GLENDORA, Calif. (April 25, 2012) — NHRA announced today that Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has signed an agreement with the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body to debut an Aaron’s on-site display and fan engagement center at five NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events as well as add media elements in the ESPN2 broadcast.
“We are pleased to partner with the NHRA this year. It is more than a sport, it is an experience,” stated Ken Butler, Aaron’s chief operating officer. “We have kept an eye on the NHRA for a number of years and have known that drag racing fans are passionate about their sport. Having the mobile marketing unit at the tracks along with the broadcast elements each race weekend will allow us to educate those fans on how we are and what we do. Hopefully, those fans will consider Aaron’s when it is time for brand new, name brand furniture, electronics, appliances and computers for their home.”
Aaron’s will have a large 60-foot by 80-foot display space at five NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events, the first display will be at the 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries in Houston, April 27-29. The display will showcase Aaron’s products and services and it will give fans attending the event an ideal location to relax while roaming the famous open-pit environment synonymous with NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing.
In addition to Houston, the Aaron’s display will be featured at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver, NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries in Seattle, and the inaugural AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis.
In addition to display space, Aaron’s will provide advertising support in the ESPN2 telecast of NHRA Full Throttle events and receive a sponsorable feature, the “Aaron’s Lucky Dog of the Race.”
“We’re proud to be involved with Aaron’s and that they see the value of participation in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. “The program with NHRA compliments and reinforces the current relationship they enjoy with Don Schumacher Racing as sponsor of NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan and Top Fuel driver Antron Brown.”
Aaron’s, Inc., based in Atlanta, currently has more than 1,960 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur and current chairman R. Charles Loudermilk and publicly traded since 1982, Aaron's was a pioneer in the furniture rental industry.
