LaFavre Racing Teams

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The new cars for 2001!

Toll Welding Holds Welding Seminar and Open House at LaFavre Racing.

Toll Welding a long time supplier and Associate Sponsor on the LaFavre Racing Teams Chevrolet Monte Carlos held a welding seminar and open house at the LaFavre facilities on February 1st, 2001. On a bitter cold Minnesota day approximately 175 customers and prospects of the Toll Welding Company turned out for interesting and educational seminar. As in all aspects of industry today, welding equipment and techniques are changing and this was reflected in the interest that was shown by the seminars attendees. Tony Litwinchuk, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Toll Welding and a number of his sales force hosted the days activities. Included in the days agenda were welding demonstrations as well as new product announcements and demonstrations by the companies sales force. Lunch and snacks were served throughout the day which began at noon and ran until 7:00 PM. Considering the weather conditions where wind chills were nearing -35 degrees, the day was a great success. Attendees were treated to hosted tours of the LaFavre shops as part of the days experience.

Toll Welding is an important Associate Sponsor for LaFavre Racing. The company supplies the teams with the latest in welding equipment and advice as well as the all important nitrogen that is heavily used by the LaFavre teams. It is with partners such as Toll Welding that make racing possible for the LaFavre Racing Teams organization" states Scott LaFavre, President of LaFavre Racing.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE TO SPONSOR CYWINSKI IN 2001
TEXAS ROADHOUSE NAMES "Official Restaurant of ASA"

Lakeville, MN -- American Speed Association officials have announced That Texas Roadhouse Restaurants has reached an agreement with both ASA and LaFavre Racing and driver Kevin Cywinski to become a major sponsor for the 2001 ASA Racing Series. As part of the agreement announced during the Friday night portion of the December 8 and 9 National Awards Banquet, Texas Roadhouse will become the “Official Restaurant of ASA”. The Company will also become the full time sponsor of the number 21 LaFavre Racing Teams Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by Kevin Cywinski.

“ASA and Texas Roadhouse are both in a position to really grow and our hope is that as ASA grows, we grow and as we grow, ASA grows” said president of Texas Roadhouse G.J. Hart. “There is a real parallel between us in the steak restaurant business and ASA in the stock car racing business. We want our fans to support ASA and we want ASA fans to visit our stores and be exposed to our products.”

As part of the agreement to become the “Official Restaurant of ASA,” Texas Roadhouse will embark on a multi-level program with the series that will include sampling opportunities at race venues and a consideration of cause marketing and charitable programs. Texas Roadhouse currently has over 100 stores with many of those stores in the markets that ASA visits.

“We have stores in 14 of the 20 markets that ASA races in and we are building stores in three more, so it matches up real well with us” said Hart. “ASA’s fans and stock car fans are our customers. Our demographics match up well with those of ASA’s, so it is a perfect fit”.

Texas Roadhouse is the primary sponsor for the number 21 LaFavre Racing Teams Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Cywinski. The tandem teamed up for several races late in the 2000 season on Cywinski’s way to the runner-up position in the final point standings.

“I’m excited to be associated not only with G.J. Hart, but with everyone at Texas Roadhouse,” said Cywinski. “It will be great to meet the customers of the stores. Most of their patrons are blue collar workers who can relate well to what we do in racing. I’m looking forward to representing the company and to meeting people at different functions.”

Cywinski did not win any events in 2000. His consistently high finishes led him to second place in the series standings. He will look to improve on that in 2001 with the return of former Crew Chief, Mike Chaffee. The pair, racing together in 1996 and 1997 won the “Rookie of the Year “ title and the ASA National Championship respectively during those years.

“I’m ecstatic to work with Kevin Cywinski,” said Hart. “He is a driver our customers will be able to relate to. We are planning to have Kevin come out to some of our stores, have his car there, meet our customers and sign some autographs. We think that will help expose him to new fans and maybe bring his fans to our stores.

