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NHRA: AlliedSignal's Simonitsch Named Grand Marshall CSK's Spica Named Official Starter, Autolite(R) Nationals, Sonoma, August 6-8

4 August 1999

AlliedSignal's Simonitsch Named Grand Marshall CSK's Spica Named Official Starter, Autolite(R) Nationals, Sonoma, August 6-8

    SONOMA, Calif., Aug. 4 -- Jim Simonitsch, Area Vice
President, West, for the AlliedSignal Consumer Products Group, will serve as
the Grand Marshall of the Autolite Nationals.  Joe Spica, Manager of Sales
Promotions and Motor Sports from CSK Auto Corporation will serve as the
Official Starter.
    Simonitsch began his career as a sales representative with Prestone(R) at
Union Carbide in Seattle, Washington, in 1975.  He then moved up the career
ladder to positions of increasing responsibility.  Starting as District
Manager in Sacramento and Los Angeles, he moved up to National Accounts
Manager in Cleveland, Division Manager in Cleveland, and Western Regional
Manager.  He proceeded to work out of Danbury, Connecticut, headquarters of
First Brands and Prestone Products Corporation.  Most recently he was promoted
to Area Vice President, West, for AlliedSignal Consumer Products Group.  He
holds a bachelors degree from California State University in Sacramento.
Simonitsch lives in New Fairfield, Connecticut, with his wife and three
children. Autolite(R) is part of the AlliedSignal Consumer Products Group,
which also includes FRAM(R) and Prestone(R) brands.
    Joe Spica, Manager of Sales Promotions and Motor Sports for CSK Auto, will
be the Official Starter for the race.  Joe Spica has served his company since
1970 in a variety of capacities, including retail store manager, district
manager, and store operations manager.  During the most recent  years of his
tenure with the growing chain of 950 Checker, Schuck's, and Kragen Auto Parts
stores, he has managed up to 150 grand openings annually, created the
company's current motor sports program with a multi-car NHRA racing team, and
begun CSK's charitable association with The Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In
addition to his other responsibilities, he heads the administrative team of
all Checker, Schuck's, and Kragen sales promotions, including marketing
partnerships, sweepstakes, and local sponsorships in 17 states.