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03/26/2011 |
CARQUEST
BELTS & HOSE PIT PARTY TO USHER IN 2011
SEASON AT STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
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The
CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party is a Stafford
Speedway tradition that has spanned the better part
of two decades, with the first Pit Party taking
place during CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend on
September 30, 1990. The CARQUEST Belts and Hose Pit
Party tradition will continue at Stafford on Sunday,
May 1st as part of the 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net
Spring Sizzler pre-race festivities.
That 1990 CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend was the first
time that a pit party was held at a weekly NASCAR
track as part of the pre-race festivities. As the
CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party has gained in
popularity, the concept has spread to other area
tracks and today is a mainstay in allowing race fans
unique access to their favorite drivers and cars.
Chris Kopec, Dan Avery, and Tom Bolles, who were
each on hand for that Inaugural CARQUEST Belts &
Hose Pit Party at Stafford, share their thoughts and
memories of that first Pit Party and how it has
grown into the event it is today.
“What I remember the most is being at the Pit Party
with the Modified Tour car,” said Chris Kopec. “In
the past we had done autograph sessions and things
like that, but the Pit Party was a whole new way for
drivers to be able to interact with the fans. No one
had ever done anything like the Pit Party. I
remember wondering how that first pit party was
going to go because normally on race day you don’t
get to meet the people who are in the grandstands.
Once the Pit Party concept got going and became
popular, the fans started showing up early just to
be part of the Pit Party and see the cars and
drivers up close. The coolest part was seeing kids
getting close to the cars and the drivers. Over the
years, it’s become a great event. I don’t think you
ever see anyone going back to the grandstands empty
handed with all the different things that drivers
are handing out now.”
“I don’t recall ever taking part in a pit party
before that Fall Final at Stafford,” said Dan Avery.
“From the very beginning, the Pit Party was very
well received by the race fans, kids in particular.
As the years have gone by, I think you’ve seen teams
expand their level of interaction with the fans with
candy, hero cards, and souvenirs to hand out. The
fans really seem to get a kick out of the Pit Party
and it’s fun for the drivers as well to see the
fans.”
“It’s always fun to be able to see the level of
excitement on the fans’ faces during the Pit Party,
especially the kids,” said Tom Bolles. “As much fun
as it is for the fans, it’s also fun for the drivers
to see and talk with the fans. I’ve been involved in
pit parties with pretty much every type of car,
whether it be SK Modified®, Busch North, or the
Whelen Modified Tour, and it’s a great way for the
fans to be able to get up close and personal with
the cars and the drivers. The Pit Parties are a lot
of fun with the giveaways the drivers have for the
fans, and it’s definitely grown over the years.”
“It is often said that imitation is the sincerest
form of flattery,” said Mark Arute, Stafford
Speedway COO/GM. “We have seen the pit party become
prevalent at many of the New England race tracks and
we take pride in being the first track to offer our
fans the pit party experience. Thanks to the support
of CARQUEST Belts and Hose, we are able to continue
to bring our race fans the opportunity to get up
close and personal with their favorite drivers and
cars.”
CARQUEST Belts & Hoses are top quality products
produced by Gates, the world’s leading manufacturer
and aftermarket supplier, covering both domestic and
import vehicles. Many of these products are the same
as those specified by OEM’s around the world. The
Gates Corporation has been recognized as one of the
leading manufacturers of automotive power
transmission products. CARQUEST is a recognized
market leader in automotive and heavy-duty
application coverage and known for first-to-market
status. CARQUEST Belts & Hose customers can rely on
the most complete coverage for the majority of
today’s passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs.
CARQUEST Micro-V® Serpentine Belts offer the latest
technology in V-ribbed belt design and construction.
These products are available at your local CARQUEST
Auto Parts store. To find the CARQUEST Auto Parts
store closest to you, please visit
www.carquest.com/store_locator.html.
The CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party will be held on
Sunday, May 1st as part
of the 40th annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented
by CARQUEST from 11am-noon. Tickets for “The
Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are now on
sale at the Stafford Motor Speedway box office.
Tickets are priced at $35.00 for adult general
admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14,
$38.00 for reserved seats, and free for children
ages 5 & under. Tickets are good for admission to
the Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1 portions
of the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, with the Friday,
April 29 practice session open the public free of
charge. The CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party is open
to all CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler ticket
holders.
For more information about CARQUEST Auto Parts
Stores or Tech-Net
Professional Auto Service, go to
www.CARQUEST.com.
For more information about Gates Corporation and its
products, go to
www.gates.com. |
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Source: Scott Running / Stafford Motor Speedway
Posted: March
26, 2011 |
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