AutoNation Joins Indy Car Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay in Race Against Cancer

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoNation (NYSE: AN), America's largest auto retailer, announced today that it has partnered with IndyCar Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay to support his Racing for Cancer charity.  AutoNation's primary charitable focus over the next two years will be cancer awareness and prevention, and Ryan's charity will serve as a key component of that program.  Ryan founded the 501(c)(3) charitable organization following the 2009 passing of his mother due to colon cancer.

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"All of us are touched by cancer in some way and we're proud to join forces with Ryan in the race to help conquer this disease.  We're looking forward to committing our efforts and the efforts of our 21,000-strong team of associates to the fight," said AutoNation Chairman and CEO Mike Jackson. "Through his professional outreach and personal involvement, Ryan has demonstrated an amazing commitment to fighting cancer and we hope that the contributions we're able to make will bring us across the finish line that much faster in the battle to defeat cancer."

"Racing for Cancer's" mission is simply to help "beat cancer."  The organization seeks to unite motorsport fans, sponsors, teams and others in a coast to coast effort to help eradicate the disease.  They concentrate their efforts in-particular on early detection and prevention along with an emphasis on supporting childhood cancer initiatives.  Now with the support of AutoNation, Racing for Cancer will have 21,000 team mates in 15 states.

Importantly, 100 percent of the organization's net proceeds go directly to supporting the cancer community.  AutoNation will match the first $500,000 raised through "Racing for Cancer and will contribute directly to the designated charities.  Seventy-five percent of the funds generated by "Racing for Cancer" will be distributed in the markets where they're collected and 25 percent will be designated to "Racing for Cancer's" trust fund programs.  This means that people who support these efforts will be helping those closest to them in meaningful ways.

AutoNation will be participating in race-related events in a number of markets coast-to-coast, including Long Beach and Northern California; St. Petersburg/Tampa and South Florida; Fort Worth/Dallas and Houston, Texas; and Baltimore, Maryland. The company also expects to add Phoenix, Seattle, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Denver to the list, with additional cities to be announced. 

AutoNation also looks forward to participating in "Racing for Cancer's" third annual 'Yellow Party' in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 23, 2013.   The Yellow Party is Racing for Cancer's signature event and biggest annual fundraiser, held around the Indianapolis 500 each year. 

Cancer awareness is one component of AutoNation's company-wide wellness initiative, designed to promote better health and fitness among its entire associate base.  The company's Know Your Numbers campaign has been developed to help associates better understand their own health status and recognize potential risks.  The program is highlighted by the Know Your Numbers bus, which visits AutoNation locations across the country to offer free detailed health screenings for associates.

For more information about Ryan Hunter-Reay, visit RyanRacing.com.  To learn more about Racing for Cancer, visit www.RacingForCancer.org, and for details on The Yellow Party, including information about purchasing tickets, log on to www.TheYellowParty.org.

About AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation is transforming the automotive retail industry through bold leadership.  We deliver a superior automotive retail experience through our customer-focused sales and service processes. Owning and operating 263 new vehicle franchises, which sell 32 new vehicle brands across 15 states, AutoNation is America's largest automotive retailer, with state-of-the-art operations and the ability to leverage economies of scale that benefit the customer.  As an indication of our leadership position in our industry, AutoNation is a component of the S&P 500 Index. 

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SOURCE AutoNation