Interstate Batteries Rewards Local Dealer with Opportunity of a Lifetime

When Bobby Labonte competes at the Dickies 500 Nov. 6 at Texas Motor Speedway, the hood of his No. 18 Interstate Batteries’ Chevrolet will look a little bit different than most fans are used to seeing. Following a nationwide contest that Interstate conducted earlier this year, the car will carry the name of Main Street Getty, an Interstate Batteries dealer located in Tewksbury, MA. In addition, IBS of Massachusetts, the Interstate Batteries distributorship that services Main Street Getty, will also adorn part of Labonte’s hood.

Both were winners of Interstate’s ‘500 Miles of Fame II’ promotion, a program designed to increase its dealers’ focus on batteries and give them and Interstate’s distributors a chance to be seen by millions of consumers both in person and on television in a location normally reserved for multi-million dollar corporate names. Winners not only receive an all-expense paid trip to the race, but will also get the opportunity to meet Labonte prior to the event.

Winner Abe Sarraf of Main Street Getty in Tewksbury is looking forward to the race. “I can’t wait!” said Sarraf.

Mike McAndrew of IBS of Massachusetts who is attending the race describes his employees’ reaction to the win as “ecstatic”. “I’m taking all three of them with me, and a couple of them are really into racing, so they’re real happy about it.”

Dennis Brown, Interstate’s Vice-President of Marketing, said it’s a significant opportunity for a business.

“Sponsorship deals in racing are very expensive and out of reach for most,” he said. “Interstate Battery System of America’s NASCAR sponsorship is something we are all very proud of. In the ever competitive business landscape that we are part of today, we felt that tying in our popular NASCAR sponsorship to our ‘500 Miles of Fame’ promotion was a great way of recognizing the hard work and professionalism of our dealers and distributors everywhere.”

McAndrew expects the exposure to help his third-generation business that his grandfather started in 1970. As much as McAndrew is looking forward to the race, he’s most excited about having the name of his business on the hood of the number 18 car.

“I’m looking forward to being down there on the starting grid prior to the race and just taking some pictures with Bobby and the racecar with our company name on the hood of the car. That’s probably the number one thing I’m looking forward to.”

Interstate is one of the longest-running major sponsors in NEXTEL Cup racing being associated with Joe Gibbs Racing since 1991.

Founded in 1952 and based in Dallas, Texas, Interstate Batteries is a privately held group of corporations, which includes a company with 310 distributors that service more than 200,000 locations throughout the United States, Canada and select international locations. The group of corporations also includes the All Battery Center retails stores and an e-commerce web site: interstatebatteries.com.