ULTIMATE NASCAR EXPERIENCE WINNER – DOVER JUNE RACE

DWIGHT & CHERYL STREVIG HAVE THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES AS DOVER RACE’S ULTIMATE NASCAR EXPERIENCE WINNERS

One little sentence summed up the weekend racing experience enjoyed by Dwight and Cheryl Strevig at Dover International Speedway in Dover, DE June 1-2. “We had a blast!”

As the first 2006 winner of the Northeastern Supply Company’s Ultimate NASCAR Experience, the Strevigs saw NASCAR racing literally inside and out. From watching Friday’s practice sessions for NASCAR’s Busch Series from atop the race trailer of Phoenix Racing and the #1 Miccosukee Gaming & Resort/Northeastern Supply Company Dodge team, to enjoying dinner with team members including driver Mike Wallace, the Strevigs had the rare chance to see what goes on behind the scenes of a big time NASCAR race. They also had the opportunity to see how the driver and crewmembers interact with sponsors and to see how they are away from the racetrack.

“I was amazed as to how friendly and cordial everyone connected with the race team really is”, said Dwight, who is President of George W. Strevig & Sons, Inc., a plumbing, heating and air conditioning contracting business located in Littlestown, PA and servicing homeowners, businesses, and builders in northern Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania.

“Everyone is so nice and accommodating…even with all of the jobs that these crew members have to do before the race”, wife Cheryl stated. “They never seem to be bothered by people watching them work. You feel a real sense of community with the teams and all the people involved with the races”, she added.

The Strevigs each received Busch Series pit and garage area passes for the two days of Busch Series action at The Monster Mile. They watched the race team prepare tires, tune the engine, get the racecar inspected by NASCAR before qualifying (that was ultimately rained out) and then set up its pit area for the race itself…. one in which Wallace ran strong and consistent for all 200 laps of the Stonebridgelife.com 200 race en route to a 14th place finish.

The Strevigs also had their pictures taken with Wallace, the middle of the three NASCAR racing brothers (Rusty and Kenny are the oldest and youngest, respectively) prior to the race. They ate lunch in the garage area, attended the Driver’s and Crew Chief Meeting and then watched the race by the team’s pit area…Dwight wearing a Miccosukee Gaming & Resort race team shirt, a headset and using a team-provided radio to listen to the commentary between Wallace and his crew the entire race. Smiles seldom left the Strevigs’ faces all day.

“I was blown away to see how technical and detailed the sport really is. We’re not race fans, so we looked at things with a lot of objectivity, but when you get a chance to see all of the things that the biggest race fans never get a chance to see, it has to give you a real good feeling. We’re honored and privileged that the Northeastern Supply folks thought of us to bestow the honor this race weekend”, Dwight commented.

George W. Strevig & Sons has been a Northeastern Supply Company customer ever since the latter first opened its Hanover, Pennsylvania branch with the acquisition of several Redlon-Johnson stores in that region near the start of the new decade. Winning the Ultimate NASCAR Experience honor by the Strevigs only reinforced the company’s commitment to Northeastern Supply.

“The number one reason why we continue to enjoy a good business relationship with Northeastern Supply is SERVICE!”, the Strevigs said almost simultaneously. “They usually have everything that we need, and if they don’t have it, they will get it for you and do so in minimal time so not to slow down the business we have with our customers,” Dwight said.

Strevig made it perfectly clear that his loyalty to Northeastern is solid.

“They really take care of us…treating us to a great time here at the races, arranging golf outings and inviting us to fishing parties. When we first became an American Standard dealer, Northeastern officials immediately flew our Project Manager to the American Standard plant in Texas to help him gear up our company for the new partnership. And they are always personable people to deal with. I can actually call for Steve Cook and speak to him. Few companies that we deal with can brag about that”, Dwight ended.

As for the racing side, Dwight and Cheryl both said that the experience has done to them what the sport of NASCAR has done to so many first-timers. “They have made fans out of us and it is going to be exciting to watch the races now that we know some of the things that happen behind the scenes”, Cheryl Strevig added while still smiling. “We’ll remember this experience for a very long time”.