Lincoln Electric Extends ARCA Truck Title Sponsorship

Lincoln Electric Extends Title Sponsorship of ARCA Truckers Through 2009; Rises to Official Product Status
 

(10-1-04)  Coming off the most competitive season in series history, the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series announced today at Talladega Superspeedway the extension of The Lincoln Electric Company as the title sponsor of its touring Truck division through the 2009 season.

 

The extension also elevates The Lincoln Electric Company to Official Product status within the ARCA Corporation. 

 

The Lincoln Electric Company has been the title sponsor of the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series since the series' inception in 1999, and adds another five years through the aforementioned renewal. 

 

"We're pleased to extend our involvement with ARCA as an official company of the ARCA RE/MAX Series and title sponsorship of the Lincoln Welders Truck Series," said Phil Fulgenzi, Manager, Motorsports Marketing for Lincoln Electric. "It is a proven platform for leveraging business, and we look forward to developing new ideas that will help both ARCA and Lincoln Electric."

 

Cleveland-based Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and manufacturing of Arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxy fuel cutting equipment. Lincoln has operations, alliances and joint ventures in 18 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices that serve more than 160 countries.

 

"The five-year title sponsorship extension is a very positive step," said Mark Gundrum, VP of ARCA Marketing and Communications. "The partnership represents long-term stability for the competitors and additional sponsors alike. Adding to the point fund annually will also go a long way in keeping the teams healthy over the road."

 

The series has become known for close championship point battles over the years, including the 2004 title fight that saw series veteran Chad Guinn and rookie Brett Rowe tied with 2615 points each following the Salem season finale. Guinn, by virtue of a better average finish throughout the year, was declared the series champion for the third consecutive season. Guinn also beat out Brian Rowe for the title in 2003 by just 30 points. Two-time series champion Robbin Slaughter nipped Guinn for the crown by 25 points in 2000 and held off '99 series champ Bill Withers for the championship by just 40 points in '01.

 

The ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series competes on both pavement and dirt tracks as well as road courses with the addition of the Virginia Int'l Raceway 1.1-mile Patriot road course in 2004. 

 

Venues returning for the 2005 tour include Toledo Speedway, Salem Speedway, VIR, Lake Erie Speedway, Flat Rock Speedway, the DuQuoin mile-dirt with additional tracks to be announced including a return to Kentucky Speedway's quarter-mile.