Williams Wins $10,000 at IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge Regional Championship
By IRWIN TOOLS
Seattle, WA resident, Marc Williams, won the IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge Central Regional Championship at Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas on November 4th, and will advance to the national championship on November 11, 2007, in Phoenix. IRWIN Industrial Tools, a Newell Rubbermaid® company, is conducting a nationwide search for America's top tradesmen. Since its launch in April 2007, the Ultimate Tradesman Challenge has visited 30 states and several thousand tradesmen have competed against the clock in local challenge events to qualify for a spot in the Central Regional Championship.
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 champion 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.
Marc Williams won the IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge Central Regional Championship by measuring, marking and drilling a piece of lumber, using IRWIN tools, in only 21.10 seconds. This was the fastest time among the 10 competitors in the Central Regional Championship. In addition to advancing to securing a spot in the national championship in November, Williams is taking home $10,000, a coveted IRWIN Racing pit crew jersey, and an IRWIN tool bag filled with professional grade products.
"The IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge has been a great experience so far and I was thrilled to win $10,000," said Williams, a general contractor specializing in residential remodeling. "I was proud to represent Seattle in the Central Regional Championship and I can't wait to compete with the best tradesmen in the country next week in Phoenix."
In total, IRWIN Industrial Tools staged more than 150 Ultimate Tradesman Challenge events in 30 states from April through November. In addition to the Central Regional Championship in Dallas, a Western Regional Championship was held in metro Los Angeles in September, and an Eastern Regional Championship was held in Charlotte in late May. All three regional champions will now compete against each other for the title of "Ultimate Tradesman" on November 11th during the Phoenix race weekend.
"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, like Williams, 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.
The IRWIN 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 returned 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 www.irwinchallenge.com.
About the Author
IRWIN 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. Visit www.irwin.com for more information.