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[/media-credit]American Auto, Paytas Homes, Halifax Health, NCTA/NCSHP Caisson Unit and Cricket Come Together to Put Skinner Back on the Track
DENVER, N.C. (February 23, 2012) – Since announcing his return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) at Daytona International Speedway nearly two weeks ago, veteran driver Mike Skinner has found the support of five different companies to help fund his effort. A long-time former resident of Daytona Beach, Fla., Skinner had the desire to race one last time at what he considers to be his home track, and fortunately he had the support system in place to make it happen. Skinner had been in discussions with Eddie Sharp to pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet and used the funding to capitalize on that opportunity.
American Auto was the first company to jump on board and make the decision to purchase the lower quarter panels of Skinner’s No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado. Soon after, Jimmy Paytas of Paytas Homes announced his company’s support of Eddie Sharp Racing. After years of supporting Halifax Health through charitable contributions and participation on the board of directors, the Skinners received some support from the hospital when they pitched in to purchase the bed top of Skinner’s Chevrolet. The N.C. Trooper’s Association (NCTA) / N.C. State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) Caisson Unit also jumped at the opportunity to expose their non-profit to the countless NASCAR fans in attendance and watching on television on Friday night.
Last, but not least, Skinner’s wife, Angie, a co-host on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway caught the attention of a listener who agreed to have his company, Rick’s Specialty Vehicles and the Cricket SW3, sponsor the hood of Skinner’s No. 8 Chevrolet. After pulling together all of the resources, Skinner went from a ride he risked funding himself, to competing with the nearly full-funded No. 8 Cricket SW3-Halifax Health Chevrolet Silverado.
“It’s been amazing to watch everyone pitch in to help make this race possible for me and my career,” commented Skinner. “I consider Daytona International Speedway my home track and having the opportunity to race here in a competitive ride is very important to me. I’m really excited for this weekend because I know ESR has competitive trucks, fast motors and a great team in place. We’re in a strange position because we have a signed agreement from a sponsor that said they’ll fund our full season. We’re hopeful that the money will be put in place and we are points racing, but we also know this may be my last race this season so we’re here to win.”
Skinner is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series inaugural champion, and Eddie Sharp Racing won championships of its own before moving into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full-time in 2011. The winning partners and constant strive for excellence, is actually what drew some of the companies to sponsor the No. 8 Cricket SW3-Halifax Health Chevrolet.
“Paytas Homes is excited to support Mike Skinner and the ESR team,” commented Jim Paytas, president/owner of Paytas Homes. “Our name is recognized in the Daytona area as one of the best in the business and teaming up with Skinner and ESR fits within our brand of striving for excellence. We certainly expect to be running up front with considering the efforts Eddie and the team have coordinated for this race.”
Others recognized the marketing power of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 2011, nearly 60,000 fans attended the NextEra Energy Resources 250, and another 900,000 fans tuned in on SPEED every week to watch the action. For growing organizations like the Caisson Unit, the opportunity to expose their cause and brand to an entirely new fan base can be extremely beneficial.
“The Caisson Unit was formed to pay a final tribute to those law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty,” explained Tim Tarleton of the Caisson Unit. “Our association with NASCAR, Eddie Sharp Racing, and Mike Skinner is something we are very proud of, as we know they share our desire to honor those individuals. ESR has given us the opportunity to reach people and departments that we otherwise would not have reached.”
The NextEra Energy Resources 250 from Daytona International Speedway will be broadcast live on SPEED at 7:00 p.m. EST on Friday, February 24. Radio coverage of the 250-mile event will be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90, beginning at 7:15 p.m. Fans can also tune into SPEED to watch practice sessions at 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 23, and qualifying prior to the race at 4:00 p.m. EST, on Friday, February 24.
About PAYTAS HOMES
Since 1970, Paytas Homes has enjoyed an excellent reputation for New Homes Construction in some of the area’s finest new communities including Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and Palm Coast, FL. Our New Home Designs and Home Improvement concepts contain some of the latest features by listening to our customers and homeowners. By acting as New Home Designers as well as Builders and Developers allows Paytas Homes to coordinate the finest possible New Home Package at competitive pricing. Thousands of satisfied homebuyers provide the record of the superb quality and customer service that we provide. Take a look through our website and see why, in the Daytona Beach Area……..”SINCE 1970, OUR REPUTATION HAS BEEN OUR BEST SELLING POINT.” http://www.paytashomes.com www.paytashomes.com
About The NCTA/NCSHP Caisson Unit
The NCTA/NCSHP is a non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue 501(c)(3) of the IRS regulations. All donations are tax exempt. The Caisson Unit relies on continuing support from its contributors to maintain operations. The NCTA/NCSHP is a partnership between the North Carolina Troopers Association and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. It receives no state funding for operation; instead the Unit relies solely on contributions. The North Carolina Troopers Association maintains the horses and equipment. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol provides sworn and trained personnel to participate in carrying out the responsibilities of performing the funeral missions. For more information, visit nctacaisson.org http://www.nctacaisson.org .
About Eddie Sharp Racing
Eddie Sharp Racing ( TeamESR.com) is a championship winning race team housed in a 40,000 square-foot facility in Denver, N.C. After just four short years of competition within the ARCA Racing Series, the team impressively accumulated upwards of 20 race wins. 2009 was a pivotal year for ESR, as they dominated the series with six race wins, 15 top-fives and 19 top-10s en route to the series championship with driver Justin Lofton. In 2010, ESR made the transition to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 2011, Sharp and Lofton were reunited within truck competition. In 2012, ESR expands to three teams, as Lofton returns to the No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado, Cale Gale joins the team behind the wheel of the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado, and for Daytona, Mike Skinner drives the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado.
