Miami-Area Race Fan Wins a Day in the Pits From Craftsman and DieHard
19 March 1999
Miami-Area Race Fan Wins a Day in the Pits From Craftsman and DieHard
MIAMI--March 19, 1999--Hollywood, Fla. Resident Wayne Stockton, a Lifelong Motorsports Fan, Will Get Up Close and Personal with the Pros as a Pit Crew Member on
Race Day at the Miami-Homestead Speedway
It's not everyday that a race fan -- who ordinarily watches the action from the grandstands or on television -- gets to rub elbow grease in the pits with a professional race team. But for 54-year-old Hollywood, Fla. resident Wayne Stockton, that day will be reality on Sunday, March 21st at the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami. Stockton will be jumping into the pits with the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) Walker Racing Team as an honorary pit crew member for the day.
Stockton's name was randomly selected from thousands of entries as the winning ticket in the Miami-area "Win a Place on the Pit Crew with Craftsman and DieHard" sweepstakes. He'll bring a guest with him to witness the heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping excitement of race day in the pits.
"I have been a lifelong fan of motorsports. I just couldn't believe it when the Craftsman and DieHard folks called to tell me I'll be in the pits on race day," said Stockton. "It's very rare to have an opportunity to get that close to the action. After all, the pits are where the crews make it all happen."
Stockton filled out his lucky entry at the Pembrokes Lake Mall during the two-week sweepstakes.
"My son is excited, too," said Stockton. "We both filled out entries and my name is the one they happened to pick. We're both CART Fan Club members and he's always talking about wanting to be a CART driver."
The sweepstakes is just one of many ways that Sears, through its Craftsman and DieHard brands, is bringing the excitement of motorsports to customers and fans in race markets across the country.
"Craftsman and DieHard recognize that most races are won in the pits and garages," said John Lebbad, director, event marketing for Sears Motorsports. "This sweepstakes gives our customers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a member of a professional racing pit crew."
Other Miami-area activities surrounding the Miami-Homestead Speedway races included an interactive FanFest with an autograph session featuring Gil de Ferran from Walker Racing and CART's interactive display, as well as a Seminar and Demonstration for local vocational/technical students conducted by Derrick Walker of Walker Racing at the International Mall Sears Auto Centers.
No Experience Necessary
Stockton will be assigned special duties from the Walker Racing pit crew and will sport an official team uniform. In addition to his two pit "credentials," he receives two race tickets for other friends or family members to witness the excitement from the stands. After the pits clear out, Stockton will walk away with a stocked-up Craftsman tool box, Craftsman apparel, a DieHard cooler and $100 Sears gift certificate - not to mention an experience he'll never forget.
In addition to the Grand Prize Winner, five Miami-area First Prize Winners were randomly drawn to be awarded race tickets, Craftsman apparel, a Craftsman tool box, a DieHard cooler and a $50 Sears gift certificate.
Craftsman is the Official Tool of NASCAR, NHRA and CART and has been part of motorsports for more than 72 years. Craftsman tools continue to be the top-selling mechanic and auto specialty tools in the U.S., with more than 1,800 Craftsman hand tools, all made in American and guaranteed forever. DieHard, America's most preferred battery brand, is a major supporter of NASCAR and the NHRA and the Official Battery of CART. DieHard has become a househld word for long-lasting quality and durability, making it the most recognizable name in replacement automobile batteries. Visit www.sears.com for more information.