Gear up with Lowe's Racing team this Memorial Day
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 23, 2008) – Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to the summer, honors our military heroes and gives many Americans a well-deserved day off. While two-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and the Lowe’s Team 48 crew will be racing hard at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend, they say they’ll also focus on some of their favorite activities at home after the checkered flag falls. Members of Team 48 suggest some ways you can form your own Memorial Day pit crew at home this weekend.
PUT THE BRAKES ON A BORING YARD
Team 48 shock specialist Todd Bosserman and engine tuner Danny Emerick will plant new trees this Memorial Day. It may seem like a tall order, but planting a tree is easier than you think and can save you some green. First check out the tree’s root system, leaves and limbs to ensure they are healthy. Then dig a hole about six inches wider than the circumference of the root ball. The soil you add back into the hole will shrink, so dig only deep enough that the tree crown — the location on its trunk where the tree meets the soil — sticks up about two or three inches above ground level.
MAKE YOUR DECK A WINNER'S CIRCLE
A deck can be a prized space where your whole crew can enjoy a little down time. Ron Malec, car chief for No. 48, says he’ll brighten up his deck with a fresh coat of stain. If you’re taking on a deck project this weekend, be sure you have the right tools for the job. For best results, use a specially designed deck stain like Cabot Oil Decking Stain in New Redwood (Item #238823, $29.98). It’s made to be walked on, water repellant, and extra pigments help resist the fading effect of the sun’s rays. Then you can set the mood and keep the mosquitoes away at the same time with a Garden Treasures Bamboo Torch Fountain (item #14780, $147) and citronella torch fuel.
REV-UP THE BACKYARD FOR PLAY
Team engineer Greg Ives will finish installing a new playground on Memorial Day for his family to enjoy. He has already cleared trees, built a level foundation and a retaining wall, filled the area with sand and spread wood chips. Now Greg has the green flag to install the equipment, including The Next Generation Tower (Item #183935, $848.57) and Swing Beam (Item #183935, $321.14) Ready-to-Assemble Kits and The Next Generation 10’ Slide (Item #183935, $255).
HELP YOUR HOME KEEP ITS COOL
Chad Knaus, Lowe’s Racing crew chief, is used to making sure the No. 48 car is prepared for any track conditions. He’s taking his skills home on Monday as he supervises the next phase in the construction of his home—insulation. Good insulation is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your home energy bills down this summer. The Department of Energy recommends insulation with a thermal value of R-49 for attics. To find out if your home needs more insulation, go up into the attic. If you can see the wood beams, or if the insulation is less than 15.5 inches thick, you may need to add some. It’s an easy project to accomplish in a weekend.
ACCELERATE YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY
How will Jimmie Johnson spend the day after racing in the Nationwide series race Saturday and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday? Relaxing.
“Since we race at home on Memorial Day, we typically have some friends who come in town,” said Johnson, driver of No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet Impala SS. “We may throw some hamburgers or chicken on the grill while we’re at the track. On Monday, though, we’ll definitely fire up the grill with our friends for a little barbecue. I don’t need much of an excuse to kick back with my wife and friends and have some good food, especially on a holiday weekend.”
If you’re looking to relax this weekend like Jimmie Johnson, think about making a pit stop at Lowe’s to get the newest in grilling: a Char-Broil Commercial Series with Quantum Infrared Grates (Item #271572, $499). Plus, a Gas Level Indicator with Digital Display (Item #168552, $29.97) will help make sure you don’t accidentally run out of gas as you approach final turn of the burgers.
TURBOCHARGED TOOL CHEST
For a tool chest that’s reminiscent of the pit box you see at the track each weekend, you can get organized like the pros with the Kobalt 53” Stainless Steel Tool chest (Item #112374, $1,698). It’s as reliable as No. 48 on race day and features top-of-the-line details like an iPod holder, three-way speakers and an integrated 1.6 cubic foot refrigerator. Other useful features include 16 drawers made with heavy-duty full extension ball bearing slides, camphored edges, integrated flush mount hanging hooks, cam lock security system with matched keys and a full-length top shelf with lid equipped with gas lift shocks and two LED lights. The chest also comes with a four-outlet power supply, PVC protective cover and customized Kobalt blue drawer liners. It will be available at Lowe’s stores nationwide in mid-June.
For more Memorial Day project ideas, visit Lowes.com or your local Lowe’s store.
About Lowe’s
With fiscal year 2007 sales of $48.3 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,550 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.