR receives engines from Toyota Racing Development (TRD) out of Costa Mesa, California, along with Red Bull Racing. TRD’s Salisbury, N.C., facility supports MWR’s vehicle dynamics and development, aerodynamics, tire data analysis and race strategy programs.

“Simply put, MWR would not exist without Toyota,” said co-owner Michael Waltrip. “Toyota put us on the map in 2007 and that’s why I was so proud to deliver TRD’s engine facility its first NASCAR Sprint Cup win. For MWR to know it has Toyota’s support through the 2012 season is phenomenal and delivers our organization what every team in the garage desires – stability.

“Michael Waltrip Racing was a part of Toyota’s “Freshman Class” and they have shown tremendous progress, as well as dedication to Toyota’s goal of winning the Manufacturer’s Championship,” said Lee White, President of TRD. “Michael has always been a tremendous spokesperson for Toyota and continues to impress all of us with the moves he is making to elevate MWR to a championship caliber organization.”

This announcement comes on the heels of MWR announcing 100% renewal with its existing sponsors, a new relationship with TUMS as a primary and associate sponsor on the No. 00, a two-year extension with JTG-Daugherty Racing and a new partnership with its NASCAR Nationwide Series team with Gary and Blake Bechtel forming Diamond-Waltrip Racing to field Camrys for 18-year-old phenom Trevor Bayne.

“We have come a long way in a short period of time,” Waltrip added. “We have a lot more work ahead of us, but we are truly blessed that, in these times, we have so many positive announcements for our partners and employees.”

Trevor Bayne - Phoenix Preview

NOTES

· This week’s No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota at Phoenix International Raceway … Trevor Bayne will pilot Chassis No. 047 from the Michael Waltrip Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Most recently, David Reutimann drove this race car to an eighth-place finish a few weeks ago. Additionally, Bayne grabbed his first NASAR Nationwide series pole and top-10 finish with this Chassis in July at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

· Final Start … This weekend’s race marks Bayne’s last NASCAR Nationwide Series start for the 2009 season. Scott Speed will navigate the No. 99 machine next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

· Media Center … Bayne will be in the Phoenix International Raceway media center this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. to field questions from the media and to discuss 2010 plans.

· 15^th Nationwide Series Start … Bayne will make his 15^th-career NNS start this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. In 14 previous starts, he boasts two top-10 and six top-15 finishes, an 8.2 starting average coupled with an 18.3 finishing average. He has completed 95.4 percent (2,864 of 3,001) of the laps contested.

· After 32 … Over the season’s first 33 races, the No. 99 team has notched nine top-10 and 17 top-15 finishes. The MWR team sits 17^th in the owners’ point standings. They are 60 points behind the No. 11 entry in 16^th and only 89 points out of the top 15.

· 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 Able Body Labor 200 will be televised live on ESPN2 on Saturday, November 14 beginning at 4 p.m. EST. The race will also be broadcast on MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 34rd event of the 2009 NNS season will air Saturday, November 14 beginning at 12:05 p.m. EST on SPEED. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also broadcast live updates of time trials.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:

This is your final start of the 2009 season. Do you think it was a success?

“Well considering I didn’t even have a ride at the beginning of the 2009 season, I would have to say yes. I really wish I could have grabbed a top five or even a win in my 14 starts but I think I learned a lot this season. I think the track time that I received this year will definitely translate into top five finishes next season.”

What is the biggest thing you have learned so far this season?

“I have learned that you have to have patience. During the Nationwide races you have plenty of time to adjust on your cars. You also have plenty of time to work past people so you don’t have to drive the wheels off the car from lap one. In this series you have to have a little patience and realize there is plenty of time to make your way to the front.”

The last time you drove Chassis No.047 you grabbed your first NASCAR Nationwide Series pole and top-10 finish. You think you can do it again at Phoenix?

“I am pretty comfortable on short tracks but I have been told that Phoenix doesn’t race like a short track. There is a lot of room to pass and find a groove that your car handles well on. However, I hope we have the same luck that we did at ORP. I hope I can end this season with a bang and carry the momentum into next season.”

