MEDINA, MN (September 9, 2005) – Today Polaris announced DuPont® Paint Finishes has signed on as a major sponsor of Polaris Racing. The legendary paint company and innovation powerhouse that helped take awareness of NASCAR racing to an entirely new level with Jeff Gordon’s #24 DuPont car will now be joining Polaris Racing and backing Judnick Motorsports’ Polaris 440 IQ Race Sleds.
After a season of domination by Polaris racers on snocross tracks around the globe, DuPont took notice when it came time to find a partner in the powersports industry. “This was not a case of Polaris knocking on doors looking for race sponsors,” said Polaris Marketing Manager David Johnson. "DuPont approached us and asked to be a part of our winning program."
Scott Judnick, owner of Judnick Motorsports was equally proud that his snowmobile racing team will be wearing the DuPont colors this season. “All of us at Judnick Motorsports are thrilled that DuPont is on-board with us and Polaris,” said Scott Judnick, team owner. “Not only will DuPont’s presence help take our team to an entirely new level of visibility, I feel it will also help the awareness of our sport as a whole.”
The DuPont Judnick Team will feature racers Dylan Martin, Matt Judnick and last season’s Semi-Pro champion Ross Martin, who will race in the pro ranks this season.
Team Amsoil is also back this season with a host of highly recognizable sponsors including the energy drink that has become synonymous with power sports – Red Bull®. Besides having a presence on the Team Amsoil sleds, the massively popular Red Bull® brand will be partnering with Polaris on a number of different marketing initiatives at this Fall’s biggest events and shows. Team Amsoil also welcomes Air Force back this season as a valued co-sponsor.
What’s more, Team Woody’s (the leading stud manufacturer) along with Starting Line Products (SLP), SM Henteges and many other leading companies and Polaris dealers across the country are all set to back what is the most dominant snowmobile race team in the industry heading into the 2006 season.
For more information on all of Polaris Racing’s valued sponsors and partnerships for 2006, along with in-depth racing coverage all-season log, point your web browser to www.polarisindustries.com and check out the all-new Polaris Racing web site.
New Marketing Partnerships Reflect Expanded Direction For Polaris Brand
Just as DuPont® and Red Bull® have taken notice of the recent Polaris results on the track, other prominent brands have taken notice of Polaris snowmobiles off the track. In an effort to leverage the Polaris brand and the sport of snowmobiling, Polaris has forged new marketing partnerships with leading Snowboard company Ride™ Snowboards, as well as the hugely popular snowmobile mavericks, Slednecks.
Polaris Snowmobiles and Ride™ Snowboards "Riding" Together in 2006
In the immensely popular sport of snowboarding, the one brand that has quietly become one of the most dominant is Ride™ Snowboards. In 2006, Polaris and Ride™ have paired up for several initiatives during the season in an effort to help extend the reach of Polaris Snowmobiles to snowboarders and vice-versa. “There’s a lot more room in the sport of snowmobiling for more riders - especially younger riders - and the snowboarding community is one we’ve been wanting to attract to our sport for some time,” said David Johnson, Marketing Manager for Polaris Snowmobiles. “The two sports work well together and the style, attitude and image Ride™ has surrounded their product with blends well with the new imaging surrounding the Polaris brand. We’re confident the initiatives we’ll be doing with Ride™ over the course of this season will prove that.”
Snowmobile Mavericks 'Slednecks' Pick Polaris As Their Weapon Of Choice
Maybe you've seen one of their thrilling movies… maybe you've flipped through the pages of their magazine in amazement… or maybe you’ve been fortunate to catch one of their gravity-defying live snowmobile freestyle shows at your local venue.
They’re highly skilled, incredibly talented, a whole lot crazy and they, more than anyone, are infusing some much needed 'cool' and a whole lot of excitement in the sport of snowmobiling. They’re Slednecks and starting in 2006 Polaris will play a part.
"Polaris is the first manufacturer to step up and become a legitimate partner with Slednecks," said John Keegan Co-Owner of Slednecks. “Last year we added Polaris sleds to our fleet for our athletes to ride and they loved them. This year we are kicking it off with a sweepstakes to win a special edition Slednecks Polaris 600 HO Switchback.”
Matt Lube, Polaris Snowmobiles Product Manager went on the say, “Having our sleds piloted by Slednecks will not only be a great demonstration in their capability and durability, it also gives us a chance to get the Polaris name in front of younger thrill-seekers out there who may have never thought twice about giving snowmobiling a try.”
About Polaris
With annual 2004 sales of $1.8 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Victory motorcycles and the Polaris RANGER for recreational and utility use.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index. Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.