NASCAR Cup

Atlanta II: Travis Kvapil preview

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 25, 2005) - If there is one thing the No. 77 Penske-Jasper Racing team has it is sponsors that understand long term commitment to NASCAR. Take Jasper Engines and Transmissions for instance. Jasper has been involved in the ...

Published: Oct 28, 2005, 6:17 AM

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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 25, 2005) - If there is one thing the No. 77 Penske-Jasper Racing team has it is sponsors that understand long term commitment to NASCAR.

Take Jasper Engines and Transmissions for instance. Jasper has been involved in the ever growing sport since 1989. Doug Bawel, president and CEO of Jasper Engines and Transmissions as well as co-owner of Penske-Jasper Racing with Roger Penske, saw an opportunity to market his product among a targeted audience and not once has he looked back.

"In 1989, I negotiated a three-race deal with Ken Ragan and from there, Jasper has grown with NASCAR and never looked back," Bawel said. "I think the total number of races Jasper has been around for is somewhere close to about 375."

Since its first venture, Jasper has actually adorned 376 cars, either as a primary or an associate sponsor on the quarter panel or decklid. This weekend's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 will be the 377th race for the nation's largest remanufacturer of gas and diesel engines, transmissions, differentials, rear axle assemblies, marine engines, stern drives, performance engines, and electric motors.

Jasper Engines and Transmissions made its sponsorship debut with Ragan in the Aug. 20, 1989 Champion Spark Plug 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Jasper's most recent venture was last weekend with associate sponsorship status on Travis Kvapil's No. 77 Kodak/Jasper Dodge Charger in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Over the years and the miles, Bawel is proud of Jasper's commitment and level of activation in the motorsports arena, especially the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series efforts.

"Our NASCAR sponsorship works for us on many different levels," Bawel noted. "From on-track exposure to hospitality, we not only put our products in front of our core audience weekly, we are able to entertain our customers in an environment in which they are comfortable. When it comes down to it, we are engine guys and we all want to see power produced at its finest. It doesn't get any better than the Cup Series."

Sixteen years later, Jasper's marks have made 145,862 laps of the 166,734 laps comprising the events its drivers have entered. Kvapil hopes to add 325 laps to that total this weekend.

"Our last time around at Atlanta [Motor Speedway] didn't quite turn out like we had hoped," Kvapil said. "We tested and it was a good test. We practiced and had good results. I was ready to have a run like we had out in Las Vegas when I got up front and led some laps. This time around it has to be better. I mean, going out before I even complete the first lap is just not a record I am proud of.

"This time around I have a lot more pressure than before. We will, not only, have several Jasper Engines and Transmissions customers on hand in hospitality, we will have quite a bit of representation from our other partner, Kodak. I would really like to post a strong finish this weekend, especially since it is Jasper's last primary race of the year."

NEWS OF NOTE

The Newest Member of the Jasper Engines and Transmissions Family:
Congratulations to Mike and Edrina Schaefer who welcomed Katie Ann on Friday, Oct, 21. Katie Ann was 19 inches long and weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces. Edrina is the daughter of Doug and Kathy Bawel.

Equipment: PRS-089
The Jasper Engines and Transmissions Racing team will race PRS-089 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. PRS-089 is the same car Kvapil raced at AMS earlier this year (St. 20th/Fin. 42nd) and at Dover in the spring (St. 33rd/Fin. 17th).

Scheduled Test Sessions:
Oct. 25 - Texas Motor Speedway

-penskeracing-

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