WICHITA, Kan. – Marketing officials with Cargill Beef announced that its third-year sponsoring the Roush Fenway Racing team includes an updated “paint scheme” on the No. 6 Ford Mustang and an expanded racing schedule for its driver, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., from 12 races in 2012 to 15. The first of the NASCAR Nationwide Series races is scheduled for April 27 in Richmond, Va.

The revamped No. 6 car, complete with Cargill Beef logos on the hood and fenders, will make its debut April 26 at Virginia’s Langley Air Force Base, where 1,000 Air Force personnel will be served Cargill burgers and will get a sneak peak at the revamped car one day before the race while Stenhouse will sign autographs for attendees. The pre-race, public debut of the car will be at the race track Friday, April 27, as part of another cookout event for fans, followed by a similar event for the media on April 28.

In a statement issued by Cargill, the company iterated that all of the burgers served at the events “will include finely textured beef,” to ensure optimum taste and quality.

“Ricky’s currently competing for first place and another NASCAR series title, and we’re thrilled that he’ll being doing it in the Cargill Beef No. 6 Ford Mustang for nearly half the races this year,” stated Tammy Shaw, Cargill Beef vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s the time of year when we believe NASCAR fans will symbolically ‘start their grills’.

“Grilling burgers is as American as NASCAR racing, and Ricky does a wonderful job as an ambassador for both,” Shaw said.