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Aaron’s, Waltrip To Continue Partnership After Retirement
January 27,
2017 by Larry Thomas in Business Strategy, Industry 
Rent-to-own major Aaron’s Inc. (NYSE: AAN) said its longtime spokesman, NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip, will run the final race of his career at next month’s Daytona 500, but will continue to appear in commercials and make appearances on the company’s behalf.
Waltrip, who will mark his 30th start at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 26, will be at the wheel of the Aaron's #15 Thanks Mikey Toyota. Aaron's and the two-time Daytona 500 winner have been partners for more than 17 years and announced a new multi-year partnership last year with Waltrip as Aaron's spokesman.
"We can't wait to watch Michael compete in his last race with the same flair and thrills he's been known for throughout his amazing career, and it will be a nostalgic moment to see him and the Aaron's logo flash across the finish line together," said John Robinson, Aaron's, president and CEO. "Michael has been a great sportsman and partner to Aaron's.
Waltrip retired from full-time racing after the 2009 NASCAR season but has continued to compete as a part-time driver. The company said his relationship with Aaron's represents one of the longest-running corporate partnerships in the racing industry.
Next week, Aaron's plans to debut a video showing the first of Waltrip's "Top Five Aaron's & Waltrip Racing Moments" selected from the past 17 years as partners. The videos will be shared across Aaron's social media channels leading up to Waltrip's last race.
A new commercial, dubbed “The Aaron's Michael Waltrip tribute commercial,” will debut the week prior to the Daytona 500 and will commemorate Aaron's 17-year partnership with the driver.