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NASCAR Trucks: Chelsea To Sponsor Bobby Hamilton's #4 Dana Truck at Fontana

21 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Lebanon, Tenn.- Chelsea, one of Dana Corporation's brands will be on the side of Bobby Hamilton's #4 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry in the October 30th NAPA 200 at California Speedway. Chelsea with its Power Take Off's (PTO's) will move to the primary sponsor position on Hamilton's Dana Dodge for this race only.

"We were really excited when we had the Chelsea name on Bobby's truck earlier this year," said Dennis Hampton, Marketing Manager for Dana's Drivetrain Service Division. "When Bobby took the lead at Memphis in a Dana Chelsea truck it was great for everyone involved. The thing is that the exposure was great, but more importantly it reinforced the pride of our employees and that was the big reason for coming on board for a second race."

Chelsea, which has been in the auxiliary power market since 1945 is the world leader in PTO's and systems technology. Its products can be found on virtually every medium and heavy-duty truck application. There are over six million PTO combinations available for use with recovery vehicles, dump trucks, refuse vehicles, and utility vehicles. In other words if it has a hydraulic system on it, chances are there is a Chelsea system on board.

This marks the second time that Chelsea has gotten involved at this level in motorsports marketing with Bobby Hamilton Racing. The first event that the Chelsea name adorned a Hamilton truck was the Memphis 200 where the truck ran up front until a mechanical failure occurred with three laps to go.

"It's great for Dana racing when Chelsea and our other brands get more involved with the racing program," said Armedee Nadeau, Manager of Dana Motorsports. "We have had a good first year with Bobby Hamilton Racing and when one of our brands utilizes our resources it's only going to benefit the whole racing program."

Chelsea has been one of the Dana brands present on the Bobby Hamilton Racing #18 truck that Joe Ruttman drives full-time on the NASCAR Truck Series.

The Napa 200 will be Hamilton's fifth start of the year and 12th of his career in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Hamilton's last start in a truck was at Richmond, Virginia where he started on the pole but finished 31st.

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