ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- For the second time in the 2011 race season, Gander Mountain is excited to announce that the outdoor retailer will be the primary sponsor of Front Row Motorsports' (FRM) Sprint Cup entry. The Gander Mountain No. 34 Ford Fusion will appear at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, April 30, piloted by veteran NASCAR driver David Gilliland.
"Outdoors leader continues building strong relationship with race fans"
Gander Mountain returns as a racing sponsor for the third season due to the number of NASCAR fans who also enjoy hunting, fishing and camping, according to Steve Uline, Gander Mountain's executive vice president of marketing. "David Gilliland is an avid outdoorsman, as are many NASCAR fans," he said. "An appearance in this race and a chance to promote Gander Mountain's on-line firearms store on the No. 34 car fits perfectly with the number of avid hunters who will enjoy the action under the lights in Richmond."
Gilliland drove the Gander Mountain car for the first time in 2011 at Texas on April 9, but had his race day come to an early end when a tire problem on Lap 45 sent him into the wall, and to the garage area. Gilliland impressed the racing world on the opening Sunday of the season, finishing third in the legendary Daytona 500. It was his best showing in the Great American Race, where he was the pole-sitter in 2007.
Gander Mountain, with 116 stores in 23 states, is the nation's largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle apparel, products and services. The company offers thousands of products in its on-line store and now includes free standard shipping every day. In addition, the on-line site now offers a firearms department with a broad selection of ammunition, rifles, handguns, shotguns and accessories.
Commenting on Gander Mountain's sponsorship, Gilliland said, "This team has shown this season that we can be competitive every Sunday, and it's our goal to continue that for the season and run up front on a regular basis." He continued, "When I'm not racing, I love to spend time fishing with my family and friends. It will be a thrill to show off our partner, Gander Mountain, with a strong run at Richmond."
About Gander Mountain Company
Gander Mountain Company, headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., is the nation's largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, boating, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle apparel, products and services. Since 1960, the Gander Mountain brand has offered an expanding assortment of competitively priced outdoor equipment, technical apparel and footwear, as well as gunsmith and archery services. The stores feature national, regional and local brands as well as the company's owned brands. Focused on a "We Live Outdoors" culture, Gander Mountain dedicates itself to creating outdoor memories. There are now 116 conveniently located Gander Mountain outdoor lifestyle stores in 23 states. For the nearest store location, call 800-282-5993 or visit www.GanderMountain.com. Gander Mountain is also the parent company of Overton's (www.overtons.com) a leading catalog and Internet based retailer of products for boating and other water sports enthusiasts.
About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception, expanding full-time to the premier Sprint Cup Series in 2009. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Gilliland and the No. 38 Ford driven by Travis Kvapil.
