Ultimate NASCAR Experience
Kevin Cusic Lives Out Lifelong Dream
Working on Pit Crew is "An Unforgettable Experience"

Whether he was sitting in a home-built late model racecar at a southern Maryland short track on a Saturday night, or watching a Winston Cup Series race from the grandstand with 100,000 other race fans, Kevin Cusic never felt the thrill of the ultimate NASCAR racing experience...until now!

Cusic served as an Honorary Pit Crew Member with ppc Racing and the #57 Albertson's Supermarkets / Northeastern Supply Company-sponsored Ford Taurus of driver Jason Keller during the running of the MBNA.com 200 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race at Dover (Delaware) Downs International Speedway on September 22. Cusic earned that right by winning the Ultimate NASCAR Experience contest conducted by Northeastern Supply.

"It was one unbelievable experience," Cusic exclaimed after the race. "I'm a racer and a race fan, and even I had no real appreciation of what these NASCAR teams do to prepare for a race until going to Dover. It is something I will always remember," Cusic added.

Cusic is owner of C&C Plumbing and Septic, Inc. located in Hollywood, Maryland. His name was randomly drawn from among a host of Northeastern Supply customers who qualified for the contest's grand prize by ordering a designated amount of supplies during the months of July, August, and a portion of September.

Cusic received a number of privileges during the Dover Downs race weekend as the Ultimate NASCAR Experience winner. He earned pit and garage area passes that gained him entry into both the Busch Grand National and Winston Cup Series garages, a photo opportunity with driver Jason Keller, and the chance to watch Friday's practice and qualifying for both Series from atop the ppc Racing car hauler. Topping it all, according to Cusic, was his chance to work side by side with members of the race team.

"It's truly amazing how hard these race teams work preparing for a race," Cusic said. "You have 10 or 12 guys who literally crawl over that racecar getting it ready for qualifying one day and then for the race the next day. They work from seven in the morning until five or six in the evening with few breaks. "It's hot and sweaty, but they really seem to love what they are doing," he added.

Cusic helped set up the pits and prepare the race tires alongside several of Keller's crew members on race day morning. "Once we started working in the pits, Kevin actually refused to leave. He was really intrigued by the experience," said John Fuller, the controller at ppc Racing who doubles as the gas catch can man for Keller's team during the races.

One benefit Cusic unfortunately didn't receive during his award weekend was the $1,000 cash bonus offered by Northeastern Supply if Keller won the race.

Says Cusic, "It would have been great to win that $1,000, but it in no way takes away from the experience and opportunity I had. It was awesome. I'd love to do it again!"