Houston Discount Tire Co. Manager Wins Dunlop Drivers Cup, Represents USA in European World Finals
October 19 2006 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston's Discount Tire Co.
store manager Billy Link has hit it big in NASCAR Country and will
represent the United States in Hanau, Germany, next April at the
Dunlop Drivers Cup championship. Link, 31, store manager at the
2300 S. Highway 6 location in Houston, won the Drivers Cup U.S.
Qualifier at Virginia International Raceway in the retailer class.
He is the lone qualifier from that category for the multi-day
driving event that begins in Hanau on April 14 and ends in
Marrakech, Morocco. The self-described adrenaline junkie said he
began competing in amateur motocross events when he turned 16 and
has been riding ATVs, motorcycles and go-karts since he was 7 years
old. The experience paid off handsomely at the six-event U.S.
Regional competition here. He won half the events, grabbing the
checkered flag in ATV, autocross and motocross. "I'm aggressive,
usually the last one off the gas. And I like to push the limits,"
he said. No doubt. When he raced motorcycles, he usually finished
first, second or crashed. Nothing halfway about Link. But he said
he didn't know what to expect in Virginia. A unique competition,
Drivers Cup included on-track racing, karting, autocross, off-road
sport-utility, off-road all-terrain vehicle and motocross events to
test the skills of hard-core driving enthusiasts. The competition
featured SP Sport Maxx ultra-performance tires. "It was more than I
bargained for." He also was thrilled to compete at Virginia
International Raceway in the heart of NASCAR Country. Nextel Cup
brothers Ward Burton and Chase points-leader Jeff Burton are from
nearby South Boston, Va. Janice Consolacion, brand planning manager
for Dunlop in North America, said Cup organizers were impressed by
Link's "passion for driving fast. When Discount Tire Co. found out
that they had two slots in the U.S. Regionals, they immediately
offered a spot to Billy. They felt he had the best chance." Link
was teamed with Ryan Brenneman, a Discount Tire Co. manager in San
Dimas, Calif. Although they had never met previously, they both
have 12 years service with Discount Tire and a "love for racing,"
Link said. "I'm proud to be carrying the Discount Tire Co. and
Dunlop USA banners to Europe for the World Finals. My fellow
Discount Tire Co. associates are very happy for me, and I can't
stop talking about it." Link and Brenneman competed with the
following retailers in Virginia: - Josh Baughman, general manager
of wholesale operations, North Central Tire, Canton, Ohio; - Steven
Andre, vice president of retail operations, and owner Steven
Sorbaro, Mavis Tire, Mt. Kisco, N.Y.; - Jim Uliano, vice president
of retail operations, Town Fair Tire, East Haven, Conn.; - Angelo
Ianelli, general manager of wholesale operations, Albert Tire,
Pennsauken, N.J.; - Fred Allen Jr., vice president, Allen Tire, Los
Angeles; - Marco Brodeur, region manager, Unimax, Granby, Quebec.
"The best thing about Drivers Cup was arriving in Virginia as
strangers and coming away as friends. The camaraderie was
tremendous," he said. Link will be joined by four lucky consumers -
Kevin Clarke, of Fryeburg, Maine; Lee Clark, of Topanga, Calif.;
Todd Furchak, of Romulus, Mich.; and Egon Szenttamasy, of Pembroke
Pines, Fla. - and Todd Eagan, a writer for Sport Compact Car
magazine, in representing Dunlop USA. The 10-day excursion is
scheduled to travel through six European countries - with driving
events in each nation - and finish on the African continent.
European Dunlop officials started Drivers Cup in 1998 to showcase
Dunlop's racing heritage and its broad range of passenger, truck,
motorcycle and all- terrain-vehicle tire lines. Dunlop is a global
tire brand with an excellent reputation among performance car
enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original- equipment
fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key
supplier to sport compact enthusiasts featuring "tuner" tire sizes
and race series sponsorships. For those automotive enthusiasts who
want to enter next year's Drivers Cup event, apply now at
http://www.dunloptires.com/driverscup. DATASOURCE: Dunlop Tires
CONTACT: Dave Wilkins of Dunlop Tires, +1-330-796-3758, or Web
site: http://www.dunloptires.com/driverscup
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