DeLude PR

Press Release

Larry DuLude, (203) 882-2572 Dave Berlin, (203) 731-2376 Fax, (203) 882-2114/(203) 731-2590

For Release 9:00AM EST March 31 ,1997

All Clear (tm) VisionBlade (tm) to Sponsor DuLude in Neon Challenge

All Clear tm VisionBlade tm , the easy-to-use Glass Treatment product from the makers of STP will be the primary sponsor of Larry DuLude's championship-winning Marren Motorsports Dodge Neon for 1997. DuLude has joined forces with VisionBlade to defend his 1996 Neon Challenge Championship, and also run for the SCCA Club Racing Championship.

All Clear VisionBlade is a new long-lasting glass treatment that greatly improves a driver's vision in the rain. "We're really excited about running for VisionBlade," said DuLude, "the support is great, and the product itself should help us win races in the rain. And, our program with VisionBlade gives us a chance to say 'thanks' to the SCCA workers". DuLude will run the four Neon Challenge events and 6 SCCA Club events, plus the Runoffs, SCCA's National Championship event in October.

Mike Zimmerman of STP Products, marketer of All Clear VisionBlade, believes the sponsorship will be an excellent showcase for VisionBlade. "STP knows the power of racing sponsorship," Zimmerman said, "and VisionBlade is the kind of product that will appeal to racing enthusiasts who really know their cars. We hope they'll try VisionBlade and we're sure they'll recommend it to their friends."

The first opportunity to try VisionBlade goes to SCCA workers, courtesy of STP Products and this sponsorship program. "We'll be distributing samples of VisionBlade to SCCA workers at all of our events," said DuLude, "this is a chance for STP and VisionBlade and our race team to tell the workers how much we appreciate their efforts". SCCA workers volunteer their services at the events, work long hours without pay, just for the love of the sport.

For SCCA, the VisionBlade program is a win-win. "We're enthusiastic about this program," said SCCA President Nick Craw, "our hard-working members get to try VisionBlade, and the sponsor gets feedback and goodwill from some really knowledgeable enthusiasts. This program can't miss."

In 1996, Larry DuLude and Crew Chief Tim Marren had a strong run in Neon Challenge races, with a win, a 2nd place, one 3rd and a 5th to win the Championship in Class B. "Our first Neon Challenge event is at Lime Rock, our 'home track', said DuLude, " we won there last Memorial Day, and we plan to win both races there this year. The Neon Challenge will be run in a unique two-race-per-weekend format in 1997, with 2 races at Lime Rock (CT) on Memorial Day Weekend, and 2 races at Road America (WI) on the CART weekend in August. The VisionBlade Neon began the SCCA National season on the road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway on March 22 with a strong 2nd place finish.

VisionBlade was developed jointly by PPG Industries and STP. The product is packaged in a ready-to-use applicator blade; a typical application lasts 6 months and can be applied in about 5 minutes. The VisionBlade formula is the product of research by PPG at their world-leading glass technology facility. The formula is derived from the same technology used in the aerospace industry for many commercial aircraft, and it is fundamentally different than chemistry used in traditional glass treatments. VisionBlade is marketed by STP Products, Inc., marketers of STP Oil & Gas treatments, and Son-of-a-Gun interior protectant.

Additional sponsors of Larry DuLude and the Marren Motorsports Neon include Kumho Tires, Papa's Dodge, Raybestos, Town Fair Tire, and Neon Central Performance Parts. Chrysler is the primary sponsor of the Neon Challenge, and contingency sponsors include Champion Spark Plug, McKenna Roll Cages, Mobil 1, Snap-On Tools, and Total Tel Communications. .

Background

Larry DuLude has been racing with SCCA and IMSA for many years. Larry began racing in Formula Vee, and won the New York Region Formula Vee championship in 1981 and 1982. Larry competed in the Renault Cup in 1982-1985, and ran with IMSA in '86 and '87. Since 1991, Larry has been racing SCCA Showroom Stock, competing at the Annual "Runoffs" each year.

Marren Motorsports is the one of the most prominent Fuel Injection Service companies in the Racing and Aftermarket Industry. Tim worked with the Jim Russell Racing Organization, and then served on the Crew for Phil Conte Racing in IMSA GTP, and crewed for Juan Fangio and Steve Millen in Indy Lights competition.

In 1995, Tim Marren and Larry Du Lude formed a partnership to run a Neon Coupe. Their 2nd race together at the Elkhart Lake (Wis.) Neon Supercup in 1995 saw the team finish 7th in a field of 53 starters.

In 1996, the team won 2 races, and captured the SSB Neon Challenge Championship.

Jack Durbin indy500@freenet.tlh.fl.us Motorsport News International jackd@motorsport.com (Moderators for "rec.autos.sport.info") Homepage http://www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/users/indy500/index.html