7-Eleven Inc. has extended its sponsorship with Andretti Green Racing (AGR) and keep IndyCar Series racer Tony Kanaan in the Team 7-Eleven driver’s seat. The 7-Eleven/Andretti Green sponsorship enters its sixth year in 2008.
“Tony has been a winner for 7-Eleven, both on and off the track,” said Kevin Elliott, 7-Eleven senior vice president of merchandising. “Our employees and franchisees can be proud of 7-Eleven’s association with Tony and the AGR team. He is a competitive, aggressive and principled driver as well as an enthusiastic supporter and customer of 7-Eleven. We look forward to our sponsorship of Tony and to AGR’s Racing Team 7-Eleven in its drive to a championship in 2008.”
Kanaan won the IndyCar Series championship in 2004, breaking several IndyCar Series records: as the first driver to complete all 3,305 laps during the season; by leading the most laps ever in a single season (889) and by finishing in the top five in 15 consecutive races. Kanaan, the 2005 Indianapolis 500 pole position winner, is also the only driver in history to lead laps in his first six starts in the famed race. He finished the 2005 season in second place and sixth in 2006.
7-Eleven has been Kanaan’s sponsor since he began racing in the IndyCar Series, and sponsored AGR co-owner Michael Andretti at the Indianapolis 500 in 2003. As part of the extended agreement, Andretti, his son Marco, as well as Patrick may appear in 7-Eleven’s 2008 marketing campaigns.
In addition to the Team 7-Eleven sponsorship, 7-Eleven will have a brand presence on Andretti Green’s entire stable of IndyCar Series entries.
The relationship with AGR has proven to be a positive part of 7-Eleven’s marketing portfolio. Research shows that the number of brand-loyal IndyCar Series fans purchasing fuel at 7-Eleven has risen.
“The popularity of the Indy Racing League is growing among our customers, so we believe there is a natural marketing fit for us,” Elliott said. “Also, Tony and Team 7-Eleven can showcase some of our signature products that they enjoy like daily prepared fresh foods, coffee, Slurpeee and Big Gulp drinks plus our recently branded 7-Eleven gasoline.”