NAPA Auto Parts Sponsors California Truck Race

FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 19, 1999) NAPA Auto Parts will sponsor the final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event of 1999, the "NAPA Auto Parts 200" scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30 at the California Speedway.

The event on the two-mile high-speed oval will close the closest championship point battle in the series' five-year history. Greg Biffle, driver of the Grainger Ford, leads 1997 series champion Jack Sprague in the GMAC Chevrolet by 21 points. Dennis Setzer, driver of the Mopar Performance Parts Dodge, is only 25 points behind Biffle, who was the 1998 NCTS Rookie of the Year.

The race will also mark the final NCTS race for NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet driver, two-time and defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday of Palmdale, Calif. Hornaday will move to the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division next season in a Dale Earnhardt, Inc. team with continued backing by NAPA.

The California Speedway event brings the total NAPA race sponsorships to 11 in 1999.

"We are excited to announce our continued sponsorship of NASCAR events at California Speedway, " said NAPA president Steve Handschuh. "Our past association with California Speedway has been great for NAPA Auto Parts and we look forward to making the NAPA Auto Parts 200 a finale to remember."

NAPA has been the presenting sponsor for the past three years of the California 500 NASCAR Winston Cup event. Next year, that event will be renamed the NAPA Auto Parts 500.

In addition to its NASCAR race sponsorship, the agreement with NAPA at California Speedway includes exclusive category rights; "Official" auto parts designation, promotional and advertising opportunities, displays, track signage and hospitality for employees and business partners.

NAPA, the National Automotive Parts Association, will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2000. It also sponsors the NASCAR Winston Cup Series finale NAPA 500 on Nov. 21 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

nascar.com