2005 is Repeat Year for Big Wins With Aeroquip(R) Performance Products

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., April 12 -- 2005 was another year for big wins among racing teams that rely on Aeroquip(R) Performance hose and fitting products, offered by diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation .

Once again, Eaton is pleased to dominate the winner's circle with its Aeroquip Performance Products line, said Mike Manos, sales manager-Aeroquip Performance Products. "In 2004, we led the pack among performance hose and fitting manufacturers by being associated with four top winners in the same year," Manos said. "With the 2005 season now complete, Eaton stands even prouder by having its Aeroquip Performance Products associated with four more championships in 2005."

Aeroquip Performance hose and fitting products were under the hoods of winning 2005 International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), NOPI Drag Racing Association (NDRA) and Northern AllStar racecars. Behind the wheels of 2005 winning cars equipped with Aeroquip Performance hose and fitting products were: Rob Atchison, IHRA Champion-Funny Car; Mike Janis, IHRA 5th Place-Pro Modified; Clay Millican, IHRA Champion-Top Fuel Dragster; Ara Arslanian, NDRA Champion-Pro Compact; and Steve Barnett, Northern AllStar Champion-Late Model Series.

2005 IHRA Performance Winners, Rob Atchison, Mike Janis and Clay Millican

London, Ontario, Canada's Rob Atchison of Atchison Racing ended the 2005 season by bringing home his third consecutive crown in the IHRA Funny Car ranks. He was the first to run a 5.60 pass with a 5.694-ET record in the first round of the 2005 World Finals. In the final round, he reset the record with a 5.685-second career best at 247.07 mph.

Since his launch into Funny Car racing in 1999, Atchison has been using Aeroquip Performance hose and fittings exclusively. "Eaton's Aeroquip StartLite(R) hose and fittings are the best available on the market," Atchison says. "By using the best, we can concentrate on winning, not on worrying about fluid leaks. We originally chose StartLite hose for its lighter weight over regular steel braided hose. Even though the hose is light, it is so dependable that we have never had a hose or fitting failure. My crew members love StartLite hose, because they don't get cut or nicked when they work in close to the hose, a common occurrence with other stainless steel braided lines. StartLite's crimped ends eliminate leaks, and the black hose and red anodized fittings make our engine compartment look neat and professional."

Behind the wheel of the Eaton Automotive-sponsored 2005 Dodge Stratus known as the "Widowmaker," Mike Janis of Jan-Cen Racing finished 2005 with wins at Richmond, Virginia, and Rockingham, North Carolina, earning him 5th place in the Pro Modified ranks. He grabbed Pro Modified World Championship titles in 2004 and 2001, and has won 13 IHRA national event titles in his career.

Relying on Aeroquip Performance hose and fittings for over 10 years, the Lancaster, New York, native has only good things to say about the Eaton product line. "Without a doubt, Aeroquip Performance Products contributed to our performance in the 2005 season. Aeroquip StartLite hose and fittings are light weight and durable. In fact, we had no problems with oil or fuel lines

all year long. Aeroquip Performance Products are the best on the market, and we would recommend them to anybody out there!"

Drummonds, Tennessee's Clay Millican of KPK Motorsports (new owner of Lehman Racing) won his fifth straight IHRA Top Fuel Championship in 2005, the most consecutive wins by any driver in IHRA history. Millican ended the season with 46 wins -- another IHRA record -- and clocked his career-best time.

Aeroquip hose and fitting products make KPK Motorsports a fortunate team, Millican says. "I've been using Aeroquip products personally for over 20 years and as a professional driver since 2000. We've been very fortunate to have never lost a race due to a hose and fitting failure. Our nitro-burning engines run at extremely high fuel pressures. We rely on Aeroquip hose to get us to the finish line, and it has never failed us. Hose is one of the parts on our car that we don't have to worry about during a race; we have plenty of other parts to fret over."

2005 NDRA Performance Winner, Ara Arslanian

Competing in both NDRA and NHRA sport compact drag racing series, owner/driver Ara Arslanian of Bullish Motor Racing won the 2005 NDRA Pro Compact Champion title, his third consecutive victory as a driver and fourth for his team. He also nabbed the NDRA extreme compact dragster world record ET of 6.60 at 195 mph.

Aeroquip Performance Products reduce racing stress, Arslanian says. "With Aeroquip Performance Products under the hood, we have one less thing to worry about during a race. They are reliable, and we are confident in their performance during every race. In fact, when other teams come to our trailer with their hose problems, they grab our spare parts. We would recommend the entire Aeroquip Performance Products line to other teams. And our Aeroquip crimp machine makes crimping easy. Every assembly comes out nice and clean."

2005 Northern AllStar Performance Winner, Steve Barnett

The 2005 racing season spelled solid success for Steve Barnett, owner of the Steve Barnett Racing team. Barnett clinched his 6th Northern AllStar Late Model Series Championship. In all, the Franklin, Indiana, native, known as the "Franklin Flyer," had six victories, 18 top five finishes, and 20 Top 10 runs in the 2005 season. During his 30-year racing career, Barnett boasts 11 series championships, nine track championships, and a Rookie-of-the-Year title.

Aeroquip Performance Products are part of his team's winning success, Barnett says. "We didn't experience any hose assembly failures in the 2005 season, which is indication that we are using the best hose and fittings on the market. Aeroquip Performance Products perform race after race, and that's confidence we depend on. The light weight of Aeroquip StartLite hose makes it particularly attractive to us."

About Eaton's Aeroquip Performance Products

Eaton's Aeroquip Performance Products group manufactures a comprehensive line of hose and hose assemblies, fittings, couplings, clamps, and other accessories for the high performance and racing markets. These products are offered through Eaton Aeroquip Performance Products' warehouse distributors located throughout North America.

About Eaton Corporation

Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2005 sales of $11.1 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 60,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries. For more information, visit http://www.eaton.com/ .

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photo Available Upon Request. Photo Caption: With Aeroquip Performance Products under the hood, Ara Arslanian of Bullish Motor Racing grabbed the 2005 NDRA Pro Compact Champion title.