NASCAR.COM Teams with High Gear Media for Interactive Automotive Shopping Guide

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- NASCAR.COM, the official online destination of NASCAR, together with High Gear Media, a leading publisher of automotive digital media content and AutoTrader.com, the ultimate automotive marketplace, this week launched NASCAR Auto Guide, a new car shopping section that will exist and be promoted on NASCAR.COM.

AutoTrader.com is the launch sponsor of the NASCAR.COM Auto Guide, which was developed by High Gear Media. Combining NASCAR.COM's brand reach with High Gear's powerful technology platform and leading original editorial content and a search functionality offering access to inventory of vehicles for sale on AutoTrader.com, the shopping guide offers a rich experience for in-market car buyers by any interest and lifestyle.

"NASCAR.COM draws upon the extensive resources of NASCAR to provide our fans unmatched access to the sport and the interests that surround the NASCAR lifestyle," commented Walker Jacobs, senior vice president Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Ad Sales. "The partnership is a natural fit connecting AutoTrader.com with our loyal fan base of car enthusiasts. This exemplifies the custom opportunities NASCAR.COM delivers our advertising partners."

"Building this new automotive shopping guide for NASCAR.COM has been a fantastic opportunity for us to use our expanding editorial content and powerful platform for an industry leading media partner," said Hesky Kutscher, High Gear Media's Founder and Chairman. "With NASCAR.COM, we're developing a site on a very big stage for a large audience of potential car buyers."

The NASCAR.COM Auto Guide's broad selection of content and helpful tools includes:

- Industry leading original car reviews and features

The site includes the most comprehensive reviews, news and features on the Web, syndicated from High Gear Media owned destinations like TheCarConnection.com, MotorAuthority.com and GreenCarReports.com -- content produced by car experts with more than 50 years of combined auto journalism experience.

- Expert and user reviews, and other content from around the Web

The site also presents links to the very best car reviews, user opinions, video clips and other information about any car from around the Web. High Gear Media's technology surfaces only the highest quality material for any one vehicle model - all in one place.

- Car shopping tools and prices

Users can also look for and compare car information and prices using the site's car comparison tools, as well as pricing information.

"AutoTrader.com's sponsorship of this section and the inclusion of an inventory search functionality is a great opportunity to bring AutoTrader.com's unrivaled expertise in new and used car inventory to the users of the NASCAR.COM Auto Guide," said AutoTrader.com Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Clark Wood.

By accessing the inventory of vehicles for sale listed on AutoTrader.com, visitors to NASCAR.COM will also be able to access a wide variety of car buying tips, research and compare functionality and other tools on AutoTrader.com.

About AutoTrader.com

AutoTrader.com, created in 1997 and headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is the Internet's leading auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information website. AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location about 3 million new cars, used cars and certified pre-owned cars from thousands of auto dealers and private owners. The site attracts about 15 million unique monthly visitors. Through innovative merchandising functionality such as multiple photos, videos, detailed descriptions and comprehensive research and compare tools, AutoTrader.com unites new and used car buyers and sellers online to improving the way people research, locate and advertise vehicles. AutoTrader.com is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. The venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is also an investor. For more information, please visit www.autotrader.com.

About High Gear Media

High Gear Media is vertical publishing company publishing more premium automotive content than anyone in the world through websites targeting key buyer and vehicle segments. High Gear Media's owned and operated network of automotive destinations reaches well over 2 million visitors monthly and include its anchor site, TheCarConnection.com, its luxury site, MotorAuthority.com, green and electric car sites, GreenCarReports.com and AllCarsElectric.com, and its family-focused sites including FamilyCarGuide.com. High Gear Media's editorial staff and over 200 contributors have written at publications like Car and Driver, AOL Autos, Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, and Wired. The company's content is syndicated to partners including Yahoo! Autos, Huffington Post, and The San Francisco Chronicle. Independent automotive writers and people who are passionate about cars can contribute content by visiting HighGearMedia.com. High Gear Media is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. and received its funding from Accel Partners, Greylock Partners and DAG Ventures.

About NASCAR.COM

Turner Sports acquired all of NASCAR's interactive rights in October 2000 and became the exclusive producer of NASCAR.COM in January 2001. The official online destination of NASCAR, the site consistently ranks among the top three sport league sites on the Internet. In 2008 NASCAR.COM was awarded a Global Media Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for RaceBuddy as the outstanding interactive platform of the year. The site has also earned an Emmy® for its TrackPass with PitCommand application in 2003.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports' line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA League Pass, NBADLeague.com and WNBA.com.

SOURCE High Gear Media