EXIDE BATTERIES TO SPONSOR PRESIGIOUS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD

(Halifax, NS. April 26, 2013) The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is pleased to announce that Exide Batteries will return as the sponsor of the Rookie of the Year Award for a second season. The list of drivers who have won the Exide Batteries Rookie of the Year Award is a who’s -who of racing royalty in Atlantic Canada. Two-time and defending overall series champion Shawn Turple (Enfield, NS) won the freshman crown in 2005, while Lonnie Sommerville (Saint John, NB - 2007) and Craig Slaunwhite (Terence Bay, NS - 2008) have gone on to feature wins on the Tour after taking the Exide Batteries Rookie of the Year Award.

Drivers from all three Maritime Provinces have won the coveted Exide Batteries Rookie of the Year Award, with Prince Edward Island’s Geoff Boyle (Charlottetown) and Dale Holmes (West Covehead), New Brunswick’s Ian Mollins (Berry Mills) and Josh Jaillet (MacDougall Settlement) and Nova Scotia’s Russell Smith Sr. (Lakeside) and Jerome Kehoe (Sydney) receiving the award in previous years.

In 2012, six rookies embarked on their first season with the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour. In a see-saw battle that will go down in history as one of the best freshman battles in Tour history, Saint John, New Brunswick’s Steve Halpin took the crown over Cornwall, Prince Edward Island’s Dylan Gosbee, Terry Dougay (Albany, PE) and Brad Eddy (Lower Sackville, NS).

"We are excited to have Exide Batteries presenting the Rookie of the Year award again in 2013," said Ken Cunning, General Manager of the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour. "A new crop of rookie drivers will be battling to get their hands on the cool Exide Batteries Rookie of the Year trophy. Exide produces exceptional product and are a great asset to the Tour.”

“We are extremely pleased that we have been given the opportunity to support the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour again this year as it brings our brand and our customers a tremendous amount of local exposure.” Said Kevin Demyon, Sr. Director of Sales for Exide Canada. “We wish the new class of 2013 the best of luck and look forward to seeing them at the finish line.”

This season, at least four rookies have expressed their intent to run full-time. Nova Scotia stock car champions Cole Butcher (Porter’s Lake), Dylan Blenkhorn (Truro), Jeff Dillman (Middle Musquodoboit) and Colby Smith (Cape Sable Island) will look to add the prestigious honour to their racing resumes in 2013. They will get their first laps en route to the coveted title on Sunday, May 19th when drivers get the green flag at Scotia Speedworld for the Season Opener Lucas Oil 150.

For the latest news and ticket information please visit www.maritimeprostocktour.com