Mobil Links Sponsorship with Safety Promotion

TAMPA, Fla. — Mobil Oil Corp. considers being the major sponsor of the National Truck Driving Championships a “perfect fit” to promote safety on the roads.

“The environment, health and safety are of utmost importance to Mobil, and this sponsorship is one way we can demonstrate our commitment to safety on our nation’s highways,” said Mark Velkoff, commercial vehicle lubricants programs manager at the company.

The oil giant is in the second year of a three-year commitment to sponsor the competition, which drew more than 350 participants from the 50 states to test their knowledge and driving abilities Aug. 18 to 21 at the convention center in Tampa, Fla.

In return for its funding, Mobil gets its logo and name featured in competition material, and has the right to associate the NTDC with some company materials and advertising.

Velkoff said safety is one of the “core business values” at Mobil, so the cooperative effort with American Trucking Associations and NTDC is a “perfect fit.”

“Then, too, Mobil has many drivers of its own. And, considering that they are driving trucks with our name in big letters on the side, those drivers are some of our most visible representatives,” he said. “For our drivers to see that we align ourselves with this event that promotes safety is important to us.”

This was the first time Velkoff attended the championship, and he was struck by the camaraderie among the drivers and “everybody rooting for each other.”

“It was great to see so many people in the viewing stands, and to see such a family atmosphere,” he said.

At the convention center, Mobil maintained a lounge for use by ATA, NTDC and company representatives. Outside the room was a Nascar racer used by Mobil team driver Jeremy Mayfield, who was on hand to sign autographs.