AutoNation gears up for ad campaign with Hunter-Reay

Reigning Indy 500 champion Ryan Hunter-Reay will serve as the cornerstone of a new national advertisingcampaign by automotive retail giant AutoNation to commemorate its imminent 10 millionth car sale – the first such feat for an auto retailer.

AutoNation – which is an associate sponsor of Hunter-Reay’s No. 28 Andretti Autosport IndyCar entry – chose Hunter-Reay to appear on signage and commercials for the $20 million, 60-day multimedia marketing push because, “He is absolutely what AutoNation stands for,” AutoNation spokesman Marc Cannon told the South Florida Business Journal.

The campaign is set to launch in 25 local markets starting May 13. From May 24 to June 4, AutoNation’s TV advertisements begin to air nationally on ABC and CNBC. In addition, the campaign will go out to iHeart Radio listeners via radio and email. Signage promoting the company’s sweepstakes will also be displayed in each of the company’s 282 stores.

AutoNation will give away cars to three customers across the country at the end of May – which coincides with the time AutoNation expects to reach its 10 million car sales mark. One customer will be chosen to meet Hunter-Reay in Sonoma and also have a chance to win $10 million dollars or a lesser prize of a Honda Accord, which is valued at $25,000.