Hartman Motorsports Partners With KnockOut Talent
Dragsters Featuring Icon Rocker – Steve Miller Band
Unveiling Event on Wednesday, September 24 at Chicago Mack Sales & Service, Inc.
JOLIET, Ill., September 24, 2003 – Hartman Motorsports, in association with KnockOut
Talent, announces a promotional partnership spotlighting the legendary Steve Miller Band and the
recently released 22-song album, “Young Hearts – Complete Greatest Hits,” surrounding the 3rd
Annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals being held September 25-28 in Joliet, Illinois.
Both team-owned Hartman Motorsports Dragsters, driven by the NHRA record-holding
husband and wife team, Rhonda Hartman-Smith and John “Bodie” Smith, will feature bold
graphics showcasing the renowned artist and recognizable Pegasus logo while retaining major
signage for the teams primary sponsors, FRAM Filters and Prestone Products. The “his and her’s”
Dragsters will be unveiled to the public on Wednesday, September 24th at 1:00 PM at the Chicago
Mack Sales and Service Inc., the largest Mack Truck dealership in the United States, located in
Summit, Illinois.
Consumer promotions surrounding the program include giveaways and drawings for
autographed Steve Miller Band merchandise, literature and “Young Hearts – Complete Greatest
Hits” CD’s to be distributed onsite at the Chicago Mack dealership and the Route 66 Raceway
throughout the NHRA race weekend. The “grand prize” includes an authentic autographed Steve
Miller Band guitar valued at $5,000 that will be raffled off on Sunday, September 28 at the
Hartman Motorsports souvenir trailer located onsite at the Route 66 Raceway. Winners do not
need to be present to win provided they include contact information.
Capitol Records, in conjunction with KnockOut Talent, will support the program with
aggressive regional advertising in the Chicago area featuring Dragster footage and sound bites
from the new album, which was recently released on September 16th. The album honors the
artistry of the Steve Miller Band and includes a twenty-two-song collection featuring two giant
hits, “Livin’ in the USA” and “Abracadabra,” that were never included on any previous
compilation. This collection is the first to trace the artist's complete 35-year affiliation with Capitol
Records and is available in record stores nationwide.
“We are so excited about partnering with KnockOut Talent and working with a headliner
like the Steve Miller Band,” comments Rhonda Hartman-Smith. Hartman-Smith continues, “Both
John and I are big fans and are excited to promote the artist and the new “Young Hearts” album to
race fans nationwide. This is the first promotional partnership for Hartman Motorsports and we
look forward to working with Capitol Records and KnockOut Talent.”
"Steve Miller's music captures the excitement of the all-American sport of drag racing, and
Capitol Records is pleased to team with Hartman Motor Sports and the National Hot Rod
Association," says Rick Camino, Capitol Records Senior Director of Marketing. We look forward
to additional partnerships with the motor racing community in the future."
Hartman Motorsports is a family owned and operated automotive race team competing in
the Top Fuel category of the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) POWERade Drag Racing
Series. Virgil Hartman is the team owner/tuner; daughter Rhonda Hartman-Smith drives the
team’s primary car (FRAM Filters Top Fuel Dragster) and son-in-law John “Bodie” Smith drives
the second team car (Prestone Products Top Fuel Dragster).
KnockOut Talent produces high-impact motorsports programs with well-known artists
including Motley Crue, Meat Loaf, George Thorogood and Black Label Society.