State Farm(R) Drives Home Its Safe Driving Message During Daytona 500 Broadcast

State Farm(R) Drives Home Its Safe Driving Message During Daytona 500 Broadcast

Two New TV Spots Featuring State Farm(R) Policyholder and NASCAR Driver Jeff Burton to Debut

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- State Farm Insurance Companies today announced that it has signed marketing agreements with NASCAR drivers Jeff Burton of Richard Childress Racing and Reed Sorenson of Chip Ganassi Racing.

Major elements included in the sponsorships are drivers' appearances in State Farm commercials and endorsements of State Farm insurance; the State Farm logo on the driver uniforms and the uniforms of the pit crew during Nextel Cup and Busch Series races, as well as personal appearances on behalf of State Farm.

"There is a natural link between auto insurance and auto racing," said Mark Gibson, assistant vice president, advertising for State Farm. "With these sponsorships, State Farm is leveraging the power of NASCAR while at the same time reinforcing its auto safety message."

State Farm will advertise in nearly every 2006 NASCAR race on FOX, NBC, TNT and Speed Channel. State Farm commercials featuring Jeff Burton will begin running during televised coverage of the Daytona 500 on February 19, 2006. Commercials featuring Reed Sorenson will run later this year.

Jeff Burton drives the #31 car and was selected because he is known throughout the sport as a strong advocate of auto and driver safety. As an outspoken voice in the area of auto safety, Burton encourages responsible driving. Burton is a State Farm policyholder. Richard Childress Racing has earned more than 130 victories and nine NASCAR championships, including six in the Nextel Series.

"State Farm has a great reputation for being a champion of auto safety, which is something I'm very passionate about," said Burton. "Working with State Farm provides an excellent opportunity to deliver our auto safety message to racing fans, as well as the larger consumer audience."

"State Farm is the No. 1 insurer of automobiles and homes in the United States and it's our goal at RCR to make them No. 1 on the race track," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "RCR has been around only about half as long as State Farm but both companies have long histories of success and share the same goal of being the best in our respective industries."

Reed Sorenson races the #41 car and is a rookie driver whose family has several policies with State Farm. Last year, Reed finished fourth in the point standings in the NASCAR Busch Series, and in 2006 will drive in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series events.

"The number one thing that my father taught me as I was learning to race was the importance of safety," said Sorenson. "Whether it's on a race track or a city street, my number one concern is safety for myself and other drivers. That's why I'm excited to be working with State Farm."

"Running Late" (:30)

"Running Late" features Jeff Burton driving two children to school, while they play "backseat driver" to Burton's cautious driving style. Burton's State Farm agent Annette Burkhard praises Burton for his safe driving and says State Farm is proud to insure his car -- his personal car.

"Safe Driver" (:30)

"Safe Driver" features Burton and his State Farm agent Annette Burkhard as she asks him all the tough questions about his driving history while completing his application for personal auto insurance.

About State Farm

State Farm(R) insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 76,000 employees serve nearly 73 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada. State Farm also offers financial services products. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 18 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com/(R) or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca/ .

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing ( http://www.rcrracing.com/ ) has earned more than 130 victories and nine NASCAR championships, including six in the NEXTEL Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. It was the first organization to win championships in the NEXTEL Cup Series, Busch Series and Truck Series. Its 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series lineup includes Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 GM Goodwrench/Reese's) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cingular Wireless). Its Busch Series lineup includes Clint Bowyer (No. 2 ACDelco), and Harvick and Burton (No. 21 Coast Guard).

About Chip Ganassi Racing

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates ( http://www.chipganassiracing.com/ ), based in Concord, N.C., currently operates four race teams in two of NASCAR's national touring divisions; three in the NEXTEL Cup Series with drivers Casey Mears (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge), Reed Sorenson (No. 41 Target Dodge) and David Stremme (No. 40 Coors Light Dodge and No. 40 Lone Star), and one in the Busch Series with Sorenson.

Contact Contact
Mia Jazo-Harris Gene Cyranski
State Farm Insurance GolinHarris
(309) 766-5242 (312) 729-4218
mia.jazo-harris.sfdx@statefarm.comgcyranski@golinharris.com

Source: State Farm Insurance

CONTACT: Mia Jazo-Harris of State Farm Insurance, +1-309-766-5242,
mia.jazo-harris.sfdx@statefarm.com , or Gene Cyranski of GolinHarris,
+1-312-729-4218, gcyranski@golinharris.com

Web site: http://www.statefarm.com/
http://www.statefarm.ca/
http://www.rcrracing.com/
http://www.chipganassiracing.com/

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