BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- IRWIN Industrial Tools, a Newell Rubbermaid(R) company, is conducting a nationwide search for America's top tradesman, which will arrive in Alabama on April 25. The IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge will take place in Alabama and then will follow the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule into multiple racing markets throughout the United States. In total, the company plans to stage more than 150 Ultimate Tradesman Challenge events in 30 states over the next seven months.
Seventy-five million adult NASCAR fans live in the United States and 27 percent of them earn a living by using tools on the job. IRWIN Industrial Tools is providing these consumers, and others, with the chance to become a millionaire. The IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman grand-prize winner will receive a new 2007 supercharged Ford F-150 pick-up truck customized by Roush Performance, a dream barbeque with Jamie McMurray and the #26 IRWIN race team at their home and the chance to win $1.26 million dollars.
Local challenge event winners will receive tickets to their local race and IRWIN apparel and merchandise. Regional challenge winners will receive a $10,000 cash prize, race tickets, an IRWIN racing jacket and an IRWIN tool bag filled with professional grade product.
According to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Jamie McMurray, of the #26 IRWIN Industrial Tools Roush Fenway Racing team, "Speed and precision are essential for success at the Talladega Superspeedway, and contestants in the IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge will need both of these attributes to be successful in the IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge."
"I posted a time of 33 seconds in the Challenge and am challenging all NASCAR fans and tradesmen in Alabama to come out and beat my time, " McMurray added.
"Similar to that of a successful race team, innovation and performance are two hallmarks of IRWIN Industrial Tools. In fact, our heritage is based on exceeding the expectations of the tradesman that uses our products. We created the IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge to share our passion for tools and accessories with professional tradesmen and DIYers, and reach our end-users where they work, play, buy and learn," said Ira Gleser, marketing communications director for IRWIN Industrial Tools.
To participate in the IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge in Alabama, interested contestants may register and compete at the following locations:
* April 25 Russell's Do-It-Best located at 4000 Highway 431 in Roanoke from
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
* April 27: Bull Building Supply located at 2900 Highway 78 West in Jasper
from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Each participant will be asked to measure, mark and drill a piece of lumber, using IRWIN tools, as quickly and accurately as possible.
Contestants with the 30 fastest times in the local market challenges will advance to regional events to be held in May (Charlotte), September (metro Los Angeles) or November (Texas). The three regional finalists will then compete against each other for the title of "Ultimate Tradesman" on November 11 during the Phoenix race weekend and the Ultimate Tradesman will be given a chance to win $1.26 million.
The IRWIN Industrial Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge is another example of the company's commitment to its distributor partners and end-users. IRWIN is constantly striving to make the end user experience more productive and efficient through the development of hand tools and power tool accessories with meaningful innovation and performance. Steadfast in its dedication to NASCAR and its partnership with Roush Fenway Racing, IRWIN Industrial Tools returns to McMurray's #26 Ford for the 2007 season as the primary sponsor for 11 events.
For a full event schedule and more details on the IRWIN Industrial Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge, visit http://www.irwinchallenge.com.
About IRWIN Industrial Tools
IRWIN Industrial Tools manufactures and distributes professional grade hand tools and power tool accessories worldwide for trade professionals who demand superior performance and durability on the job. IRWIN Industrial Tools' brand portfolio features user-preferred category leaders such as IRWIN(R), VISE- GRIP(R) locking tools, MARATHON(R) circular saw blades, QUICK-GRIP(R) clamping tools, SPEEDBOR(R) flat bits, STRAIT-LINE(R) marking tools, Unibit(R) step drill bits and HANSON(R) taps and dies. IRWIN Industrial Tools is a Newell Rubbermaid company. For more information about IRWIN's line of hand tools and power tool accessories, call 1-800-GO IRWIN or visit http://www.irwin.com.
About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR's largest team operating 13 motorsports teams, five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; five in the Busch Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Todd Kluever, Michel Jourdain Jr. and Danny O'Quinn Jr.; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Edwards, Peter Shepherd, Travis Kvapil and Erik Darnell. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto http://www.RoushFenway.com.
Contact:
Ira Gleser
IRWIN Industrial Tools
704.987.4498
Ira.Gleser@IRWIN.com