Thu, 3 Oct 2002, 05:11 PM Kurt Johnson Teams with KISS for ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals

Courtesy of Rick Voegelin, TMG Sports Marketing

LAS VEGAS - The second annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals will combine the power of NHRA championship drag racing with the power of rock 'n' roll when Pro Stock racer Kurt Johnson salutes the legendary rock band KISS with special graphics on his ACDelco Pro Stock Cavalier. Johnson will drive his special edition KISS ACDelco Cavalier in the penultimate event of the 23-race NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 24-27.

"We're going to rock Las Vegas with serious starpower as well as horsepower," said Johnson, 39, of Sugar Hill, Ga. "KISS is one of the most famous bands in music history, and it's going to be a kick to represent KISS in the entertainment capital of the world."

KISS exploded on the rock 'n' roll scene in 1975, quickly establishing itself as a supergroup with hard-rocking lyrics, outrageous makeup and spectacular live shows. The four members of the group created unforgettable characters on stage: Gene Simmons ("The Demon"), Ace Frehley ("The Spaceman"), Paul Stanley ("The Starchild") and Peter Criss ("The Cat"). The band has sold more than 80 million albums and enlisted legions of fans in the KISS Army. Simmons will be the Grand Marshal and Stanley the Honorary Starter at the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals.

"We're going to expand the audience for NHRA drag racing by bringing one of the biggest names in popular music to the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals," said Scott Mackie, general manager of ACDelco. "KISS is billed as 'The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Show On Earth,' and ACDelco is proud to bring the group to the world's fastest motorsport.

"The KISS promotion is a unique opportunity for ACDelco to connect with thousands of our customers who will attend the event," Mackie continued. "We're constantly looking for new ways to promote the ACDelco brand. This high-energy program will take ACDelco's motorsports marketing program to a new level."

ACDelco markets more than 70,000 part numbers in 36 product lines that include spark plugs, batteries, shock absorbers, wire sets, fuel pumps, air conditioning parts, lamps, thermostats, brake parts, ignition, fuel system and emission control parts. ACDelco remanufactured products include starters, alternators, power steering pumps, air conditioning compressors, engines, transmissions, rack-and-pinion steering gears, and other undercar parts.

"A race team is like a band because everyone has to be on the same beat," said Johnson, who prepares record-setting GM engines. "I've relied on ACDelco components since I started driving. ACDelco brings track-tested technology to the vehicles that people drive on the highway."

ACDelco is a global leader in automotive replacement parts and services offering products for virtually all vehicles. ACDelco is headquartered in Grand Blanc, Mich., and markets automotive replacement parts worldwide under its brand name. For more information, visit the ACDelco website at acdelco.com or call 1-800-ACDelco.