Of course, there are the normal sponsorship avenues — race cars, naming rights at racetracks, race title sponsors, award sponsors. . . . The list goes on and on. Over the last few years, entities looking for sponsorship have found new things to be sponsored, and some of them seem a little off the wall or maybe even over-the-top. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

ServiceMaster Clean Racing

MEMPHIS, Tenn.

“Our initial year was an unqualified success,” said Jim Wassell, chief marketing officer for ServiceMaster Clean.  “We are looking forward to building on the awareness, relationships and momentum established in 2009.  Our partnership with ISC, SMI and Dover has truly exceeded our expectations.”

In 2009, there were 305 cautions during the 36-race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season.  When there was a yellow flag at participating tracks (Pocono and Indianapolis are not participants in the program), the familiar ServiceMaster Clean yellow vehicles were dispatched to clean and restore the track.

As it was during the inaugural season, the second year of a multi-year agreement is not limited to the ServiceMaster Clean caution periods on the track.  Included is coverage on the Motor Racing Network and Performance Racing Network, hospitality events for franchise owners and guests, the right to create and sell promotional merchandise and a host of other marketing opportunities designed to generate consistent visibility.

In racing, the yellow flag means track clean-up, and restoration must be done quickly and professionally in order to get back to racing.  In homes and businesses across North America, a yellow ServiceMaster Clean van means cleaning and restoration is being done quickly and professionally by America’s number one cleaning team.

With more than 4,500 franchise locations around the world, ServiceMaster Clean serves customers through a global network of franchises that provide janitorial services, commercial carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care, residential carpet and upholstery cleaning, and disaster restoration services. The company has been a market leader for more than 60 years. For more information, visit www.servicemasterclean.com.

About ServiceMaster Clean

ServiceMaster Clean is part of the ServiceMaster family of brands, one of the world’s largest and most versatile service networks.  The company’s brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec. ServiceMaster Clean is committed to its franchise owners.  Our ability to offer qualified prospects up to 80 percent financing to start their cleaning business is just one of the many benefits of our program.  Visit our franchise Web site at www.ownafranchise.com to learn more about the opportunities available with ServiceMaster Clean.

- ServiceMaster Clean Racing, Press Release

ServiceMaster Clean Racing

The purpose of the Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship is to expand the ServiceMaster Clean commercial cleaning ownership base among women and minorities throughout the United States. The program was designed to help individuals overcome some of the obstacles of starting and running their own business by being a part of a franchise organization. The Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship allows individuals interested in starting their own business an opportunity to be awarded their own commercial cleaning franchise license – a $31,900 value.

ServiceMaster Clean has committed $1.3 million over four years in direct grants and private financing to its Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship initiative, as part of its continuing pledge to diversity, business development and community outreach across the United States.

“We recognize that, beyond being good for our business, reaching out to expand ownership opportunities for minorities and for women is a very meaningful way for us to live our faith-based corporate mission. That is why we have committed to diversity in our franchise network,” said Michael Isakson, president and chief operating officer, ServiceMaster Clean. “Shane has been an ideal representative since day one and fully embraces our ‘We Serve’ mentality. He is the epitome of class and puts 100 percent into everything he does.”

The former college All-American presents a remarkable resume at both the amateur and professional levels. Battier finished his career tied for eighth on Duke’s all-time scoring list and received the Naismith and Wooden Awards as a senior, and was named the National Player of the Year as well. Since entering the NBA in 2001, he has recorded 34 career 20-point games and two 30-point performances. Battier holds 18 career double doubles and has hit five or more three pointers in a game 10 times during his career. After the 2006-2007 campaign, he was presented with the Magic Johnson Award, given annually by the Professional Basketball Writer’s Association to the player who combines excellence on the court and outstanding cooperation with the media.

“Growing up in Detroit, with my family and friends entrenched in the automotive industry, gave me a keen appreciation for cars,” said Battier. “And having lived in the NASCAR belt for the past 12 years – in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas – I thought it was about time to get to a NASCAR race. I am thrilled and honored to be representing ServiceMaster Clean at the LifeLock 400.”

Earlier this year, ServiceMaster Clean became the first-ever official sponsor of the caution period during races at all 19 International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) tracks as well as Dover International Speedway. These tracks will feature 33 Sprint Cup, 26 Nationwide and 18 Camping World Truck Series races and other racing events during the season. When there is a problem on the track, the ServiceMaster Clean Yellow Flag waves and the company’s familiar yellow vehicles are dispatched to clean the track.

