Three-Way Tie for IRWIN "Crew Chief of the Year"
> > CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 10, 2002 - With six races remaining in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, the battle for the IRWIN > "> Crew Chief of the Year> "> honors is as close as the race for the Winston Cup driver's championship. Three crew chiefs, including Chad Knaus (No. 48), Jimmy Fennig (No. 97) and Frank Stoddard (No. 22), top the standings, but the award is still up for grabs and will be decided in last few races of the season. > > "> IRWIN is proud to honor the hard-working crew chiefs of NASCAR Winston Cup Racing with this award,> "> said David Pirkle of IRWIN. > "> Much like our line of bits and blades optimize a power tool> '> s performance, these professionals have had to perform in all types of conditions, with many surprises and under intense pressure. Through the course of the race the selected crew has been able to optimize their car> '> s performance.> "> > > Each week throughout the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, IRWIN, makers of professional power tool accessories like MARATHON saw blades and SPEEDBOR flat bits, is partnering with Performance Racing Network to honor the crew chief that had the toughest day in the pits, but still managed to help his team to a strong finish. The crew chief with the most weekly awards at the end of the season will win $5,000, plus IRWIN will donate $5,000 to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund in the crew chief> '> s name. > > The standings entering the UAW-GM Quality 500 are as follows: > > Crew Chief Race Team Points YTD* > Jimmy Fennig No. 97 Rubbermaid Ford 15 > Frank Stoddard No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge 15 > Chad Knaus No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet 15 > Bill Wilburn No. 2 Miller Lite Ford 10 > Tony Eury No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet 10 > Todd Parrott No. 88 UPS Ford 10 > Robbie Loomis No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet 10 > Bryant Frazier** No. 44 GeorgiaPacific Dodge 5 > Jim Long No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet 5 > Lee McCall No. 40 Coors Light Dodge 5 > Matt Borland No. 12 ALLTEL Ford 5 > Michael McSwain No. 28 Havoline Ford 5 > Newt Moore No. 36 M&Ms Pontiac 5 > Pat Tryson No. 21 Motorcraft Ford 5 > Robbie Reiser No. 17 DeWalt Ford 5 > Tommy Baldwin*** No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge 5 > Mike Hillman No. 14 Conseco Pontiac 5 > Paul Andrews No. 99 CITGO Ford 5 > Donnie Wingo No. 26 Discover Card Ford 5 > Tony Gibson No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet 5 > * Crew chiefs receive five points for each weekly award > ** No longer crew chief for the No. 44 > *** No longer crew chief for the No. 22 > > In addition to the crew chief award, IRWIN is also sponsoring the weekly nationally syndicated radio show, > "> Fast Talk with Benny Parsons> "> , throughout the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season. > > "> Working with Benny Parsons and the PRN family is a natural fit for the IRWIN bits and blades line,> "> said Pirkle. > "> The NASCAR fan-base is a hands-on group of people that are driven to do it themselves, if they can. IRWIN bits and blades are engineered to last long and provide precise cuts that will help professionals and DIYers do their best work.> "> > > IRWIN offers a complete line of saw blades and drill bits. From framing to the finest trim work; the performance of your bit and/or blade can be the difference between a long, hard day or one that runs smooth and easy. IRWIN specializes in the engineering and the manufacturing of these high performance bits and blades. Each is engineered to last, to deliver precision cuts and to optimize the output of your power tool. IRWIN drill bits includes SPEEDBOR wood bor> ing bits, TURBOMAX drill bits, UNI-BIT step drill bits, and the unique IRWIN multi-purpose drill bits that penetrate various materials such as brick, marble, plastic, metal, cement and wood. A complete list of IRWIN products and capabilities is online at www.irwintool.com.