Solid Effort Nets Trevor Bayne and Aaron’s Team Top-15 Finish in Texas

Ft. Worth, Texas (Nov. 9, 2009) – Trevor Bayne and the No. 99 Aaron’s Outdoor Toyota team rebounded from being put a lap down early in the O’Reilly Challenge to turn in a 13th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon.

After posting the fourth-fastest time in Friday’s final practice session, Bayne and Co. qualified the No. 99 Aaron’s Outdoor Toyota 11th.

In front of an estimated crowd of 76,000 race fans, the 18-year-old driver tried his best to work his way through the field but a loose-handling race car hampered any forward progress. The rookie driver would fall all the way to 19th before green-flag pit stops began on lap 54.

Veteran Crew chief Jerry Baxter summoned his driver on to pit road two laps later for fuel, four fresh Goodyear tires with an air pressure adjustment and a major chassis adjustment. A solid green-flag pit stop by the over-the-wall crew allowed Bayne to remain 19th in the running order.

As the No. 99 Aaron’s Outdoor Toyota began to come to life, Bayne found himself back in the top 15th battling for the “Aaron’s Lucky Dog” award. On lap 153 a caution flew for a single-car incident and the Knoxville, Tenn., native found himself back on the lead lap with just under 50 laps remaining in the race.

The final caution flag flew on lap 178 with Bayne running in the 13th spot. With no fresh tires left in the pits, Baxter opted to stay out and gain some valuable track position. Unfortunately, a few of the leaders hit pit road and bolted on four fresh Goodyear’s and had the clear advantage on the lap 186 restart.

Bayne would fall back to 13th in the closing laps but was able to grab his sixth top-15 finish in only 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts.

Kyle Busch grabbed his eighth NASCAR Nationwide Series victory followed by Casey Mears, Jason Leffler, Matt Kenseth and Brad Keselowski.

Next weekend, NASCAR’s junior circuit heads out west to Phoenix International Raceway for the second and final time of the 2009 season.

Live coverage of the Able Body Labor 200 begins Saturday, November 14 at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 35th event of the season will air live the same day at 12 Noon EST. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also provide live updates of time trials.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:
“We ended up pretty decent considering what was going on in the middle of the race. We fell back to 20th at one point. The Aaron’s Outdoor Toytoa just couldn’t get any rear grip all week. We fought it in practice, fought it in qualifying and then in the race. We made some big changes, so it’s something weird. It’s not a mechanical deal. We were running a new body style here. The numbers were really good on it but sometimes the wind tunnel is different than the race track, so we’re going to go back and figure out if it’s the body or what it was. We’ll get it figured out. It’s not a bad finish considering how we had to work all day to get to 13th.”

Event/Date: O’Reilly Challenge/Nov. 7, 2009
Venue: Texas Motor Speedway – Ft. Worth, Texas
Starting Position: 11th
Finishing Position: 13th

WITH ITS CAMO PAINT SCHEME AARON’S PROVES GOOD THINGS ALWAYS COME IN THREE’S

ATLANTA, GA (November 5, 2009) – For the third and final time in 2009, Aaron’s, Inc. of Atlanta, GA (NYSE: AAN), the Aaron’s Outdoors television program and Mossy Oak Brand Camouflage will bring a special camouflage paint scheme to the track. On Saturday Nov. 7, the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine will be transformed into the Aaron’s Outdoors Mossy Oak Camry for the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) O'Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.

NNS rookie sensation Trevor Bayne will pilot a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Camry sporting the Aaron’s Outdoors logo and Mossy Oak Brush pattern, following in the footsteps of David Reutimann and Ken Butler III who drove camo-colored Aaron’s Dream Machines earlier this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway, respectively.

As part of the promotion, Aaron’s has given away six of nine camouflage replica helmets bearing the signatures of Bayne, Reutimann and Butler. With the final running of the camo design, the final three helmets will be award to fans through a national register-to-win sweepstakes. Fans have the chance to be a part of this final drawing by visiting www.shopaarons.com/camocontest. Registration ends on Nov. 4. An independent judging organization will choose three lucky winners from the thousands of fans who have registered.

