Kathy Virtue

Victory 500 Marketing

910-692-4600

kvirtue@smc500.com

For Immediate Release

Half Way to Vegas

August 20, 2011 – Brooklyn, MI – 



Wrapping up the third event of the Safety-Kleen Driver Challenge, the weekend proved again to have an overwhelming positive response by all Safety-Kleen employees. The driver challenge, while designed to promote reliable driving capabilities, also rewards elite drivers with the chance to compete on a weekend escape at a major motor speedway. Competitors, selected based on their exemplary driving records within the company, have been challenged to negotiate their way through a series of events designed to simulate day-to-day scenarios.

After maneuvering tight corners, tackling reversing maneuvers, and navigating various obstacles, 19 competitors from the Northern Region were judged according to their overall driving ability. Following the driving course each competitor completed a Department of Transportation quiz administered to test their knowledge of the rules and regulations that is required of their job.

In an economy where most companies are cutting back, Safety-Kleen has invested in their truck drivers with the 2011 Safety-Kleen Driver Challenge. Tom Collier, General Manager of the Northeast Region, stated “These guys have a lot of pride, they work hard and working for SK is a family affair and all these guys know it. Some of them brought their wives with them which is great. It’s nice to see it.” Collier went on to say “This reaffirms what Bob Craycraft, our CEO, has communicated a number of times that we really want the employees to know that we care about them and we want them to work safely and go home to their families. It’s a great investment for us.”

When Robert Sproat, who went on to win the Over the Road Series, was asked what the Driver Challenge meant to him he stated, “It means a whole lot. I have been with the company for 21 years and this is the first event like this that they have done and I think this is fantastic that they are doing it. I mean it is good for me and it’s pumped up my morale and I am sure it is pumping it everyone else’s. I really enjoy this.”

The Northern region competitors were enthusiastic about the opportunity to show off their talents as Safety-Kleen’s top drivers in the company. A sense of comradery was evident throughout the weekend. From the moment the drivers arrived to their final farewells, the drivers took the opportunity to get to know the other drivers in the region and root them onto victory. Director of Risk Management for Safety-Kleen, Carla Ayer, stated “The event is the best morale booster. I think having a bunch of drivers from different locations getting together talking, ribbing each other, joking with each other and watching each other out there on course is the best morale booster you can have for a driver.”

From the Michigan International Speedway the six finalists will advance to the World Championships, which are set to take place on October 16, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Drivers moving onto the finals in Las Vegas from the first event were:

Over the Road Series:

1st Place – Robert Sproat (Mason, MI), 2nd Place – John Fonseca (Burlington, NJ)

Oil Truck Series:

1st Place – Victor Garcia (Manassas, VA), 2nd Place – John Bartkowiak (Mason, MI)

Route Truck Series:

1st Place –Chris Meyer (S. Plainfield, NJ), 2nd Place – Steven Desmoine (Cohoes, NY)

For more information on the Safety-Kleen Driver Challenge visit www.safety-kleendriverchallenge.com