For Immediate Release

 

Contact:          Kathy Vitrue

                        Marketing 500

                        910-692-4600

                        kvirtue@smc500.com

 

Tom McCrimmon Wins 2009 Pilot Truck Driver Challenge

 

1. •Tom McCrimmon, Joe Gibbs Racing, wins Pilot Truck Driver Challenge.
   

2. •$50,000 for the champion - $125,000 in total awards.
   

3. •Competition focused on safe and responsible truck driving.
   

 

Lowes Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C. (October 16, 2009) – Pilot Travel Centers, celebrating six years as title sponsor of the Pilot Truck Driver Challenge, crowned its 2009 champion in its season-long safe and responsible truck driving challenge. Tom McCrimmon, transport driver for the No. 20 Home Depot Racing team from Joe Gibbs Racing, was awarded $50,000 for capturing the 2009 championship title. McCrimmon, a 21-year truck driving veteran, dominated in several aspects on the competition including perfect scores during the driving portion of the competition. McCrimmon performed exceptionally well during safety quizzes and the DOT inspection. It was McCrimmon’s third year in the competition that is open to all transport drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage.

 

By sponsoring the annual challenge, Pilot Travel Centers recognizes both the importance of highway safety and the dedication team transport drivers have to their jobs. “We are very excited to once again recognize the hard working truck drivers of the Sprint Cup garage,” shared Mark Hazelwood, executive vice president of Pilot Travel Centers. “Safety on the highway is crucially important. By showcasing the skills these guys have we hope to inspire professional truck drivers everywhere to drive safely and know their talents are respected. It is our privilege to honor the team transport drivers who really are heroes of the NASCAR garage and the nations highway.”  

 

Tom McCrimmon has been with Joe Gibbs racing for five years, taking over the role as lead driver in 2008. McCrimmon, who goes by his CB handle, “Thumper,” throughout the Sprint Cup garage, is admired for his dedication to the job. “Tommy is such a humble person and such a great guy, he will be a wonderful champion as he represents the transport drivers over the next year. All of us at Joe Gibbs Racing are proud to have Tommy on our race team. He is a tremendous asset. Thanks to Pilot for allowing these guys to showcase their talents,” stated J.D. Gibbs, President of Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

Also receiving acknowledgment was Bryan McClure of JTG Daugherty Racing for placing second and 2007 champion Peter Jellen, also of Joe Gibbs Racing, who finished the 2009 challenge in third place. McClure and Jellen received $15,000 and $10,000 respectively for their outstanding efforts. 

 

The Pilot Truck Driver Challenge will return in 2010, giving Pilot Travel Centers the opportunity to honor the hardest working members of any race team – the professional truck driver.

 

Pilot Travel Centers LLC is the nation's largest retail operator of Travel Centers, catering to the professional driver and traveling motorist in 41 states with over 300 retail interstate properties.  Pilot Travel Centers is headquartered in Knoxville, TN.