NAPA Filters Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary With Good Fun and Hot Cars for Winners Nationwide

GASTONIA, NC - Feb. 23, 2006: NAPA Filters, the nation's leading brand of aftermarket filters for cars and light-duty trucks, is celebrating 40 years of performance by giving away a Mustang GT and a replica of the classic Shelby Cobra, as well as trips to the SuperBowl, the Daytona 500, and other prizes.

The sweepstakes were open to owners of NAPA AUTO PARTS stores who sell the NAPA family of filters, as well as to the mechanics who install NAPA Filters at NAPA AutoCare Centers and other professional repair facilities.

"NAPA Filters were first introduced in 1966 and have been improving automotive performance for 40 years," said Paul Bandoly, NAPA Filters National Brand Manager. "We wanted to celebrate that fact, and have some fun in the process."

One of the hottest cars on the roads in 1966 was the Ford Mustang, which single-handedly created the American sports car market. As homage to that time of the "Pony Car," NAPA Filters gave away a black NAPAGold NAPA Filters 2006 Ford Mustang GT valued at $30,000. Winner of that prize is Nora Martin of A&G Auto Car Shop in Pineville, NC.

That same sweepstakes also included a trip for two to SuperBowl XL (won by Kelly Murphy of Murphy's Automotive, Central Square, NY) and a trip for two to the 2006 Daytona 500 (won by David Rowland of Smedley Transmissions, Wooster, OH). In addition, 16 people won NFL or NASCAR branded jackets, and 32 people won NASCAR or NFL branded caps.

Also hot in 1966 was the Shelby Cobra, which was burning up race tracks with its British styling and American muscle. NAPA Filters commissioned a hand-built replica of the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe with updated technology and added safety features to make it street legal. The $60,000 car was won by Mike Akens of D&G AutoCare in Grand Junction, CO.

"NAPA Filters was NAPA AUTO PARTS' first branded product," Bandoly said. "They helped establish the NAPA brand as one of reliability and value. We look forward to another 40 years of helping people get the best possible performance from their machines."