BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- The Army National Guard is staying on as a sponsor of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 NASCAR Sprint Cup team.

The National Guard has extended its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2013 season. The contract was scheduled to expire at the end of 2012.

Hendrick Motorsports announced the extension Friday, a month after Congress rejected a bid by Reps. Jack Kingston of Georgia and Betty McCollum of Minnesota to trim $72.3 million for sports sponsorships from a $608 billion defense bill for fiscal 2013.

The measure had targeted the money the National Guard spends to sponsor Earnhardt, as well as IndyCar Series driver JR Hildebrand.