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NHRA: New "Like a Rock" Award Also Unveiled

24 February 1999

DETROIT, Mich: At NHRA's AutoZone Winternationals on Feb. 4, Ron Stanley, former Chevrolet S-10 Pickup Brand Manager, unveiled a unique perpetual trophy created by the Brand Team to honor Chevy S-10 drivers who claim Winston championships in NHRA's newest professional drag-racing category, Pro Stock Truck.

The trophy, a replica of the cluster of lights at the starting line known as a "Christmas Tree," with a 50-pound granite rock as its base, was presented to Larry Kopp, the first Pro Stock Truck champion in history, driving a Chevy S-10, at the NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif. This striking trophy will tour the country in the Chevy Trucks exhibit and will be displayed at various Super Chevy shows, street rod events, snow-boarding events, the X Games, and even mountain biking events, criss-crossing the country several times.

Kopp, the 1998 Winston champion, was presented with his own smaller version of this trophy by Stanley, at a reception honoring Chevy S-10 drivers. "Larry burst on the scene in 1998 with a Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins Chevy V8 motor and an attitude -- a winning attitude," said Stanley. "He never faltered from his determination to win everything there was to win. He had a couple of glitches along the way, but he never lost sight of his goal. He truly exemplifies what the Chevy S-10 Pickup brand stands for: Most dependable, longest-lasting, and goes the extra mile with an unparalleled passion to be the best there is."

This trophy will be awarded to each Pro Stock Truck Champion in future years, as long as he/she drives a Chevy S-10. "This trophy has enough room on it for nine more champion names," added Stanley, "and has the potential of holding 60 additional champion names. So, I think you can see how serious we are at the Chevy S-10 Pickup brand about the NHRA Pro Stock Truck Series."

Stanley also introduced the "Like a Rock" award, the recipient of which will be voted on by Chevy S-10 drivers and teams at each event and will be presented for the first time at the end of the 1999 season along with a $5,000 check. This new "Like a Rock" trophy and cash award will be presented to the one driver and team who throughout the 1999 season, in the view of each Chevy S-10 driver, demonstrates the style, image, drive and personality that represents the "Like a Rock" theme.