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INTERNATIONAL, POWER STROKE DIESEL TO RETURN FOR 2002 NCTS SEASON
Market-Leading Diesel Engine Maker To Again Sponsor
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team, Driver Terry Cook In No. 29 Ford
WARRENVILLE, IL (January 14, 2002) – After a successful entry into the
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2001, International Truck and Engine
Corporation, manufacturer of the popular Power Stroke® Diesel engine for
Ford Motor Company, officially announced today that it will again sponsor
Terry Cook and the No. 29 K-Automotive Ford in 2002.
As with the initial 2001 program, International hopes to leverage the
overlap of truck owners and NASCAR fans to increase sale of the popular
Power Stroke Diesel engine powered Ford pickup trucks, vans and sport
utility vehicles through the sponsorship program of Cook and the team. After
garnering nearly $2 million in television exposure alone in just 14 Truck
Series events last year, the Power Stroke Diesel race truck will again be
seen by fans and potential diesel engine vehicle buyers throughout the
entire 23-event 2002 NCTS campaign at the tracks and on national television.
“NASCAR has proven to be an effective way for us to connect with loyal Power
Stroke Diesel customers and truck enthusiasts in general,” said Dan Ustian,
president, engine group, International Truck and Engine Corporation. “Terry
Cook has proven to be a great spokesperson for us. Terry drives a Ford
Excursion with a Power Stroke Diesel every day and experiences the power,
performance and fun driving experience that Power Stroke Diesel trucks are
noted for. The 2002 season promises to be a great year for this marketing
partnership as Terry and the team delivers NASCAR excitement to race fans
across the country in the red and black No. 29 Power Stroke Diesel race
truck.”
Cook, who grew up working on diesel engines in his father’s automotive
repair shop, is a champion for the Power Stroke Diesel message of top
performance, reliability and economy, and has helped fans make the
connection between the on track performance of Power Stroke Diesel racing
and on the road performance of Ford Power Stroke Diesel trucks.
“We had a great season last year, thanks in big part to the support given us
by International,” stated Cook, who finished seventh in the final 2001 NCTS
championship standings. “They came on board at midseason and we were able to
finish strong winning a pole at Nazareth (Penn.) and finishing second at
both Nazareth and Indianapolis. This year, we’ll be looking to drive the
Power Stroke Diesel Ford F-150 to the front of the pack on the track and to
the to the top of the list of engine choices when fans are looking for the
best in performance and reliability when buying a new truck or SUV.”
The Power Stroke Diesel race team sponsorship will also serve as and
extension of International and Ford Racing’s support of a NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series race in Indianapolis. Since 1999, they have teamed up to honor
loyal customers and fans with the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at Indianapolis
Raceway Park. The event, which this season is set for Friday, August 2, is a
natural for International as Indianapolis is home to the engine plant where
more than 260,000 Power Stroke Diesel engines are produced annually.
“Walk through the parking lot at a NASCAR event, and it is easy to see that
this is a great venue for promoting diesel pickup trucks and SUVs,” stated
Ustian. “Our NASCAR sponsorship allows us to connect with customers who
know, understand and appreciate trucks. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is
all about tough trucks, and that’s consistent with the Built Ford Tough and
Power Stroke Diesel brands. It’s about power, performance and a fun driving
experience. That’s what race fans understand, and that’s what Power Stroke
Diesel owners experience every day they get into their Ford trucks.
Expanding our NASCAR sponsorship to a full season in 2002 is in line with
our strategy to grow the already popular Power Stroke Diesel brand.”
International designs and manufactures the 7.3-liter, V-8 Power Stroke
Diesel engine exclusively for Ford Motor Company for use in Ford Super Duty
F-Series pickup trucks, Econoline vans and Excursion Sport Utility Vehicles.
Due in part to the ever-growing popularity of this engine in Ford pickups,
more than 1.5 million Power Stroke Diesel engines have been produced since
its introduction in 1994, and of those, 98.9 percent are still on the road.
Nearly two out of three buyers of Ford Super Duty pickups choose the Power
Stroke Diesel over a standard gas engine, making it the most popular engine
in its class. And because International is committed to cleaner air
solutions for today’s environment, environmentally conscious motorists are
also choosing diesel power in growing numbers.
Cook and the No. 29 Power Stroke Diesel Ford will take the green flag on the
2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season Friday, February 15, at Daytona
International Speedway. The 200-mile event will begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time and will be telecast live by ESPN. The race will also be
broadcast worldwide on MRN Radio.
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