In racing, a yellow flag means it’s time to clean up the track. Debris removal and track drying must be done quickly and professionally in order to get back to racing. In homes and businesses across North America, a yellow ServiceMaster Clean van means cleaning and restoration is being done quickly and professionally by America’s number one cleaning team.

About ServiceMaster Clean

With more than 4,500 franchise locations around the world, ServiceMaster Clean serves customers through a global network of franchises that provide janitorial services, commercial carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care, residential carpet cleaning and upholstery, and disaster restoration services. The company has more than 60 years of history as a market leader.

ServiceMaster Clean is part of the ServiceMaster family of brands, one of the world’s largest and most versatile service networks. The company’s brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic, and AmeriSpec. ServiceMaster Clean is committed to its franchise owners. Our ability to offer qualified prospects up to 80 percent financing to start their cleaning business is only one of the benefits of our program. Visit www.ownafranchise.com to learn more about the opportunities available with ServiceMaster Clean.

About Shane Battier

Selected sixth by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft, Battier was traded to the Houston Rockets in July 2006. Battier won numerous awards throughout his collegiate career at Duke and in 2001 was named the National Player of the Year and received the Naismith and Wooden Awards. Battier joined the Rockets after five seasons in Memphis.

- ServiceMaster Clean Racing, Press Release

ServiceMaster Clean Racing

When there is a problem on the track, the ServiceMaster Clean Yellow Flag will wave, and the company’s familiar yellow trucks will be dispatched to clean the track.

“We’re proud to establish a new relationship with ServiceMaster Clean,” said Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover Motorsports, Inc. “Their Yellow Flag program has become widely known across the sport, and their product is a leader in the cleaning and restoration business. I hope the ServiceMaster Clean team is ready to spring into action after the monster begins chewing up cars this weekend in Dover.”

The cleaning and drying vehicles and equipment at the Monster Mile this weekend will feature the ServiceMaster Clean logo and colors.

In racing, a yellow flag means it’s time to clean up the track. Debris removal and track drying must be done quickly and professionally in order to get back to racing. In homes and businesses across North America, a yellow ServiceMaster Clean van means cleaning and restoration is being done quickly and professionally by America’s number one cleaning team.

“We are delighted that we could partner with Dover International Speedway to expand our Caution period sponsorship,” said Jim Wassell, vice president and chief marketing officer. “Our Yellow vehicles are becoming well known with racing faithful, and the great people and history of the Dover track was a perfect fit for ServiceMaster Clean.”

Earlier this year, ServiceMaster Clean became the first-ever official sponsor of the caution period during races at International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) race tracks. The multi-year agreement now includes Dover and all 19 ISC and SMI race tracks around the country. Including Dover, those racetracks feature 33 Sprint Cup, 26 Nationwide and 18 Camping World Truck Series races and hundreds of other racing events during the season.

The multi-year agreement is not limited to what happens on the track, but also includes hospitality events for franchise owners, the right to create and sell promotional merchandise and a host of other marketing opportunities designed to generate consistent visibility.

The ServiceMaster Clean motorsports program also includes national coverage on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Performance Racing Network (PRN),

With more than 4,500 franchise locations around the world, ServiceMaster Clean serves customers through a global network of franchises that provide janitorial services, commercial carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care, residential carpet cleaning and upholstery, and disaster restoration services. The company has been a market leader more than 60 years. For more information, visit us at www.servicemasterclean.com.

About ServiceMaster Clean

ServiceMaster Clean is part of the ServiceMaster family of brands, one of the world’s largest and most versatile service networks. The company’s brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec. ServiceMaster Clean is committed to its franchise owners. Our ability to offer qualified prospects up to 80 percent financing to start their cleaning business is just one of the many benefits of our program. Visit our franchise Web site at www.ownafranchise.com to learn more about the opportunities available with ServiceMaster Clean.

About Dover International Speedway

Dover International Speedway is owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD), a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate four tracks in three states, and present more than 400 motorsports events each year. This includes 14 major, national events which include races sanctioned by NASCAR and NHRA. Dover Motorsports, Inc. also owns and operates Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo., Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tenn., and Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tenn. For further information log on to www.DoverMotorsports.com.

- Darnell Communications for ServiceMaster Clean, Press Release