WHEATLAND, Mo. -- Lucas Oil Speedway is excited to announce an expanded partnership with Ozarks Coca-Cola in 2013, naming Coca-Cola the Official Soft Drink of Lucas Oil Speedway.

"Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company has been a great supporter of racing here at Lucas Oil Speedway and we are thrilled to expand our relationship over the next three years," commented Dan Robinson, General Manager of Lucas Oil Speedway.

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company has been locally owned for over 90 years and has been a longtime participant and supporter of the local racing scene in the Ozarks. Dating back to the late 1950s when owner Cookie Rice raced with some of the racing legends from this area and since has been inducted into the Ozark Area Racing Foundation's Hall of Fame as a Pioneer. He was inducted for being an individual that has excelled in racing and made vital contributions to make the sport what it is today.

"Our goal with this partnership is to help position our great brands and our experience in the racing industry with the high quality of racing product Lucas Oil Speedway puts out each weekend. We feel the national marketing by the Coca-Cola Company with NASCAR and the Coca-Cola Racing Family in combination with our local marketing efforts in the Ozarks, that we bring a very strong partnership to Lucas Oil Speedway," shared Bruce Long, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Ozarks.

Coca-Cola has been involved with stock car racing for more than 50 years and has been the official sparkling beverage of NASCAR since 1998. Through partnerships with International Speedway Corporation, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Coca-Cola refreshes racing fans at the majority of NASCAR-sanctioned tracks. A signature part of the brand's NASCAR association is the Coca-Cola Racing Family, a group of top drivers that includes Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Danica Patrick and Tony Stewart. The company also maintains relationships with Dale Jarrett, Ned Jarrett, Kyle Petty and Elliott Sadler.

"This is a win-win partnership that is built on the platform of creating a fun and entertaining environment where people can come and enjoy great tasting products from Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper and great racing entertainment all season long. It allows us to have our products tried and consumed by a demographic that is growing throughout the Ozarks," Long added.

For complete event information and the latest Lucas Oil Speedway news visit www.lucasoilspeedway.com.