Sports : Details of Contingency Connection awards posted for area race car drivers

We have been asked to pass along this information to our readers who follow racing and who compete. We will be running updates that may be helpful to you as well as updates on area events in which our Benton County drivers compete. So racers and fans, enjoy! --- Around $40,000 in national manufacturer certificates through Contingency Connection have arrived at the Independence Motor Speedway office and will be awarded to drivers in 2012. A set of 25 product certificate packets will be awarded during the first half of the season, with another 25 packets of $40,000 in certificates set for the second half. According to speedway Contingency Connection organizer Ryan Clark, the program will help take some of the financial burden off of the weekly racer's budget. "It is an extraordinary program that offers product discounts from manufacturers across the country," states Clark. "There are nearly 60 product certificates in each winning packet that range from $25 to $50 off purchases and, in some cases, even greater discounts." Contingency Connection, based in Virginia, offers its contingency package to a limited number of stock car racing tracks and drag strips across the country. "Being one of only 55 tracks nationwide and one of only two tracks in the state of Iowa to offer the program provides a unique incentive to drivers who race with us in Independence," explains Clark. Approximately three contingency packets will be awarded on a weekly basis at the speedway. They will be presented to drivers in each of the five divisions throughout the season on a rotating basis. How they will be awarded is still in discussion, however by the end of the season 50 different drivers (approximately 10 in each division) will be awarded a packet of over $1,500 in product discounts. That comes to nearly $5,000 weekly and around $80,000 by the end of the season. Some of the manufacturers involved in the program also plan to make appearances at the speedway to offer bonus awards. Among those is Bully Dog, a company that specializes in vehicle performance, offering products that help maximize performance in tow vehicles for racers. Additional bonus certificates will be offered at an event presented by Bully Dog later this summer. Details will be released in the coming weeks. For product information, visit www.bullydog.com. In addition to the $80,000 in weekly contingencies, Championship Bonus Packages will also be awarded, along with over $1,000 in banquet awards. For details on the bonus awards and a complete list of sponsor postings, go to the sponsor page at www.independencemotorspeedway.com and click on the links located in the Contingency Connection section on that page. Updates on the program will be provided on the track web site throughout the season.