Castrol To Sponsor Pro Stock Truck Team

WAYNE, N.J. (December 14, 1999) -- Castrol® North America Consumer, an international leader in lubricants and technology, will become the first major consumer products company to sponsor a team in the National Hot Rod Association's (NHRA) Pro Stock Truck Division through an affiliation with Kessinger Motorsports announced Tuesday by John A. Howell, Manager, Motorsports, for Castrol North America Consumer. Castrol Super Clean will sponsor team owner Jim Kessinger and the Lawrenceville, Ky.-based Chevy S-10 trucks driven by Steve Johns and Rob Slavinski. Slavinski, 39, will drive the Castrol Super Clean Waterless and Towelless Hand Cleaner Chevy S-10 pickup. Johns, 37, will drive the Castrol Super Clean Tire Gloss Chevy S-10. Slavinski, whose racing efforts have been backed by Castrol for the past 15 seasons, will make his Pro Stock Truck debut at the 40th annual AutoZone Winternationals, Feb. 3-6, at Pomona, Calif. The Wallingford, Conn., driver has won NHRA national events in Super Comp, Super Gas and Competition Eliminator. After competing in Comp Eliminator the past three seasons, he is hoping to become the third driver in NHRA history to win events in four different eliminator categories. Johns, shop foreman for legendary engine builder Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, also has a history of success. The Lancaster, Pa., resident has been part of three World Championships -- two as a Crew Chief and one as a driver/Crew Chief. As Crew Chief, he directed Bob Kaiser to the 1989 NHRA World Championship in Comp Eliminator before winning the same title as driver/Crew Chief in 1992. In addition, he was Larry Kopp's Pro Stock Truck Crew Chief when Kopp became the division's first Winston Champion in 1998. Johns joined Kessinger Motorsports last fall as a driver and, in only his third start, won the season-ending AAA of Southern California Finals at Pomona, Calif. "Outside Castrol's sponsorship of reigning nine-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force and 1999 NHRA Funny Car runner-up Tony Pedregon, Castrol has shown its commitment to up-and-coming racers throughout its 15-year relationship with the NHRA," said Howell. "Rob Slavinski's persistence and dedication throughout a decade-and-a-half as a sportsman racer with Castrol (during which he won eight NHRA national events), has helped him earn a spot in the pro ranks. Along the same lines, Steve Johns -- whose proven record on the race track has won the respect of team owners and fans alike -- is an excellent addition to the Castrol racing family. "Additionally, we look forward to establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with Jim Kessinger and the outstanding team he has assembled at Kessinger Motorsports." The NHRA Pro Stock Trucks will compete at 15 events in the 2000 season. In addition, pending NHRA approval, the Castrol Super Clean trucks will go head-to-head in match race appearances at the Castrol Nationals at Dallas, Texas, and at the Matco Tools Spring SuperNationals at Englishtown, N.J. "The decision of the Castrol Super Clean brand to lend its sponsorship support to Kessinger Motorsports, Rob Slavinski and Steve Johns is another indication of the increased interest in NHRA's Pro Stock Truck category," acknowledged NHRA President Tom Compton. "It strengthens Castrol's NHRA commitment, which includes sponsorship of John Force's multi-car Funny Car team and title rights to the Castrol Nationals." "With the personnel we've put together and the addition of Castrol as a primary sponsor, we are looking forward to extending the Kessinger Motorsports winning tradition into the next millennium," said James Kessinger, manager of Kessinger Motorsports. "We are tremendously excited about moving the Pro Stock Truck Division to an even higher level." In the two-year existence of the Pro Stock Truck class, Kessinger Motorsports has won four races with three different drivers.