Toyota Hits Its Stride Becoming the Official Vehicle Sponsor of Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Concert Series

DALLAS, March 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of 15,000 runners hitting the pavement at the Humana Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon on Sunday, March 22, Toyota and Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), the organizer of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, announced a sponsorship agreement, making Toyota the official vehicle of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Concert Series through March 2016. The sponsorship will stretch beyond the deep roots Toyota has planted in Texas to expand to all 22 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon events in the U.S.

"The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series relationship is a great fit for Toyota," said Ed Laukes, vice president, marketing, performance and guest experience, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. "The designation as the official automobile partner of a property that marries sports and music, two of our customers' passion points, was an easy decision for us. Toyota looks forward to forming a strong partnership with Competitor Group and the Rock 'n' Roll series."

The Toyota RAV4, Highlander and Sienna set the pace for the Dallas runners, leading them down the course and signaling the start of the official press conference where Toyota and CGI officials shared the first details about the agreement, including Toyota's involvement at the Health & Fitness Expo.

The international Rock 'n' Roll race series combines entertainment and running, featuring live bands performing along the course, cheerleaders encouraging runners throughout the race, and a post-event headliner concert. The Dallas race is the largest stand-alone half-marathon in Texas, annually attracting more than 15,000 runners, and the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series just announced plans for an inaugural half-marathon in Brooklyn this October.

"We are proud to partner with Toyota, the world's leading automaker," said Bill Pedigo, chief revenue officer of CGI. "Together, we will help runners explore new terrain and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle. We are excited to work with Toyota to develop innovative ways to engage runners and fuel their journey through the entire Rock 'n' Roll experience."

For more information about Toyota, please visit www.toyotanewsroom.com, and details about the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series can be found online at www.runrocknroll.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Javier Moreno
Toyota Motor North America
(469) 292-1027
[email protected]

Hilary Friedman
Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series
(858) 275-9435
[email protected]

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands.  Over the past 50 years, we've built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 40,000 people (more than 32,000 in the U.S.).  Our 1,800 North American dealerships (1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.67 million cars and trucks (more than 2.35 million in the U.S.) in 2014 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment.  As part of this commitment, we share the company's extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series
Organized by Competitor Group, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series is the 'World's Largest Running Series' with more than 600,000 runners taking part in events around the world every year. Started in 1998, the simple idea of making running fun has transformed the U.S. running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Today, the series of marathons and half-marathons has spread to 31 destinations, drawing visitors from around the world. Over the 18-year history of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, charity partners have raised more than $305 million through the events for a variety of worthy causes.

Race weekend kicks off with a free Health & Fitness Expo showcasing the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health and nutritional information and much more. Events culminate with an entertaining finish line festival featuring some of the biggest names in music, with past headliners like Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, FloRida and Bret Michaels. For more information, please visit RunRocknRoll.com or follow @RunRocknRoll on Twitter.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For event photos, please visit: http://gtty.im/1C9Vkf4

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SOURCE Toyota