SPORTS MARKETING NEWS, PRODUCTS AND EVENTS FROM LINCOLN ELECTRIC November 2012 RANDY BERNARD STEPS DOWN AS INDYCAR CEO By: indycar.com INDIANAPOLIS - The board of directors of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation convened a special meeting Sunday, Oct. 28 and announced that Randy Bernard will relinquish his position as CEO of INDYCAR effective immediately. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation President and CEO, Jeff Belskus, was appointed as interim CEO of INDYCAR. "We are very grateful for the tireless effort that Randy has invested into learning, understanding and working to grow the IndyCar Series over the last three racing seasons," Belskus said. "As both Randy and our organization have reflected on the past season and as we look toward the opportunities ahead and how to best take advantage of them, we agreed that the timing was right to pursue separate paths." Bernard, who joined INDYCAR in March 2010, said he believed he is leaving INDYCAR in a better position than when he arrived. "I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with the entire INDYCAR community, its teams, drivers, loyal partners and fans," Bernard said. "The last three years have produced some exciting, and some difficult, times. But we have created a foundation for INDYCAR that positions it to grow over the next several years, and I am proud of what everyone at INDYCAR has been able to accomplish since I came on board." Bernard was also grateful for the support of the Hulman-George family during his tenure. "I want to thank the Hulman-George family, especially Josie (George), for giving me the opportunity and privilege to work with the organization and to help set a course and direction for INDYCAR," Bernard said. "With the family's firm commitment to the betterment of the sport and the dedication of our teams, drivers, partners and fans, INDYCAR is better poised for success than it has been in many years." Belskus credited Bernard with successfully navigating INDYCAR through a challenging and important time period that included the development and rollout of the first new chassis rules in nine years and the introduction of a new engine platform and multiple engine manufactures after six years of a single-supplier format. Belskus added that Bernard would still provide input into the overall operation of INDYCAR through an ongoing advisory capacity with INDYCAR. Bernard said he was looking forward to staying involved. "I have developed a passion for the sport of INDYCAR, and I look forward to being involved at a strategic level as an advisor to the INDYCAR leadership," Bernard said. "As INDYCAR fans, we need to unify behind the sport in order to move it to the next level, and I look forward to providing input and being part of that unified voice along the way." Belskus, who served as CEO of INDYCAR from July 2009 through February 2010, will continue in his current roles in addition to being named interim CEO of INDYCAR. Belskus said a specific timeline had not been established for announcing a permanent replacement, but added that future INDYCAR leadership structure will be addressed as part of a current strategic planning process that includes assistance from global business During his tenure as INDYCAR CEO,Randy Bernard introduced new and management firm The Boston Consulting Group and would incorporate exciting aspects to the sport including the addition of engine manufacturer’s consultation with INDYCAR stakeholders. Lotus and Chevy as well as changing the look to the 2013 INDYCAR "The organization is full of talented professionals, and we will continue to prepare for what will be a very exciting 2013 racing season," Belskus said. Lincoln Electric is the Official welder "Once again, INDYCAR is not for sale, and the organization remains of the IZOD INDYCAR Series completely committed to owning and operating INDYCAR." PAGE 1 1 November 2012 NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK FOR SPRINT CUP CARS By: Brian Soder With the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season coming to a close in the next few weeks, fans have something to look forward to next season. It’s not the introduction of electronic fuel injectors or modified restrictor plates for superspeedways we saw kick off the 2012 season, but rather a whole new look to the cars on the track. Much like the Nationwide Series who changed their cars in 2011 to look more like street cars, the Sprint Cup Series will follow suit changing their body styles to look like your everyday cars. With Dodge withdrawing from competition in 2013, car manufacturer’s Ford, Chevy, and Toyota have been working with NASCAR to develop a diverse car that is more identifiable to its respective brand. Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite car for Penske Racing, will be seated in the Ford Fusion next season. In a test last week in Phoenix, Brad was pleased with the new car. "I thought it was a great test," Keselowski told the NASCAR Wire Service. "I had heard rumors that things weren't going so well with that car, so it felt good to kind of just do it on my own and see what was really going on. I thought the test went really well. The cars seemed to have a lot of drivability, and it's easy to work backwards from there, because cer- tainly we have to balance that, if we make the cars too easy to drive then that's not going to be great, but they also have to be drivable. And you'd rather start with drivable and work backwards than the alternative.” Lincoln Electric is a NASCAR Performance Partner NHRA FUNNY CAR COMPETITION TIGHT AFTER LAS VEGAS By: NHRA.com Ron Capps raced to his fifth Funny Car victory of the season at the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals and cut Jack Beckman's series lead to four points with one race remaining in the season. Capps powered his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger to a performance of 4.070 seconds at 315.12 mph to hold off Beckman's Schumacher Electric Charger in a dramatic final round. Capps also defeated Tony Pedregon, top qualifier Cruz Pedregon, and Johnny Gray in earlier rounds to claim his 38th career victory and move closer to earning an elusive first world championship title; the veteran driver has finished second three times in his career. “Qualifying was tough," Capps said. "Rahn Tobler, our crew chief, was like, ‘OK, we’re alright. We’re alright. We’re sneaking up on it. We’re just trying to get down the track,’ until today. Oh man, he unleashed that 4.09 in one of the biggest rounds of the year because we didn't have lane choice — Cruz Pedregon went 4.06 first round. We were taking a pistol to a gunfight. I don’t think we were very comfortable that we could go up there and run that in that right lane. To throw down that 4.09 like he did was unbelievable, and then we come back with a 4.08 and 4.07. It’s a fun car to go to Pomona with and actually have a shot at a championship.” PAGE 2 November 2012 PALERMO WINS AT PBR WORLD FINALS BY: pbr.com LAS VEGAS, Nevada – In front of 16,165 fans, Robson Palermo did something that no other rider has done at the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada; He won the event for a record, third time and the only rider to win the event in back-to-back seasons. Silvano Alves earned his second consecutive $1 million bonus for winning the season points championship, and Palermo claimed his second straight $250,000 bonus as the winner of the six-round event at Thomas & Mack Center. Palermo, the lone rider to enter Sunday’s competition with four successful rides, was bucked off Gray Squirrel in 3.49 seconds in the fifth round. He finished third in the championship round with an 87.25 on Pawnbroker that propelled him to the event title with 439.25 points. Palermo also is the first rider to claim three World Finals championships, winning his first title in 2008. Brazilian Emilio Resende, who won the championship round with an 89.75 on Da- vid’s Dream, finished second in the event standings with 351.75 points. Renato Nunes, of Buritama, Brazil, was third with 348.5. During the past 18 years, the PBR has had three multiple world champions: Adriano Moraes (three gold buckles), Chris Shivers (2) and Justin McBride (2). McBride, who is the association’s leading money winner with career earnings of more than $5 million, won the gold buckle in 2005 and 2007. The PBR world championship has become a coveted title. For the past 10 years, the association has awarded its world champion a $1 million bonus. The 2012 World Finals featured 39 riders. In addition to Alves, the World Finals featured five other former gold buckle winners. They were Guilherme Marchi (2008), Nunes (2010), Kody Lostroh (2009), Mike Lee (2004) and Chris Shivers (2000 and 2003). Shivers announced that he would retire at the World Finals. Resende claimed the 2012 PBR Rookie of the Year Award, and Asteroid won the 2012 Bull of the Year Award. Lincoln Electric is an Official Sponsor of The Professional Bull Riders BE SURE TO ORDER YOUR 2013 CALENDAR! Race through the year with some of the best teams in motorsports. Order your 2013 calendars today to take advantage of this low-cost give away for your customers. Our calendars showcase high-quality, performance-packed photos of your favorite race teams. We have kept our prices low, the same as last year, to give you more value for your dollar.