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 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 Aaron’s Outdoors.

“The first two Aaron’s Outdoors Mossy Oak paint schemes have been very successful,” noted Aaron’s Chief Executive Officer, Robin Loudermilk. “NASCAR fans as well as fans of outdoors sports have really responded to the coming together of two of our biggest marketing platforms. We’re really excited to now bring this campaign from the Southeast into Texas.”

Trevor Bayne was also enthusiastic when discussing the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the camo Aaron’s Dream Machine. “To be a part of a program like this with Aaron’s, Mossy Oak and Aaron’s Outdoors is unbelievable,” Bayne said. “I can’t thank them enough for letting me help promote this great partnership. I look forward to bringing home an excellent finish in the Aaron’s Outdoors Mossy Oak Dream Machine on Saturday.”

“Seeing the Aaron’s Outdoors logo on the racecar with the Mossy Oak pattern is something I would never have dreamed of,” said Jarrod Brannen, host of Aaron’s Outdoors. “Aaron’s involvement has taken this show to a completely new level and it makes me proud to be associated with a corporation of this caliber.”

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., 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 Texas2 Preview

Event/Date: O’Reilly Challenge – Nov. 7, 2009

Venue: Texas Motor Speedway – Fort Worth, Texas

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTE:

You tested the new Nationwide car Monday at Talladega what were your thoughts?

“I thought the car drove pretty well. It was really stable in the draft and three cars good run pretty well together. I think the main problem is the visibility. It’s really hard to see past the car in front of you because the wing on the back. We tried to reduce the wing size a little but that made the handling of the car a little off. I think overall it was a pretty successful test.”

What are your thoughts about racing at Texas for the first time?

“I know that Texas Motor Speedway is a super fast race track. I have heard that it takes longer for the high groove to come in at Texas then it does at Charlotte. I plan to talk to a few people before I get to the race track so I can kind of get an idea of what to expect. Friday’s practice sessions are going to be super important for me. Hopefully, I will be able to bring home a solid top-10 finish.

NOTES

· This week’s No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota at Texas Motor Speedway … Trevor Bayne will pilot Chassis No. 052 from the Michael Waltrip Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Most recently, David Reutimann drove this race car to a 20^th-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway a few weeks ago. Additionally, Bayne drove this Aaron’s Dream Machine to a 28^th-place finish in July at Nashville and to a 26^th-place finish in August at Iowa.

· Testing, Testing, Testing … Bayne along with seven other drivers tested the new NASCAR Nationwide car at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday, Nov. 2. The group started the day with single-car runs and later moved into drafting. Following its debut next summer at Daytona, the Nationwide Series new car also will compete in points races at Michigan in August, at Richmond in September and at Charlotte in October. Full integration for the new car into the series is targeted for 2011.

· Texas Debut … Bayne will make his first start at TMS Saturday afternoon. This will only be his sixth start on a track 1.5-miles or bigger.

· 14^th Nationwide Series Start … Bayne will make his 14^th-career NNS start this weekend at TMS. In 13 previous starts, he boasts two top-10 and five top-15 finishes, an eighth-place starting coupled with an 18.7 finishing average. He has completed 95.1 percent (2,664 of 2,801) of the laps contested.

· After 32 … Over the season’s first 32 races, the No. 99 team has notched nine top-10 and 16 top-15 finishes. The MWR team sits 17^th in the owners’ point standings. They are 50 points behind the No. 1 entry in 16^th and only 98 points out of the top 15.

· In-Race Reporter … This weekend Bayne will be ESPN’s in-race reporter for the O’Reilly Challenge. Bayne will give his strategies, insight and goals for the race while he navigates the No. 99 machine around Texas Motor Speedway.

· 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 O’Reilly Challenge will be televised live on ESPN2 on Saturday, November 7 beginning at 12 noon EST. The race will also be broadcast on PRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 33rd event of the 2009 NNS season will air Friday, November 6 beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2. PRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also broadcast live updates of time trials.