SUCCESS SURROUNDS FIVE STAR RACE CAR BODIES IN 2007

By: Kevin Ramsell (www.kevinramsell.com)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 (Daytona Beach, FL) – When Fran Prestay and Carl Schultz, the owners of Five Star Race Car Bodies in Twin Lakes, WI, reflect back on the 2007 racing season, only one word will say it all…success. Not only have they seen success with their company but success within their company through the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment.

First, their success within the company came with the help of one of their 85 employees, Brandon Hill. Hill, who works in Five Star’s Shipping & Receiving department, competed as a rookie during the 2007 inaugural ASAMT season where he finished 11th in points with one win, one top-five and four top-ten finishes in eight feature starts.

It was his win back on Friday, July 20th at Madison International Speedway that makes this story so special. Five Star was one of the event sponsors that night and brought two busloads of their employees and families to MIS.

“It was exciting,” Corey Schultz, Carl’s son and Marketing Director for Five Star recalled from that night. “I remember watching him in practice and in the heat race and the car looked great in the turns. With him starting on the front row, there was no doubt that he would get a good finish, but a win just blew us all away.”

The party, that was going on in the hospitality tent off of turn four, quickly moved down to the start/finish line as all of the employees joined Hill in the victory celebration, showering him with a variety of beverages as he exited his car.

“His win brought a real upbeat attitude around the facility the week following that event,” Schultz remembered. “Brandon is really popular guy around here, but a lot of the employees knew that he raced but not at the level they thought. So, for them to see him compete and win was an eye opener for many of them.”

Hill’s win easily went down as the “Biggest Surprise Win in 2007” for the ASA Midwest Tour.

Along with the success it has shown on the track, Five Star recently received one of its highest honors to date as it was named Business of the Year for Kenosha County (WI). “This is a huge honor for us,” Schultz stated. “When you look at who we are competing against for this award, such as Chrysler facility, Snap-On Tools and the other factories, this is a great honor for us.” A sign showing this honor is now placed outside its front doors to anyone who comes and visits their facility.

Five Star has also been very instrumental to the successful growth of the ASA Midwest Tour in 2007. Carl Schultz is also a member of the ASAMT Advisory Board along with Dennis Huth and John McKarns.

“There’s no doubt that everyone at Five Star Race Car Bodies has been an integral part of the ASA Midwest Tour,” ASA VP Steve Einhaus stated. “Fran Prestay and Carl Schultz have led a fine organization with their precision on the quality of products they produce. Carl’s involvement on the advisory board has been one of the major components to the success of the 2007 season. We look forward to a longstanding relationship with Five Star and their continuation of the ‘No Bull’ events in 2008.”

Five Star also provided a $100 Hard Luck Award at each event and will also be giving away a full body and half body at the upcoming Championship Banquet on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI.

Five Star Race Car Bodies started as a side job for Prestay and Schultz in the 1970’s, today its supplies the racing community with high quality after market body panels specifically designed for racing from the short tracks to Daytona. The 150,000 square feet facility located at 36728 89th St. in Twin Lakes, WI, is dedicated to the design, manufacture, and distribution of body panels and accessories used in oval-based series as well as drag racing and road racing. They are in their 28th year of operation.

Five Star is always looking forward and coming up with new products. “We will be introducing our new Toyota Camry and Dodge Avenger bodies sometime in the next month,” Corey Schultz stated. “We are very excited about this.”

Along with the new products, they are expanding their business by adding a 35,000 square feet building.

For more information on Five Star Race Car Bodies, please visit their website at www.fivestarbodies.com or call them at (262) 877-2171.

The Kalahari Resort has a special price of $159 per room for the ASA Midwest Tour’s Championship Banquet on Saturday, January 26, 2008. This cost does also include a waterpark pass for everyone registered in your room. To book your room, please call the Kalahari toll-free at (877) Kalahari (525-2427) and mention the ASA Midwest Tour when you call to reserve. Also, ask about any available condos or suites that can accommodate your entire race team.

To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment log on to www.asamidwesttour.com or call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (262) 514-3880 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asaracing.com.