TRUCKS: John Deere back as sponsor.

The John Deere company, best known in NASCAR circles for its colourful late 1990's sponsorship deals with Mark Rypien, Roush Racing and driver Chad Little, will return to the sport as a sponsor of the March 17th Craftsman Truck Series race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Friday night race at the 1.54-mile oval will represent John Deere's first major foray into NASCAR since the end of the 2000 season when it left Roush's #97 team. Starting at approximately 9:15 p.m., the John Deere 200 will immediately follow Georgia Power Nextel Cup Series qualifying.

"With the intensity of the first three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, fans have been treated to exciting finishes each race," said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. "Fans can expect nothing less than the same for the John Deere 200."

"Having such a marquee brand like John Deere as a partner on an event adds even greater awareness for an already popular race," said Greg Walter, vice president of sales for Atlanta Motor Speedway. "We are excited about working with them in developing ways to grow their business further using the track's assets."

Founded in 1837, John Deere is the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment; a major manufacturer of construction equipment; and a leading supplier of equipment used in lawn, grounds and turf care.