On Tuesday, Kasey Kahne along with Rick Hendrick announced that Farmer’s Insurance would sponsor the number 5 car for 22 races in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Farmers which joined HMS this season as a sponsor for Mark Martin starting at the Allstar race in May. Farmers were also on the car at Kansas.
They remaining races they will be on with Martin is Pocono in June, Infineon Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway in August.
Kahne who currently drives for Red Bull Racing this season moves to HMS starting next season.
There were a lot of questions when Kahne announced his move to HMS last season.
The organization already houses the sports most popular driver in Dale Earnhardt, Jr. five time champion in Jimmie Johnson, and along with Martin and four time champion Jeff Gordon.
The 22 race deal still means there are some sponsorship holes to for the final 14 races of the season.
Currently, Quaker State signed a three year deal with HMS starting this season. They currently sponsor Martin for four races.
Carquest has an eight race deal with Martin and HMS this season. If those two companies stayed on as Kahne’s other sponsors; his sponsorships would be covered.
That being said neither Carquest nor Quaker State have announced such deals.
Kahne on his new sponsors Farmers Insurance said on Tuesday, “I’ve had a chance to meet the Farmers people, and they’re doing some exciting new things from a marketing standpoint,” said Kahne, 31, who is signed to drive for Hendrick Motorsports through 2015. “I’m looking forward to being a part of their team and helping grow the Farmers brand. To have this kind of support, and to have it come together so early, is such a boost for all of us.”
It’s been a struggle for NASCAR as a whole the last couple seasons with sponsors cutting back or leaving the sport completely.
For Farmers to come back into the sport this season with Martin and then to sign on for at elast three years with Kahne it is a good sign for the sport.
Hendrick said of the deal “It’s extremely positive when a company of this caliber sees the value of NASCAR and immediately wants to do more,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Farmers will have an excellent spokesperson in Kasey, and we’re committed to putting him in a position to win races and championships.
With Farmers Insurance and Hendrick’s support all those questions are getting answered about Kahne and the next stage of his racing career.
photo: www.catchfence.com
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