Budweiser to be primary sponsor for Kahne in '08
Well, it's official...
Budweiser to be primary sponsor for Kahne in '08
By Team Release
September 18, 2007
12:02 PM EDT
ST. LOUIS -- Labonte, Waltrip, Elliott and Earnhardt. In addition to being among the most celebrated names in motorsports, these drivers share in the proud tradition of racing for one of NASCAR's most successful sponsors -- Budweiser. On Tuesday, Budweiser announced Gillett Evernham Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne will become the next world-class racer to take the wheel of the iconic red Budweiser car when the 2008 Sprint Cup season kicks off in February.
"Budweiser has a long and storied history with NASCAR and some of its most successful drivers. We're excited about Kasey's ability to add to that outstanding lineage," said Tony Ponturo, vice president, global media and sports marketing, Anheuser-Busch Inc. "Along with team owners George Gillett and Ray Evernham, we feel the pieces are in place for the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge to contend for NASCAR Sprint Cup championships for years to come."
Kahne was NASCAR's rookie of the year in 2004 after closing out the Cup season 13th in the points standings. In 2006 he won six races and six Budweiser Pole Awards -- more wins and poles than any other driver that season -- and qualified for the Chase for the Nextel Cup in just his third year in the Cup Series.
"The fan in me is thrilled because driving for Budweiser is the kind of opportunity you dream of when you break into this sport. I'm excited about getting behind the wheel of a car that's been driven by some of the best this sport has seen," said Kahne, who has seven wins, 31 top-fives and 46 top-10s in three and a half years on the Cup circuit. "We'll be out to win races and championships, and everyone involved with our organization feels we can do that."
"If Kasey's proven anything in his young career it's that he has the talent to be one of our sport's most consistent winners," said Gillett Evernham Motorsports co-owner Evernham.
"He's already one of the most popular drivers on the circuit and only stands to benefit more from Budweiser's track record for helping develop drivers with sponsorship activation that's second to none," Gillett added.
Kahne began his NASCAR career in 2002 running 20 Busch Series races with one top-10. In 2003 he recorded his first victory in the series finale at Homestead, finishing the year with four top-fives, 14 top-10s and a seventh-place ranking in the final point standings.
Kahne excelled during his rookie year in 2004 in all three of NASCAR's top series. He had 13 top-fives, 14 top-10s, and four poles in his first full season racing Cup, nine top-fives and 14 top-10s in 30 Busch races and won both Craftsman Truck races he started. Kahne picked up his first career Cup victory in 2005 before recording his breakthrough 2006 performance.
Budweiser first sponsored a team on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series circuit in 1983.