Imation to Sponsor Memorex-Branded No. 41 Dodge in NASCAR Busch Series
For Immediate Release Imation to Sponsor Memorex-Branded No. 41 Dodge in NASCAR Busch Series Signs on with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates; Car to Debut August 24 at Bristol CONCORD, N.C. - Jan 22, 2007 - Imation Corp , a worldwide leader in removable data storage, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) to become a primary sponsor of the No. 41 Memorex Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series starting in August 2007. Imation and CGRFS made the announcement at the team's Concord, N.C., race shop. "Imation made a significant investment when we acquired Memorex in 2006. This sponsorship is an excellent opportunity for us to connect our Memorex brand, the number one brand of recordable CDs and DVDs in the U.S., with NASCAR, the fastest-growing sport in America," said Frank Russomanno, President, Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO of Imation. "Our Memorex portfolio of products helps people capture, save, and share life's fun moments -- like a day at the race track -- and we are glad to have this opportunity to be front and center with the No. 41 Memorex Dodge as a part of the Busch Series action." Imation's Memorex brand will be an associate team sponsor of the No. 41 Wrigley's Dodge during the first 25 Busch Series races, starting with the season-opening run at Daytona International Speedway in February. In August, Imation will become the car's primary sponsor with its Memorex-branded No. 41 Dodge, which will make its debut at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on August 24. The car will be driven by 18-year-old racing phenomenon Bryan Clauson for the majority of the remaining races. "Memorex is one of the most well-known brands in the world," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "We are elated to have a partnership with Memorex, one of Imation's powerhouse brands. What makes this partnership even more special is that Memorex will be aligned with Bryan Clauson, one of the talented, young drivers in our development program. Bryan has had success at every level of racing that he has participated in, and we couldn't be more excited about his and Memorex's debut in NASCAR." At just 16 years of age, Clauson (now 17) became the youngest driver in United States Auto Club (USAC) history to win both a National Sprint Car Series and National feature Midget race, topping a list of USAC's all-time greats including Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. After an injury last September in Wheatland, Mo., sidelined him for the remainder of the 2006 season, Clauson still finished in the Top 10 in both Sprint and Midget points. He also won selected USAC Regional Midget Car Series events throughout the year. "I never expected everything to happen this fast, and I couldn't be more thankful. Everything that has transpired since Chip's call a little more than one year ago has just seemed to fall into place, " Clauson said. "To get to drive for a team like Ganassi is a huge honor, and then to represent an innovative and well-known brand like Memorex is a unique opportunity in itself. I know there are thousands of racers out there who are working to get where I am right now. I am sincerely grateful to everyone involved. The next step is for me to get the job done in the No. 41 Memorex Dodge later this year." Is it live or is it Memorex?(r) Memorex, a portfolio brand of Imation Corp , is the U.S .market-share leader in optical media and media accessories at retail. Since the early 1970s, Memorex has been one of the most widely recognized and respected names in the consumer electronics industry. Today, it is an influential brand in CD and DVD media, optical drives, USB flash drives and flash card media. For more information on Memorex products, please call 562-653-2800, or visit the Memorex Web site at www.memorex.com <http://www.memorex.com/../> . For more information on the #41 Memorex Dodge for the NASCAR Busch series, visit: racing.memorex.com <http://www.racing.memorex.com/> . About Imation Imation Corp is the only company in the world solely focused on the development, manufacture and supply of removable data storage products spanning the four pillars of magnetic, optical, flash and removable hard disk storage. With more than 50 years of data storage leadership beginning with the development of the world's first computer tape, in 2006 Imation proudly marked its tenth anniversary as an independent company. In addition to the Imation brand, Imation Corp's global brand portfolio includes the Memorex brand, one of the most widely recognized names in the consumer electronics industry, famous for the slogan, "Is it live or is it Memorex?" Additional information about Imation is available at www.imation.com or by calling 1-888-466-3456. About Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Following a strong career as a driver, Chip Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990 and established a partnership with a new sponsor, Target Stores. Today, his teams include two IRL IndyCars, two Indy Pro Series cars, and along with Felix Sabates he has three cars in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, a Daytona Prototype in the world of Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series racing and two entries in the NASCAR Busch Series. Ganassi's IndyCar teams have amassed five Championships and 50 wins since 1994; his NASCAR teams have nine wins and a Rookie-of-the-Year title; and the Grand American team has won two of the last three Rolex Series Daytona Prototype Championships and the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Chip Ganassi Racing operates out of state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis, Ind., and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pa. For press inquiries, please contact: Mary Rawlings-Taylor Imation Corp 651.704.6796 mjrawlings-taylor@imation.com Deborah Hernandez Imation Consumer Division, Memorex and Imation Brands 562.653.2872 dhernandez@memorex.com Imation, Memorex, the Memorex logo and "Is it live or is it Memorex?" are trademarks of Imation Corp and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Bryan Clauson To Chat Live About NASCAR Announcement and New Website on Monday Night Bryan Clauson will be in the NASCAR chat room at www.redlinechat.com <http://www.redlinechat.com/> 9 p.m. EST, Monday, January 22, to discuss his upcoming 2007 race season, schedule, new sponsor and new website. The newly revised site, www.bryanclauson.com <http://www.bryanclauson.com/> , will be launched on Monday at 3:30 pm EST, in conjunction with the Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) press conference. The CGRFS press event is part of the annual week-long Lowe's Motor Speedway media tour. Angela Copen Media Relations Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates 8500 Westmoreland Drive Concord, NC 28027 Office: 704-662-9642 Ext. 1121 Fax: 704-663-0848 acopen@ganassi.com www.chipganassiracing.com <http://www.chipganassiracing.com>