PETERSON CAT PARTNERS WITH DAVID POWERS MOTORSPORTS, WILL SPONSOR POINTS-LEADER ROD FULLER AT FRAM-AUTOLITE NATIONALS
SONOMA, Calif. (July 24, 2007) – Current NHRA Top Fuel points leader Rod Fuller will pilot the yellow-and-black Peterson CAT dragster during the 19th running of the FRAM-Autolite Nationals. David Powers Motorsports and San Leandro, Calif.-based Peterson CAT have partnered for the FRAM-Autolite Nationals, July 27-29, at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma , it was announced today. This is the fifth time that David Powers Motorsports and a Caterpillar dealer group have joined to back Fuller’s car.
The relationship between David Powers Motorsports and the CAT dealer groups is designed as a pilot program to increase technician recruiting. Caterpillar dealers are experiencing a shortage of technicians and NHRA drag racing offers a technician-rich recruiting environment to find qualified candidates with experienced mechanical backgrounds. Peterson Holding is the parent company to Peterson Tractor Co., Peterson Machinery Co. and Peterson Power Systems. Peterson has 19 locations in Northern California and Southern and Central Oregon and employs more than 1,000 people.
“It’s awesome to again fly the yellow-and-black of Caterpillar,” Fuller said. “Two weeks ago at Denver , we put our Wagner CAT car in the winner’s circle. Our goal is to bookend the Western Swing with wins for the CAT dragster.”
Fuller enters the Sonoma race atop the POWERade Top Fuel standings having already secured a spot in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship. He leads Brandon Bernstein by 134 points entering the 15th race on the schedule. The Las Vegas racer has two victories ( Phoenix , Denver ) in four final round appearances this season. He also has three poles and has advanced to at least the semifinals at 10 of 14 events this season.
"We at Peterson are very excited to join Caterpillar in sponsoring the NHRA race in Sonoma ," Duane Doyle CEO of Peterson Holding Company said. "The positive impression that Rod Fuller and the David Powers Motorsports team have made on other CAT dealers who have partnered with them and the success of those events, should make this a memorable weekend."
Peterson CAT will display Caterpillar equipment at the Sonoma race. They will have a location in the popular Manufacturer’s Midway area of the pits where fans can inquire about a career as a Caterpillar dealer technician, acquire information on the CAT equipment, and meet Fuller.
ESPN2 will feature 90 minutes of qualifying highlights from the FRAM-Autolite Nationals at 6 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, July 28, and three hours of final eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, July 29.
