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ASA: Tecumseh Inks Three-Year Sponsorship Agreement For Salem

1 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Promotion Tied To Worlds Largest Lawn & Garden Industry Trade Show

PENDLETON, Ind. - Officials from the American Speed Association and Tecumseh Products Company have reached a multi-year agreement regarding title sponsorship of the annual ASA ACDelco Series visit to Salem (Ind.) Speedway.

Tecumseh, the worlds largest manufacturer of engines and trans-axles in the lawn and garden industry, will retain the naming entitlement rights to the Tecumseh 300 event through the 2002 season, beginning with the July 21-22 event at the historic high-banked half mile oval this summer. Through the involvement of Tecumseh and their industry partners in 1999, Tim Sauter took home the winners share of the largest purse in the history of Salem Speedway.

Dick Melius, motorsports manager for Tecumseh, announced the details of the event sponsorship at the series most recent event at Nashville Speedway USA on May 21.

"Through our network of industry partners, Tecumseh will be sponsoring a special promotion for the top twenty teams in ASA points, similar to what we did last season," said Melius. "We have secured 20 partners to become part of the event, each of whom will then take an associate sponsor role for the one of the top twenty teams in the ASA ACDelco Series point standings."

A blind draw will determine which industry partner will sponsor which team and will be announced following the June 17 Hawkeye Downs event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Each of the top twenty teams in the ASA ACDelco Series point standings will receive $1,500 in return for carrying decals of the sponsors and making a special appearance at EXPO 2000, the largest lawn and garden trade show held annually in Louisville, Ky. on the same weekend. In addition, teams outside of the top twenty in points who qualify for the Tecumseh 300 will be asked to carry a Tecumseh decal, earning them $500.

In addition, Tecumseh and their industry partners will be offering several bonuses for the event, including a $5,000 bonus to Tecumseh 300 winning team, a $1,500 bonus to the leader at half-way and a $1,500 bonus to the fastest qualifier.

"Were extremely excited about the way the sponsorship worked in 1999," said Tecumseh Vice President for Sales and Marketing Tom Hockycko. "It provides an excellent opportunity to allow our industry partners to become a part of our ASA Racing involvement, and should make for an exciting event to those in attendance and those watching on live, national television!"

The 2000 version of the Tecumseh 300 is set with the new, two-day format. Friday, July 21 will see practice, qualifying and a 100-lap qualifying race in the afternoon and evening. The Tecumseh 300 will take the green flag at 8:00 p.m. (Central) on Saturday, July 22, and will be televised live on TNN Sports.

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.