B.A.S.S. announced today that Advance Auto Parts has signed on as the title sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at Michigan’s Lake St. Clair Aug. 24-27. Additionally, the company will be a supporting sponsor for all Bassmaster Elite events, as well as the Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. Nation regionals, Bassmaster Team Championship, Bassmaster College Series and Bassmaster High School Series; and will be the sponsor for Bassmaster LIVE coverage of the Angler of the Year Championship .
“Advance Auto Parts is proud to become a supporting sponsor of Bassmaster,” said marketing and sponsorships manager Matt Davis in a B.A.S.S. press release. “Many of our team members and customers love to fish with their families, and we look forward to activating with our Carquest-branded brakes and also being title sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series event in Detroit.”
Said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin: “We welcome Advance Auto Parts to the family of B.A.S.S. sponsors and supporters. Many of our professional anglers, as well as everyday anglers who belong to B.A.S.S., pride themselves as do-it-yourself mechanics for both their tow vehicles and their bass boats. I’m sure they will prove to be loyal customers of Advance Auto Parts stores.”
This is not Advance's first foray into pro fishing. The company was a premier-level B.A.S.S. sponsor in 2008 and fielded a three-angler team consisting of Greg Hackney, John Crews and Marty Stone. That deal, like many others, dissipated at the end of that year in conjunction with the country's economic downturn.
