Luxaire to Sponsor Andy Hillenburg, World of Outlaws

NORMAN, OK (January 28) - Luxaire has signed two motorsports marketing contracts with the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series, the heating and air conditioning company's Manager of Marketing Communications, Ted Altmire, announced Friday. "These sponsorships will provide Luxaire brand distributors and dealers with incredibly aggressive marketing support," Altmire said. After serving as an associate sponsor of veteran Oklahoma driver Andy Hillenburg in 1999, Luxaire has upgraded to primary title sponsorship of his 800-horsepower, fuel injected, 410 cubic-inch racing machine this season. Hillenburg, who finished 10th in both the 1999 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series driver and car owner point standings, is legendary in motorsports circles for running the first sub-10-second lap in series history at Bloomington Speedway in 1998. Luxaire will also be the "Official Heating and Air Conditioning Supplier" of the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series circuit, further enhancing the sponsorship value for Luxaire distributors and contractors. Luxaire pioneered motorsports sponsorships in the HVAC industry. In 1993, Luxaire became the first major brand to recognize and exploit the marketing muscle of NASCAR stock car racing. "Motorsports marketing involves so much more than logo placement on a race car driving around the track," Altmire said. "Our integrated approach on behalf of our distributor-and-dealer network includes national consumer advertising, trade advertising, distributor and dealer hospitality events, as well as a show car program. When it's done right, motorsports marketing runs like a smoothly oiled machine. "Everyone appreciates NASCAR's marketing muscle," Altmire added, "but we're just as enthusiastic about this sprint car program as an aggressive vehicle for marketing our brands in front of trackside and TV audiences that appreciate motorsports and buy HVAC products." The Pennzoil World of Outlaws is rapidly growing in popularity, providing Luxaire with an ideal marketing tool as the traveling circuit runs 58 events over 95 race dates at 35 facilities in 23 states. The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series will visit seven new facilities in 2000: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX; Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC; Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN; Houston Raceway Park in Houston, TX; Joplin 66 Speedway in Joplin, MO; Portland Speedway in Portland, OR; and Watsonville Speedway in Watsonville, CA. TNN will televise 15 races live and re-air an additional 21 this year.

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