BILL “STUMP” LEWIS WINS 2009 FREIGHTLINER CHALLENGE
October 23, 2009
CONCORD, N.C. (October 23, 2009) – Bill “Stump” Lewis, transporter driver for Penske Racing’s No. 2 Miller Lite team, outlasted more than 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team transporter drivers to win the season long Freightliner Run Smart Challenge after he claimed first place in the finals event recently at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The competition, which began at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on February 27, was open to all NASCAR Cup Series transporter drivers. Elimination rounds at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (in May), Chicagoland Speedway and Kansas Speedway pared the field down to four competitors for the finals. Among the four finalists, Lewis bested Dale Lackey, Penske Racing teammate and transporter driver for the No. 77 Mobil 1 team, and two other drivers to capture the title.
“Being part of the Freightliner Run Smart Challenge has been an unbelievable experience and I can’t believe I was able to win it with so many great drivers in the competition,” said Lewis. “Thank you to Freightliner, Penske Racing and Miller Lite for this opportunity.”
A timed skills competition, the Freightliner Run Smart Challenge featured specially designed courses that tested transporter drivers with tight turns, backing drills and other cone and barrel obstacles. Lewis’ mastery of the course earned him the $35,000 grand prize while runner-up, third- and fourth-place competitors earned $15,000, $5,000 and $1,000 respectively. Lackey claimed third place and the $5,000 award.
“Stump is an unsung hero who puts in more miles on the road than we do on track,” said Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in NASCAR Cup Series competition. “It’s great to see him come out on top in a competition between the best of the best in his profession.”
As the winner of this year’s challenge, Lewis and Penske Racing will be the first to receive the new Coronado as their hauler truck for the 2011 season. For Freightliner, this is an opportunity to reward one of the best hauler drivers with the newest, state-of-the-art product. For more information on the new Coronado, please check out www.freightliner.com and follow Freightliner Trucks on Facebook and Twitter.
"The Freightliner Run Smart Challenge solidifies our commitment to NASCAR, as well as the individual race teams," said Melissa Clausen, Director Product Marketing for Freightliner Trucks. "The hauler drivers in this sport are the best of the best and we are proud to have them driving Freightliner tractors. The hauler drivers represent Freightliner, our products and their team every weekend as they drive from one race track to the next. Freightliner is the official heavy truck hauler of NASCAR and a proud sponsor of the Penske Racing organization."
About Freightliner – Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 4-8 trucks and is a Daimler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. Freightliner Trucks received the highest overall ranking for vocational products in the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Heavy Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study.
About Penske Racing – Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced over 300 major race wins, more than 350 pole positions and 22 National Championships. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.
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