Team ASE Sets Sponsorship Milestone at Kentucky

SPARTA, KY (June 13, 2000) - When Mike Wallace takes the green flag in the Kroger 225 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Kentucky Speedway this weekend, he'll have plenty of tradition riding with him in his #2 Team ASE Ford. "I really can't believe we've completed 125 races as a primary sponsor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series," stated Ron Weiner, President of ASE as he reviewed the longest running primary sponsorship association in the history of the series. "We've been baked by the sun, frozen in the cold and rained on, but I can honestly say that we've never had an event that disappointed us. Our involvement in the Truck Series has been a great opportunity for ASE." Along with associate sponsor, Ultra Wheels, also the longest continuing association of its kind in the series, ASE has been able to use the program as a rallying point for professional automotive technicians over the past six seasons. "We originally got into the Truck Series because we felt that many of our ASE technicians owned pickups," Weiner stated. "As the general public has purchased more and more pick-up trucks, it's given ASE the opportunity to relate not only to our technicians but consumers as well. With many dealerships selling more pickups than cars these days, we've been able to ride the rise in popularity of trucks along with the growth of the Truck Series. "Another opportunity our involvement in the Truck Series has allowed us is the chance to showcase the excellence of the working technician as mirrored by the outstanding crews," Weiner continued. "We've always maintained that racing is to our technicians what rodeo is to farmers and ranchers, so our involvement has worked out to be a win-win situation for everyone involved." Wallace and Ultra Motorsports have maintained the ASE mark of excellence on the track this season by winning a pair of races, including the first-ever NCTS event held at Daytona International Speedway. For the inaugural Kentucky Speedway NCTS event, Wallace's Team ASE Ford will sport special hood and spoiler decals to commemorate ASE's record sponsorship association in the series. "Looking back, I'd have to say the Craftsman Truck Series has worked out wonderfully for ASE," said Weiner. "It's a perfect fit for ASE. The venues allow us to do a lot of things we probably wouldn't have been able to do in either the Busch or Winston Cup series. The geographic diversity of the series allows us to reach a lot of people while the size of the events is conducive to giving our guests the VIP treatment they deserve. I just hope we can be involved for another 125 races." The Kroger 225 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race will open with practice and qualifying on Friday, June 16. The inaugural event will take the green flag on Saturday at 7:30 P.M. Eastern Time and will be telecast live by ESPN. The race will also be broadcast worldwide on MRN Radio.