Piedmont Colors Fly on Race Von

4 Piedmont Harry Butner, a mechanic and painter at INT-GAG. takes his customized race van to most NASCAR Grand Na tional races for the pre-race parade lap. Piedmont colors Fly on race von On most NASCAR Grand Na and Joe Weatherly. But while ing lights, carpet and other Pennsylvania, Michigan and tional race days, the Piedmont they stayed behind the steering amenities can provide. California. colors fly on more than Terry wheel, Butner made his career “It took me three weeks, every What does Butner get from all Labonte and the No. 44 Chevy at Piedmont, having joined in night until midnight to put that the time and expense of his rac Monte Carlo. The familiar blue November 1950 as a line service interior in it,” he said. “I’ve ing travel? with red and white trim also cir man at INT-GAG. So when Pied turned down $10,500 for it.” “Thrills, enjoyment. I feel like cles the track asphalt in the pre mont became a NASCAR sponsor With the help of Danny Culler, I'm part of the race.” race parade lap on Harry Butner’s in 1982, Butner not only was aircraft sales representative at And he also said that it’s nice customized race van — a Chevro pleased, he looked for some way INT-GAG, Butner and his sons giving Piedmont even more pub let, of course, with NASCAR44 as to contribute. painted the van with Jet Glo air licity in the sport that's been his its license plate. painted van craft paint in a similar color favorite for so long. Butner, a mechanic and painter scheme as the No. 44 Chevrolet at INT-GAG, is a self-appointed At that time. Piedmont race and the tractor-trailer that hauls Piedmont promoter whose in fans sometimes drove to the races the Piedmont car to the race terest in car racing has spilled in Rockingham and Charlotte, tracks. With Piedmont decals, the into the 20 weekends a year that NC, in the company’s car pool company logo, the number “44” PI flo a t he spends at the Grand National vans. Butner volunteered to drive at different places on the van and tracks, putting the company’s and it wasn't long before he the Chevrolet emblem, Butner Comes in 2nd name and colors before thou thought of a way to help the rac and his van attract the kind of sands at America’s top spectator ing program even more. attention that can only pay divi sport. “1 noticed that all the other dends to our racing program. In parade “I enjoy it,” Butner said. “I like companies had vans in the parade Besides the parade lap, when Piedmont won second to be around the drivers and lap,” he said. "In late 1982, I the van is announced over the place, a trophy and $200for mechanics.” bought a van, painted it and public address system and Pied its float in the Goody's Pole added Piedmont decals. Then we mont is acknowledged as the offi Day Parade of Lights, an ex dirt track started having a van in the cial airline of NASCAR, Butner travaganza that was part of It wasn’t too long ago that But parade lap.” shuttles Piedmont officials at the the World 600 Festival in ner did more than drive a van at The van’s colors then were red racetrack, helps transport team Charlotte on May 22. the tracks. In 1982, he raced on and white, the colors that Pied members and equipment, and Piedmont’s 30foot long dirt tracks in the Carolinas and mont’s driver, Ricky Rudd, used keeps a good stock of Piedmont float featured the company Virginia, resurrecting an interest on his car. When the company be promotional items to give to fans. bird and a black and white in racing that he cultivated in the gan sponsoring Terry Labonte in checkered flag stand where 1950’s when he raced Hobby 1984, Butner repainted the van the future Terry Labonte waved to the Division cars at Bowman Gray and, in spring 1984, bought a crowd as the parade wound Stadium in INT and Midget Divi later model Chevrolet van and Already this year, he has through Charlotte. sion on a local circuit. personally customized it with all recorded 7,500 miles going to the The float was made by G. The drivers he raced against in the comforts that plush gray and races and plans to attend every Michael's Inc. in Charlotte. those early days included such blue velour, padded swivel seats, race except those in Delaware, NASCAR greats as Billy Myers a stereo tape deck, personal read- ------------------ LABONTE’S 1985 STATISTICS* Piedmont and World Airways have Earnings $348,650 (3rd place) been in the forefront in the industry in Winston Cup points 1,815 (1st place) working to improve services for the han dicapped and in particular, helping to de Union 76 competition 1st place sign the boarding chairs of the future. The two airlines were hosts recently at race start finish winnings reason/laps a Joint meeting at BWI of the TYansporta- Busch Clash 11 WON $65,000 running/20 tion Committee of the Architectural and TYansportation Barriers Compliance Daytona 500 31 25 18.735 clutch/154 Board (ATBCB) and the Department of Miller High Life 400 9 6 11.665 running/399 Transportation (DOT). Piedmont provided Carolina 500 POLE 3 23,310 running/492 the major support service for the meeting including aircraft for testing the boarding Coca-Cola 500 23 6 16,225 running/327 chairs. Carl Crumley, director-passenger Valleydale 500 4 3 16,625 running/498 procedures, was in charge of the TranSouth 500 3 4 17.105 running/366 program. Northwestern Bank 400 2 7 10,735 running/399 (At left) BWI agents Rayfield Williams and Mark Kennedy carry a passenger up Sovran Bank 500 15 6 11,900 running/498 the air stairs in one of Piedmont’s special Winston 500 3 7 20,100 running/185 wheelchair/boarding chair combinations. Budweiser 500 POLE 16 14,050 engine/437 On the ramp is Agent Randy Markwardt and at the top of the air stairs. Elisabeth The Winston POLE 3 60.000 running/70 Silverman with World Airways and Larry World 600 18 5 24,000 running/398 Gillespie with the ATA. Budweiser 400 2 WON 39,200 running/95 • th ro u g h J u n e 8. 1985.

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