RAB Racing and sponsor extend agreement

RAB RACING AND ZAXBY'S EXTEND RELATIONSHIP THROUGH 2009

CONCORD, NC (10/24/08) RAB Racing and Zaxby's announced today that they will extend their relationship through 2009 with Zaxby's serving as primary sponsor of the No. 09 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The 2009 season will once again feature driver, John Wes Townley as pilot of the Zaxby's Ford Fusion as he makes the step-up to a full-time Nationwide schedule.

"Our company has experienced significant growth over the past several years," Zaxby's Franchising, Inc. CEO and Co-Founder Zach McLeroy said. "We attribute part of this to Zaxby's involvement in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2007 and 2008, and our sponsorship with RAB Racing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this year."

During Zaxby's first full season as primary sponsor of RAB Racing's No. 09 Ford Fusion, Townley amassed one top-five, nine top-10 and 15 top-15 finishes. On the strength of the 18-year-old's efforts, the team finished seventh in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship point standings.

"We are very honored that Zaxby's has chosen to align their marketing efforts with RAB Racing," stated Robby Benton, Co-Owner/General Manager of RAB Racing. "Given the climate of the sport currently, they obviously had many choices when it came to where they felt the best overall fit would be and we feel very fortunate that they chose our organization. We have a team of very talented, dedicated individuals with a very straight forward approach to this sport. We look forward to continuing our relationship with John Wes and Zaxby's in 2009."

"We are excited about the opportunity to make the jump to NASCAR's Nationwide Series with RAB Racing," McLeroy said. "Competing in front of large crowds at top-notch venues throughout the United States and Canada for 35 weekends, coupled with the live television coverage on ABC and ESPN networks, will take Zaxby's to another level, in terms of brand recognition."

2009 will mark the team's first full-time season in the NASCAR's second-tier division, the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Townley will battle other notables for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors starting at Daytona International Speedway in February.

-credit: rabr