Farmers Insurance partners with Hendrick Motorsports

CONCORD, N.C. – Farmers Insurance has joined Hendrick Motorsports as a five-race primary sponsor of the Chevrolets driven by Mark Martin in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, with plans to kick off the relationship by fielding a special “throwback” paint scheme.

The agreement secures primary placement for Farmers Insurance in five events and associate-level sponsorship on Martin’s cars throughout the remainder of this season. The NASCAR team sponsorship is the first for Los Angeles-based Farmers since February 2009, when it executed a one-race program at Fontana, Calif.

“This partnership makes a lot of sense for Farmers,” said Paul Patsis, president of Enterprise Marketing for Farmers Insurance. “NASCAR fans are among the sports world’s most loyal and passionate. This is a great opportunity to show them why Farmers is an industry leader, just like Farmers customer and world-class driver Mark Martin.”

At the May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Farmers Insurance will launch its program with a special No. 25 Farmers Insurance Throwback Chevrolet. The paint scheme will resemble the red No. 25 cars fielded by Hendrick Motorsports for the first time in 1986 -- 25 years ago. That season, the combination of driver Tim Richmond and crew chief Harry Hyde won seven races and eight pole positions.

Returning to his customary car number, Martin also will drive the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet in four points-paying Sprint Cup Series races: June 5 at Kansas Speedway, June 12 at Pocono Raceway, June 26 at Infineon Raceway and Aug. 27 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

“We’re excited about this new partnership with Farmers and the opportunity to represent its nearly 24,000 employees and more than 50,000 agents,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s an innovative company with very strong corporate values, and I’m confident that we’ll continue to work together for a long time to come.

“When you have a partner that’s essentially new to the sport, kicking off a program with a nod to the past is a unique approach. The No. 25 was my dad’s car, and it’s always held a special place in our history. Farmers choosing this paint scheme for its first race with Mark and Hendrick Motorsports means a lot, and I think our fans will really like it.”

Martin has an impressive record at each venue on the Farmers schedule, having earned points-paying Sprint Cup victories at Charlotte (4), Bristol (2), Kansas (1) and Infineon (1). The Batesville, Ark., native is a two-time winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and has posted 33 top-10 finishes at Pocono, a personal best for the veteran driver at any track.

“I’m proud to be associated with Farmers Insurance,” said Martin, 52, a 40-time Sprint Cup race winner. “I’ve been a customer for more than five years -- my agent is in Searcy (Ark.) -- so I know it’s a terrific company that offers the highest quality products and services.

“Bringing back that No. 25 paint scheme is something cool for the fans, and it fits really well with the Farmers colors and how the company embraces its own history. I remember watching what Hendrick Motorsports accomplished in ’86, and I just hope the 25th anniversary of the 25 brings us a little magic.”

In addition to the Hendrick Motorsports relationship, the professional sports properties of Farmers Insurance include naming rights to the planned professional football stadium in Los Angeles, the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and the ATP World Tour Farmers Classic held on the campus of UCLA.

For more information about Farmers, visit its website at www.farmers.com or at www.Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.