Flooring Resources employees Nick Krueger and George Lullo traveled on Oct. 2, to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Kansas City, Kansas, compliments of MAPEI. Distributors Marty Elrod and Chris Orban from Carpet Cushions & Supplies in Naperville, Illinois, shared the trip to the Kansas Speedway race, where MAPEI hosted the group for an “up close and personal” experience with the Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) team. Flooring Resources Corporation won the MAPEI 2009 “Easy Pass to the Track” Contest for Floor Covering Installers. The full-service flooring contractor from Elk Grove Village, Illinois, purchased the largest amount of MAPEI floor-covering installation products in the country between May 1 and July 31, 2009.

The day started with MAPEI representatives and their guests being ushered past security into Robby Gordon’s autograph trailer, where Gordon was meeting with his fans. Then the group was given a full tour of the RGM operation. They enjoyed lunch with the race car driver, had a personal autograph session with him, and were able to take photos with Gordon and his #7 Toyota Camry. MAPEI had arranged “hot pit” passes for their guests, so everyone went onto pit road to see the race from a perspective few people ever get a chance to enjoy.

“I just wanted to say thanks to MAPEI for a fantastic experience,” Orban said. “The whole weekend was a blast; MAPEI did a first-class job, and spending the day in the pits with Robby Gordon’s team was a real thrill!”

 “We used the MAPEI products on some important projects this year, including the Trump Tower and the Willis Tower in Chicago,” Krueger said. “We worked hard, and winning the MAPEI contest was a great reward for us. It’s about teamwork – MAPEI and RGM are a great team, and Flooring Resources and MAPEI are also a great team. Our MAPEI rep, Rick York, is always there to help us. His presence is the winning difference.”

Robby Gordon also made a personal appearance at the MAPEI manufacturing facility in Garland, Texas, on Nov. 5. MAPEI customers and community neighbors were invited to join the MAPEI employees for a close-up look at RGM’s car and its traveling hauler; Gordon also signed autographs for everyone in attendance. MAPEI was also Gordon’s hood sponsor in the Dickies 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on Nov. 8.