NASCAR WCUP: PIR and NASCAR announce four year deal with Checker Auto Parts
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
September 12, 2001: Phoenix, AZ – Phoenix International Raceway (P.I.R.) and Checker Auto Parts announced today a long-term agreement making the Arizona-based automotive aftermarket retailer the title sponsor for the annual Fall NASCAR Winston Cup race beginning in 2001 and running through 2004. The race will be known as the Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil.
“We are very pleased to elevate our role as an integral part of NASCAR racing in Phoenix,” said Maynard Jenkins, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer for CSK Auto, the parent company of Checker Auto Parts. “Our customers appreciate competitive racing and they are certainly NASCAR Winston Cup Series fans. The Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil is the marquee event of the four-race NASCAR weekend at P.I.R. and the biggest one-day sporting event in Arizona. It’s only natural that Checker Auto Parts and CSK Auto again join with P.I.R. to bring such great racing to our customers, our associates, and especially the fans.”
CSK Auto, Inc. is the top automotive aftermarket retailer in the Western United States, operating more than 1150 stores in 19 states under the names Checker Auto Parts, Kragen Auto Parts, and Schuck’s Auto Supply. The publicly held company employs more than 14,000 associates.
NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing has been coming to P.I.R. since 1988, when Checker Auto Parts was the very first sponsor of the inaugural 500-kilometer (312 miles) race. Checker has also sponsored Indy car, sports car, and open-wheel races at the “Desert Jewel.”
“Phoenix is Checker’s home market,” said Robin Braig, P.I.R.’s Executive V.P. and General Manager, “They’re headquartered here, they have a huge distribution center not too far from the track, and a lot of their customers, and their associates, are our guests on race weekends. Checker’s involvement with P.I.R. in the late eighties and early nineties was critical to our growth, and while we will always be grateful for their previous support we are thrilled that they have agreed to continue growing what’s become a tremendous relationship.”
This year’s giant four-race NASCAR Weekend officially begins on Thursday, October 25th with the running of the Albertsons/Osco Drug 125 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series race. Friday, October 26th is Valley Chevy Dealers Qualifying Day, culminating with the Chevy Silverado 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. On Saturday, October 27th it’s the Outback Steakhouse 200 NASCAR Busch Series race, and Sunday’s finale will feature the Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Tickets are available at the P.I.R. ticket office in the downtown Arizona Center, by telephone at 602-252-2227, or online at www.phoenixinternationalraceway.com.
Phoenix Speedway Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation (ISC) , a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United Sates. Including P.I.R., ISC owns, operates and/or has interest in 13 major motorsports facilities that promote more than 100 events annually.
Text provided by Kenny Kane
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