Force, Castrol recognizes tech program students

Castrol North America recognizes eight u.s. automotive students as winners of the Castrol GTX Top Techs program.

WAYNE, N.J. - Mar. 24, 2003 - Castrol North America is proud to announce the eight U.S. winners of its Castrol GTX Top Techs contest, an annual recognition program of the best and brightest automotive students in the country. Each winner receives the once-in-a-lifetime adventure of serving as an honorary Castrol GTX High Mileage Funny Car crew member for John Force - drag racing legend and 12-time champion - at a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) race in 2003. One of the eight winners will be chosen for a grand prize $7,500 scholarship to continue his or her automotive service education.

According to Tim Miranda, Engineering/OEM manager for Castrol North America and one of five contest judges, "This year's Castrol GTX Top Techs winners exhibit the finest automotive service talents and demonstrate outstanding academic, vocational and community achievements. It's a delight for all of us at Castrol North America to see the nation's best automotive students rewarded with a thrill-a-minute weekend at an NHRA race, where they'll have the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the best in the business."

Automotive students and teachers across the country submitted 150-word essay nominations at www.GTXTopTechs.com, explaining reasons for selecting the designated nominee as a Castrol GTX Top Tech. "Choosing just eight winners from hundreds of talented nominees was quite a challenge for the judges. It's encouraging to know that there is a talented pool of tech-savvy students out there who will one day service our vehicles," said Miranda.

As chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, the 2003 Castrol GTX Top Techs winners and races they will attend are:

Randi Reel , Bellville, Texas, senior at Bellville High School 2003 SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, April 5-6

Daniel Gilbert , Flower Mound, Texas, freshman at Universal Technical Institute - Houston Campus 2003 O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, April 12-13

Dan Dorset , Brighton, Mich., senior at Brighton High School 2003 Mac Tools Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol Dragway (Tenn.), April 26-27

Chris Bohland , Melville, N.Y., senior at Half Hollow Hills East High School and automotive student at L.A. Wilson Tech. - Northport Campus 2003 NHRA Matco Tools SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., May 17-18

Michael Bretl , Fort Atkinson, Wis., freshman at Madison Area Technical College 2003 Chicagoland NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, May 31-June 1

Carl Jones , Ellery, Ill., junior at Edwards County High School 2003 Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway (near St. Louis, Mo.), June 28-29

Brian Millington , Belleville, Kan., freshman at Wyoming Technical Institute 2003 Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, July 19-20

Pete Johnson , Mooresville, Ind., sophomore at Lincoln Technical Institute - Indianapolis Campus 2003 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, August 31-September 1

In addition to each winner and a parent or guardian visiting John Force - the winningest drag racer in history - and the Castrol GTX High Mileage Funny Car team as they prepare for a race, he or she will also receive two tickets to the final races of the weekend, a Castrol GTX hat and t-shirt, a Mac Tools toolbox filled with $1,000 of new tools, and a donation of both Castrol GTX motor oil and Castrol GTX High Mileage motor oil for use in his or her vocational education/automotive program.

A national winner will be selected from the eight regional winners to receive a $7,500 scholarship to continue training for an automotive service career and a trip, including travel and hotel accommodations, to the prestigious Car Craft awards banquet in Indianapolis in August - drag racing's "People's Choice" award competition, attended by all the greats of drag racing. The national winner will be announced in late August 2003.

In addition to Miranda, the 2003 panel of judges included Matt King, editor in chief of Car Craft magazine; John Lypen, editor and publisher of Motor magazine; Darren Morris, national business development manager for Mac Tools, and; Bob Weber, ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician and "Motormouth" columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

Castrol GTX will begin accepting nominations for its 2004 Castrol GTX Top Techs program in September 2003.

Castrol is a global leader in marketing premium automotive product brands such as Castrol GTX, Castrol GTX High Mileage, Castrol Syntec, Castrol Syntec Blend and Castrol Super Clean. Castrol North America markets its lubricants and services to lube operators, automotive service providers and select retailers in North America. Castrol, the automotive marketing and technology leader with more than 100 years' experience, offers world-class retailer and installer support under one united global brand. Call 1-888-CASTROL or visit www.castrolusa.com.

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