The Principal Financial Group Drives Into NASCAR as Sponsor of MB2 Motorsports' Chevrolets in Phoenix
Nov. 6, 2006 (Des Moines, Iowa) — The Principal Financial Group®, the nation's 401(k) leader1 and premiere benefits provider, will be the primary sponsor on Sterling Marlin's and Joe Nemechek's MB2 Motorsports' Chevrolets in this weekend's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.
"We're thrilled to be a part of NASCAR again this year and to deepen our sponsorship by partnering with MB2 Motorsports, former Daytona 500 champion Sterling Marlin and 'Front Row' Joe Nemechek," said Mary O'Keefe, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Principal Financial Group. "As a champion of financial well-being, The Principal helps people achieve financial security and NASCAR provides a great way to reach millions with this message."
Marlin, a 30-year veteran of NASCAR racing said, "I always get asked about retirement. I'm not ready to call it quits just yet, but when I do, I'll know where to go for expert advice and service. I look forward to having The Principal as our sponsor. We're looking to have a good run this weekend."
Nemechek, who has been racing in the Cup series full time since 1994, was equally excited about the double sponsorship between The Principal and MB2. "This will be pretty neat having two team cars with the same primary sponsor," said Nemechek. "The only thing better is to have both cars running up front and give The Principal strong finishes in its debut race."
MB2's Principal Financial Group Chevrolets - Marlin's No. 14 and Nemechek's No. 01 - will make their first appearance on the Phoenix one-mile track during practice on Friday, November 10 at 11:35 a.m.
"We're excited about the Principal Financial Group joining our team," said Jay Frye, CEO and general manager of MB2. "The company has been involved in the past as a NASCAR sponsor and we're elated about MB2 being selected for its first venture as a primary sponsor.
The U.S. Army, Nemechek's main sponsor at 34 Cup races, will have an associate status on the 01 car in Phoenix. Marlin's associate sponsors will be Waste Management and Ginn Clubs & Resorts.
The Principal is the on-air sponsor of the Checker Auto Parts 500, which will be televised on NBC, beginning at 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 12.
About MB2 Motorsports
Founded in July, 1996, MB2 Motorsports has grown from a single-car NASCAR Cup team in an 8,000-square-foot shop to a multicar operation, which is currently housed in a 144,000-square-foot shop in Mooresville, N.C. MB2's lineup in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series consists of the No. 01 Chevrolet, driven by Joe Nemechek and the No. 14 Chevrolet, driven by Sterling Marlin. MB2's driver development program includes Kraig Kinser in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Jesus Hernandez in the Drive for Diversity program. For more information about MB2 visit the company's web site at www.mb2motorsports.com.
About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)2 is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies and national network of financial professionals. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $215 billion in assets under management3 and serves some 16.4 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.
1) The Principal ranks number one in plans administered - 2006 Spectrem Group analysis of fully-bundled 401(k) providers.
2) "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
3) As of September 30, 2006.
