MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2013) – Kevin Harvick, a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and winner of 76 races in NASCAR's top three touring divisions, has signed with JR Motorsports and will compete in a minimum of 12 Nationwide Series races in 2014. Hunt Brothers® Pizza, the nation’s largest brand of made-to-order pizza in the convenience store industry, will be the primary sponsor on Harvick’s Chevrolet for four races.
While Harvick’s Nationwide Series schedule for 2014 is still being finalized, the races in which Hunt Brothers Pizza will serve as primary sponsor have been set. The Hunt Brothers Pizza scheme will be featured at Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and both races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Harvick will drive JR Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet – a full-season car traditionally shared by multiple drivers on select-race schedules. The driver line-up for that car beyond Harvick is still being determined.
“This is pretty cool to have Kevin a part of our team,” said owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. “I’ve known him for a long time. He’s an incredible racer. He will be a huge asset to JR Motorsports, our sponsors and our fans. I’m grateful that he wants to drive our cars, and I’m grateful that Hunt Brothers Pizza is committed to Kevin and our race program. We’re happy to have them.”
Harvick won Nationwide Series championships in 2001 and 2006. He is ranked third on the all-time Nationwide Series winners list with 40 victories, including one this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Aug. 31). With his wins, he also boasts 159 top-five and 220 top-10 finishes. He has 22 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories, including the 2003 Brickyard 400 and 2007 Daytona 500.
Operating with 50 years of food service experience, Hunt Brothers Pizza embarks on its seventh-consecutive year in the NASCAR industry and fourth utilizing Harvick as spokesperson. In races where it’s not the primary sponsor, Hunt Brothers Pizza will receive associate placement.
“As a long-time sponsor of Kevin, we’re excited to make the move with him to JR Motorsports,” said Keith Solsvig, vice president of marketing at Hunt Brothers Pizza. “Our working relationship has only gotten better over the years, and we are looking forward to another great season together.”
With more than 7,000 locations in 28 states, Hunt Brothers Pizza’s involvement with NASCAR allows the company to connect with pizza lovers all across the country and to host a wide variety of promotional activities that are specifically designed to drive consumers into convenience stores nationwide.
ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
Based in Mooresville, N.C., JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 10-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in which it has earned 12 victories since its inception in 2007. In 2012 the JRM late model program won the track title at Motor Mile Speedway with driver Josh Berry, giving the company its first championship. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.
ABOUT HUNT BROTHERS PIZZA:
With more than 7,000 locations in 28 states, Hunt Brothers® Pizza is the nation’s largest brand of made-to-order pizza in the convenience store industry. Perfect for today’s on-the-go lifestyle, Hunt Brothers Pizza offers original and thin crust pizzas with All Toppings No Extra Charge®, breakfast pizzas, plus Hunt Brothers® Wings and WingBites®. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Hunt Brothers Pizza is family owned and operated with 50 years of experience in offering all of the food products, marketing programs, equipment and training for convenience stores to operate their own turnkey pizza program. For more information about Hunt Brothers Pizza, visit huntbrotherspizza.com.