Cessna announces multi-year partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams

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Cessna announces multi-year partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams

CHARLOTTE, NC, January, 23, 2013 — Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today a strategic partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) for multiple races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the IZOD IndyCar Series and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. This partnership extends Cessna's presence across all three series in which CGRT competes.

"Clyde Cessna founded this company on our customers' need for speed. Today, performing with precision to drive success is the purpose of business aviation," said Scott Ernest, Cessna's President and CEO. "The racing industry is built on those same principles – each day teams are moving as fast as they can to get from point a to point b and win, which is why this partnership is such a natural fit for both Cessna and CGRT. The scope and success of CGRT across all components of racing gives us a strong presence as we invest in the sport."

Cessna, along with sister Textron companies Bell Helicopter and E-Z-GO, is incorporated into every race event where CGRT competes, giving each brand the opportunity to showcase transportation solutions to the industry including air travel to and from the host cities, helicopter transport from airports to racing venues and ground transportation onsite.

Cessna will sponsor multiple races on the No. 1 Chevrolet SS of Jamie McMurray in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS), sharing assets with sister Textron companies such as Bell Helicopter and E-Z-GO, one race on the No. 10 Honda with Dario Franchitti in the IZOD IndyCar Series and one race with Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series on the No. 01 Dinan-Prepared BMW.

"Cessna helps make racing possible for my team by getting me to the races quickly and efficiently," said Chip Ganassi, owner of Chip Ganassi Racing. "With almost 70 races a year separated by hundreds of miles with little time in between, I rely on business aviation to help me keep driving my business and to keep winning."

In summer 2012, Cessna partnered with CGRT and owner Chip Ganassi at the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma to announce the enhanced maximum speed of the new Citation X to mach.935, thus regaining the title as the fastest civil aircraft in the world.

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