R3 Motorsports Goes Wild For A Good Reason At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, February 15, 2011: In a top deal announced today, Sponsormonsters and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have agreed to a three-year partnership with full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series team R3 Motorsports and driver Robert Richardson Jr. beginning with Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Boasting a defying paint scheme, designed by the legendary NASCAR artist Sam Bass, the No. 23 Dodge Challenger will display a tiger, an elephant, a penguin, a dolphin and a turtle along with the Wildlife Conservation Society logo. R3 Motorsports, Sponsormonsters and WCS will use this partnership to bring further awareness to the need to save wildlife and wild places around the globe.

Today, WCS protects many of the world’s iconic creatures here and abroad, including gorillas in the Congo, tigers in India, wolverines in the Yellowstone Rockies, and ocean giants in our world’s amazing seascapes.

Through their NASCAR partnership with R3 Motorsports and rising star Richardson Jr., both entities are hoping to reach new levels of exposure of, and more importantly support for, the WCS mission from NASCAR’s impressive fan base.

“We’re very proud and excited by this partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society,” said Robert Richardson Jr., who will drive the WCS Dodge Challengers in 2011. “I undoubtedly believe we have one of the coolest looking cars on the track heading into race day. This partnership with WCS is important to me because I’m an activist for exactly what they stand for. Everyone better bet that we’re going to make this partnership work and bring further awareness while we rally support from those inside and outside the NASCAR community.”

Robert Boston, President of Sponsormonsters, commented on the announcement. “We are concerned about many issues facing society,” he said. “If we can help to ensure that at least one charity can truly benefit from our race program, then we have helped to fulfill our social obligation to make a positive impact on society. We are truly honored to be a part of this campaign.”

"At WCS, we know NASCAR is one of the most attended and watched sports in the United States," said Bertina Ceccarelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Global Resources. "We are grateful to Sponsormonsters, R3 Motorsports and Robert Richardson Jr. for giving WCS an opportunity to be introduced to the greatest fans in America."

Richardson, a McKinney, Texas native offered his thoughts on the Nationwide Series’ season-opener. “We’re really optimistic. I think we’re going to have a good Dodge Challenger. The R3 Motorsports team has really done a great job preparing our fleet during the off-season. Our biggest momentum on Saturday will be giving the Wildlife Conservation Society folks and all of their supporters a run that can step our season into the right direction. It’s just an honor to have them as part of this team and I’m hoping a good finish in Daytona will only help our partnership grow even more!”

Artist Bass, a long-time fixture in the NASCAR community offered his sentiments on being involved with such an inspirational project. "I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to create the colorful design for the Wildlife Conservation Society race car,” said Bass. “It is an exciting program that will bring much needed awareness to the struggles of wildlife all over the world. Putting these beautiful animals on a car the NASCAR fans will cheer on and support is so personally meaningful to me. I am elated that the WCS has decided to come into NASCAR and am honored that they chose my work to be a part of their efforts."

Robert Richardson Jr. will make his 70th career NNS start and ninth overall at DIS and will also be guaranteed a starting position in his No. 23 Wildlife Conservation Society Dodge Challenger when the green flag waives in Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300 (120 laps / 300 miles) at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The event is scheduled for a liftoff shortly after 1:00 p.m. Eastern on February 19th with live coverage on ESPN2, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite Radio (Channel 128).

For further information and to join WCS’s mission, please logon to their website at WCS.org.