ASA ACDelco National Awards Banquet
December, 8, 9, 2000
Opryland Hotel
Nashville, TN.

Several members of the LaFavre Racing Teams were treated to a great weekend at the Opryland hotel to attend the 2000 ASA ACDelco awards banquet. The Opryland Hotel at Christmas time is a wonderful place to spend a weekend. The hotel boasts 3000 rooms and it would seem about 3000 miles of walkways, halls and steps. Make sure that you know where you’re headed and have a map handy if you’re going to tour the entire establishment. It is a beautiful place with literally millions of lights in all style of arrangements.

On Friday evening December 8, the top twenty teams in ASA were treated to an excellent buffet dinner sponsored by B.F. Goodrich. Following the dinner several speakers had remarks concerning the 2000 season and their expectations of what was to take place in 2001.

Paul Morris, VP of Cable Operations for TNN, detailed how TNN was going to be emphasizing the ASA ACDelco Series along with the World of Outlaws and Rodeo. They are in the process of securing the top motorsports Producer available to work with the ASA telecasts. Buddy Baker was introduced and received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd. Buddy seems to be really excited about the ASA possibilities.

Mark Gundrum’s remarks focused on the increasing visibility of ASA and especially how well the ASA web page has been received.

Herb Johnson, VP of Sales for Michelin/BFG, was excited about the performance of the BFG tires and of the acceptance of them by the drivers in ASA.

Al Alveres of the GM Powertrain group, in his comments, related to the exceptional performance and reliability that the Vortec engine displayed throughout its first year in racing.

GJ Hart, President of the Texas Road House chain of restaurants, was on stage to announce the 2001 sponsorship of the number 21 LaFavre Racing Teams Monte Carlo driven by Kevin Cywinski. Texas Road House is one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in the country. Currently the company operates ninety-two restaurants. Plans for 2001 call for the opening of an additional forty restaurants. GJ is extremely excited about the opportunities he sees for his chain to utilize racing as a vehicle to promote sales of food, spirits and clothing.

GJ, Kevin & Scott

Dick Melius, Director of Motorsports for the Tecumseh Products company, had many positive remarks concerning the exceptional relationship his company has had with Scott LaFavre and the whole LaFavre Racing Teams organization. Tecumseh and LaFavre Racing teamed up late in the 1996 season and have recently signed a four year agreement to sponsor the number 1 LaFavre Monte Carlo driven by Mike Garvey.

Melius also had the opportunity to have a good time in introducing Gary St. Amant’s entire team as the All Star Pit Crew for the year 2000. It is the first time an entire crew had been selected by their peers for this honor. Melius, in cooperation with Tecumseh and the Murray Products company, presented each member of the All Star crew with a new Murray lawn mower. Conjecture centered around how the team members would convince their wives or significant others to use them.

The All Star Crew

Following the lawn mower presentation, Melius called St. Amant to the stage where he presented Gary with a Murray riding (wouldn’t you know) mower with a custom paint job that is a replica of Gary’s race car. Tecumseh and Murray are to commended for their generosity with the mower program. I have a sneaking suspicion that they would like to be doing this for the LaFavre Team next year.

Dick & Joan Melius

During the evening, the team and especially Mike and Kevin, had some time to spend with Buddy Baker. Unquestionably, Buddy would prefer to be on TV with Winston Cup. However, he is excited about his position with TNN and ASA and will be an outstanding spokesman for our series. Without a doubt, he will lend some stature to the series. Welcome aboard Buddy Baker!

Since many of us are not routinely dressed in tuxedos, even if our ladies always look great, I submit photographic proof that we all clean up pretty good. Sorry to have missed Mike Chaffee’s smiling face.

Scott & Shari LaFavre
Mike & Lisa Garvey	Kevin & Traci Cywinski
Bond Suss & Lisa Peterson	Ken & Sandy Stenz
Gloria & Kevin Merek	Mike & Milly O'Brien

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