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Statesville's newest corporate resident brings Home the 2002 Busch North series championship title with driver Andy Santerre. Statesville, NC. -- LesCare Kitchens, Inc. has been a proud sponsor of many NASCAR Touring Series since 1994 but 2002 ...

Edited: Dec 22, 2003, 5:59 AM

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Statesville's newest corporate resident brings Home the 2002 Busch North series championship title with driver Andy Santerre.

Statesville, NC. -- LesCare Kitchens, Inc. has been a proud sponsor of many NASCAR Touring Series since 1994 but 2002 marks the first Championship title for both LesCare Kitchens and Andy Santerre of Harrisburg, North Carolina. The story lends itself to be bittersweet. For the first time before the start of the 2002 season, LesCare Kitchens plans were very uncertain. "We weren't sure what direction we wanted to go with our racing program for 2002," says James "Jay" Lestorti, Chairman and CEO of LesCare Kitchens, Inc. "Although I'm an avid fan of NASCAR, I wasn't sure how it would all work into our marketing plan. Now, I'm more than pleased with our decision to take on the 19-race schedule with Andy Santerre. We managed to formulate a team that was close to never happening, so this Championship is a blessing in disguise."

Mr. Lestorti remains confident that LesCare Kitchens involvement in auto racing delivers to his expectations from a marketing standpoint and plans to continue sponsorship in the sport. "Preliminary discussions for the 2003 race season have already begun and we are pleased to announce that we plan to continue our sponsorship of Andy Santerre," says Mr. Lestorti. With this championship, we can offer ourselves and Andy a lot of different scenarios. Although we will continue to run in the Busch North Series on a limited schedule, our new location in Statesville will give us the opportunity to run in some of the Busch Grand National Races as well as a combination of ARCA, ASA or both. We've got the tools and a team dedicated to the outcome of our racing program and those are the key essential ingredients. The rapport we've established with Andy and his team is something we all want to grow on. We've learned what to expect from one another in our inaugural year and we can now continue to build on that foundati on for next year."

Santerre has been in a tight battle for the title but always remained in contention throughout the season with rivals Matt Kobyluck and Brad Leighton. But September marked the first time that Santerre was able to hold the points lead for a continuous six weeks. His 2002 record indicates his dedication and the work that was involved to keep the team together. Santerre's crew was fielded from throughout the New England region, while Santerre made the trip back and forth to his shop in Harrisburg to the bull rings in New England for the 19-race schedule. "It has been a tough season for all of us but the Title is what kept us all going," says Santerre.

"It was a difficult time but now as I look back on it, it was all worthwhile," says Santerre. "This is something that I've worked at throughout my career and it's a feeling that I can not describe. Our sponsors have been a tremendous support. I look for ward to next year and working again with LesCare Kitchens and the new opportunities that they have brought to the table. I'll be able to continue to work doing what I love and that's what's most important to me."

LesCare Kitchens, Inc. is an international leader in the production of frameless kitchen and bath cabinetry. Their cabinets are manufactured in two state-of-the-art facilities in Southington and Waterbury Connecticut and employ over 250 people. In additi on to the Connecticut facilities, LesCare Kitchens has purchased the former Falcon/Thonet furniture plant on Meacham Road in Statesville, North Carolina and has already begun to field its Sales and Marketing departments from this office. This new location will add 560 jobs to the Statesville community within the next three years.

-asr-

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