KANNAPOLIS (AP) — Tony Stewart's hot streak continued Tuesday when he announced a partnership with ExxonMobil that fills the primary sponsorship holes on his race car for next season.
The announcement was made two days after Stewart's win at California, which cut his deficit in the title race to a manageable 107 points. Six races remain in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, and Stewart is seeking his third NASCAR title.
The multiyear contract with ExxonMobil will put its Mobil 1 brand on the hood of Stewart's No. 14 Chevrolet for 11 races as primary sponsor. It will share main sponsorship duties on the No. 14 Chevrolet with Office Depot.
"As a team owner, I'm absolutely thrilled to add such a respected technology partner to our race team," said Stewart, the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing.
It also takes a weight off Stewart's shoulders in the never-ending search for sponsorship. He learned earlier this season that longtime sponsor Old Spice was leaving his team at the end of this year, and it hasn't been easy to secure funding in this difficult economy.
Top-name drivers such as Stewart have struggled to find funding, and four-time champion Jeff Gordon still does not have a primary sponsorship deal announced for next season.
Stewart said this fills his car for 2011, and teammate Ryan Newman is in good shape, too. But the team is always looking for associate sponsors.
"It's a hard time right now and a hard economy, but this is still a series that doesn't stop," he said.
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