The Principal expands sponsorship with Ginn

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Principal Financial Group, the nation's 401(k) leader and premiere benefits provider, announced Monday its expanded relationship with Ginn Racing will include a two-race primary sponsorship of the No. 01 Chevrolet, co-driven by Mark Martin and Regan Smith during the 2007 Nextel Cup season.

The sponsorship calls for Mark Martin to race the Principal Financial Group Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, and for Regan Smith to race in the Principal Financial Group colors on Sept. 16 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

The Principal will serve as a season-long associate sponsor on Martin and Smith's No. 01, and on Joe Nemechek's No. 13 and Sterling Marlin's No. 14 Ginn Racing Chevrolets.

"Following the excitement of Mark Martin's close second-place finish in the Daytona 500, the Principal Financial Group is thrilled to support his return to Daytona International Speedway," said Mary O'Keefe, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Principal Financial Group. "With Mark mentoring Regan Smith, The Principal is also proud to provide an edge to the next generation of NASCAR."

The Principal first joined Ginn Racing in August 2006 as an associate sponsor on Marlin's Waste Management Chevrolet. The company increased its sponsorship in November when The Principal served as primary sponsor of Marlin's No. 14 and Nemechek's No. 01 Chevys during the Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.

"I look forward to driving the 01 Chevrolet at Daytona with the Principal Financial Group colors," Martin said. "This is a race we know we can win -- we proved that [in February] when we came up a few feet short of winning the Daytona 500. Hopefully we can make up the difference at the summer event and put the Principal Financial Group Chevy in Victory Lane. This is an exciting time for our team and we are thrilled about the expanded partnership role that The Principal has undertaken with Ginn Racing."

The U.S. Army, Martin's and Smith's primary sponsor for the balance of the 2007 Nextel Cup season, will have associate sponsor status on the 01 car at both Daytona and New Hampshire.