TOLEDO OH (2-15-10) - Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America and Aaron's, Inc. have announced that the Atlanta, Georgia-based Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership division has renewed their sponsorship and marketing program with the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards for a third year.

With the sponsorship announcement, Aaron's retains its position as the official Sales & Lease Ownership retailer of ARCA. The official category sponsorship includes the Aaron's Lap Leader program, offering a $500 cash bonus to the team leading the most laps each race, and a $5,000 year-end cash bonus to the team leading the most laps over the course of the season.

The announcement also means the continuation of the Aaron's Lucky Dog award, the progressive and pioneering procedural rule which allows the first car one lap down to return to the lead lap during caution.

"Aaron's has been a great sponsor, and a great promotional partner for the past two years," commented ARCA Vice President of Marketing and Communications Mark Gundrum. "They activate at-track and in the event markets, they have brought valuable and innovative awards programs to the competitors, they sponsor races...they are a great sponsor in the sport of auto racing."

Six-time Daytona winner Bobby Gerhart, who led 51 laps en route to victory lane in this year's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona, earned the Aaron's Lap Leader Award in the season-opener.

In addition to their ARCA sponsorship, Aaron's also sponsors the Michael Waltrip Racing team and drivers Michael Waltrip, David Reutimann and Trevor Bayne, plus Pierre Bourque in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Aaron's also sponsors the "Dream Weekend" at Talladega Superspeedway in April, with naming rights to the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series event and the Aaron's 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Aaron's, Inc. is the leader in lease ownership and specialty retailing of office furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and electronics with more than 1,655 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk and publicly traded since 1982, Aaron's was a pioneer in the furniture rental industry.

There are two operating divisions of Aaron's: sales and lease ownership and manufacturing. The Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership division is the largest and fastest growing division, serving credit-constrained consumers in need of basic home furnishings, appliances and electronics. Customers range from white-collar professionals and blue-collar workers to young couples and retirees. The Sales & Lease Ownership division has 1,072 Company-owned stores and 569 franchised stores. The MacTavish Furniture Industries division manufactures the majority of furniture leased and sold by Aaron's. Vertical integration allows the Company to control quality, styling and cost, leading to superior customer service.