Earnhardt, JRM Sign New Sponsor

As part of its nationwide campaign to promote the importance of clean coal technology, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity is partnering with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to represent the coalition and increase awareness. The agreement is part of a larger sponsorship between ACCCE and JR Motorsports that includes primary branding on JRM cars for four races and associate branding for the duration of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season.

This is the first-ever sponsorship of a NASCAR team for ACCCE, which supports energy policies that balance coal’s role in supplying the United States with affordable and reliable electricity.

Earnhardt is a coal man.

“We are extremely pleased to announce this new partnership, which includes both elements of our primary assets – Dale Jr. and JR Motorsports,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “Teaming up with the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity is somewhat new territory for us, one that we hope will take the Dale Jr. and JR Motorsports brands to new homes and markets. The ACCCE’s initiative to inform and educate about opportunities of powering with clean coal is something we can truly support with coal being such an abundant and affordable natural resource.”

The ACCCE will receive primary logo placement and branding on Cole Whitt’s No. 88 Chevrolet in Nationwide Series races at Dover International Speedway June 2, Michigan International Speedway May 16, Iowa Speedway Aug. 4 and Kentucky Speedway Sept. 22. ACCCE will have associate sponsorship placement on Whitt’s car starting this week at Richmond International Raceway and continuing through the remainder of the season. ACCCE will also be an associate sponsor on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 5 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5.

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his team are one of the elite groups in racing and we’re proud to be partnering with them,” said Evan Tracey, senior vice president for communications of ACCCE. “NASCAR is a great way for ACCCE to reach out to American families about the important role that coal plays in delivering affordable power for the American economy. We’re excited to talk to JR Motorsports fans about how coal keeps electricity affordable, reliable and increasingly clean.”

Whitt and the No. 88 team are currently ranked sixth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. The team’s season tally includes one Top-5 and two Top-10 finishes in six starts. Earnhardt Jr. is slated to run his fourth and final Nationwide Series race of 2012 at Talladega. His season-best finish in the Nationwide Series is fifth at Bristol on March 17.