Michael Waltrip Racing partners with Toyota in the NASCAR Busch Series

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Updated: November 6, 2006, 2:17 AM EST

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FORT WORTH, Texas - Michael Waltrip Racing officially announced today that it will be one of three Toyota Camry teams to enter into full-time NASCAR Busch Series competition in 2007. Michael Waltrip Racing will field one NASCAR Busch Series entry - the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine - with driver David Reutimann competing for the championship.

"Our ability to partner with Toyota in the NASCAR Busch Series will take our team to a championship level," Waltrip said. "When Toyota entered the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, everybody realized it was just a matter of time before they were in the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.


"We've competed and won with our Aaron's Dream Machine team," continued Waltrip. "Before Toyota, we really didn't have any wind tunnel or engineering support. We've got all those things now. We've been running well without and we're going to run even better with it. We've got Reutimann behind the wheel and I think we'll have a good year."

Reutimann has experience with Toyota as a regular in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and is ready to make the journey with Toyota into the NASCAR Busch and NEXTEL Cup Series next season.

"I was really excited to be a part of Toyota's entry into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and now I have another opportunity to be on the ground floor with the NASCAR Busch Series program," Reutimann said. "Toyota has been building some good horsepower in the trucks and we are getting engineering support. I think that will carry over. It will be a real good match."

Reutimann's NASCAR Busch Series sponsor agrees.

"Everyone at Aaron's is really looking forward to the new 2007 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota Camry," stated Ken Butler, President of Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership. "Michael Waltrip has been a mainstay of Aaron's marketing program over the past few years, and we fully support what he and Toyota are putting together. With David Reutimann as our new driver and Toyota as the new manufacturer, the combination has the potential to put the Dream Machine back out in the front."

"Based on our motorsports experience in sports cars and open-wheel racing, in addition to the Craftsman Truck Series, we know the importance of working with experienced teams and partners," says Rick Lantz, TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) Busch Series Program Manager. "We have developed a tremendous relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing and David Reutimann, and believe the team's NASCAR Busch Series experience will prove invaluable as we bring the Toyota Camry to the series next season."

This season, Toyota has already collected 11 wins in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition, and the manufacturer has scored 24 wins since entering the Series in 2004. Toyota captured its first manufacturers championship Friday evening at Texas Motor Speedway.

About Aaron's:

Aaron Rents, Inc. (NYSE: RNT), based in Atlanta, currently has more than 1,265 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada for the rental and sale of consumer electronics, computers, residential and office furniture, household appliances and accessories. The Company manufactures furniture, bedding and accessories at 12 facilities in five states.

Aaron's stores offer customers access to high quality furniture, appliances, electronics and computers for sale or on a lease-ownership arrangement. Customers have the option of buying their merchandise for an attractive cash price, or opting to lease their merchandise for even greater flexibility. With a lease option, customers make modest monthly payments and have the immediate use of the items they need without waiting for credit checks or other delays. Plus, Aaron's will take care of delivery, set-up, repairs and more for the duration of a customer's lease.

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