The NHRA race at Heartland Park Topeka marks the first event that will see multiple Caterpillar dealer groups participate in the NHRA technician recruiting program. The David Powers-owned, Rod Fuller-driven Caterpillar dragster will fly the logos of Martin Tractor, Foley Equipment and Warren Cat during the 20th annual O’Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park. Linn State Technical College and Crossland Construction also will be involved in the team’s activities during the weekend.

The relationship between David Powers Motorsports, Caterpillar and the Caterpillar Dealer Groups was designed as a pilot program to increase technician recruiting. Many Caterpillar dealers are experiencing a shortage of technicians, and after successful events in several NHRA markets during the 2007 season, DPM and Caterpillar inked a multiyear agreement last August to participate in the NHRA dealer recruitment program.

"The NHRA Summer Nationals at Topeka is a special race for Caterpillar as this will be the first event that we have had three Caterpillar dealers collectively participating in the NHRA technician recruiting program, as well as Cat equipment on display for marketing and sales programs,” Caterpillar’s Stan Deatherage said. “All three dealers, Martin, Foley Equipment and Warren, also will utilize customer entertainment in the David Powers Motorsports Iron Eagle Club hospitality area. All three dealers will have their logos on the dragster, along with Caterpillar Think Big educational partner Linn State Technical College."
The NHRA race at Heartland Park Topeka marks the first event that will see multiple Caterpillar dealer groups participate in the NHRA technician recruiting program. The David Powers-owned, Rod Fuller-driven Caterpillar dragster will fly the logos of Martin Tractor, Foley Equipment and Warren Cat during the 20th annual O’Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park. Linn State Technical College and Crossland Construction also will be involved in the team’s activities during the weekend.

The relationship between David Powers Motorsports, Caterpillar and the Caterpillar Dealer Groups was designed as a pilot program to increase technician recruiting. Many Caterpillar dealers are experiencing a shortage of technicians, and after successful events in several NHRA markets during the 2007 season, DPM and Caterpillar inked a multiyear agreement last August to participate in the NHRA dealer recruitment program.

"The NHRA Summer Nationals at Topeka is a special race for Caterpillar as this will be the first event that we have had three Caterpillar dealers collectively participating in the NHRA technician recruiting program, as well as Cat equipment on display for marketing and sales programs,” Caterpillar’s Stan Deatherage said. “All three dealers, Martin, Foley Equipment and Warren, also will utilize customer entertainment in the David Powers Motorsports Iron Eagle Club hospitality area. All three dealers will have their logos on the dragster, along with Caterpillar Think Big educational partner Linn State Technical College."

Martin Tractor, located in Topeka, Kan., has a long standing relationship with Heartland Park Topeka,  Martin has facilities located in Colby, Concordia, Manhattan, Emporia, Lawrence and Chanute and serves 50 Kansas counties in construction, agriculture and industrial equipment. Martin will provide an interactive M-Series motorgrader simulartor for Caterpillar's display on the popular Manufacturer's Midway. www.martintractor.com

Foley Equipment, headquartered in Wichita, Kan., is the Caterpillar dealership in central and southwestern Kansas. It services industries in construction, agriculture, truck engines, power generation and petroleum. Foley Equipment has facilities in Wichita, Dodge City, Salina, Great Bend and Liberal, Kansas. They are looking to immediately fill 30 technician positions for all industries served, www.foleyeqcareers.com. In July, Foley Equipment will be opening their new 127,000 sq ft. engine rebuild facility in Park City, Kan. www.foleyeq.com

Warren Cat, located in Midland, Texas, owned by Warren Equipment Company
operates throughout 15 branch locations in Oklahoma and West Texas. Warren caters to various industries including petroleum, construction, mining, trucking, and
agriculture. Warren is celebrating the opening of a new state-of-the-art facility in
Tulsa, Okla. and will be recruiting to fill positions for the Tulsa facility. www.warrencat.com

The Topeka event marks the second race this season where Linn State Technical College, based in Linn, Mo., will recruit potential students looking to enroll in education programs that further their opportunity for placement with Cat dealers. Linn State, the Cat Thing Big education partner for Fabick Cat and Dean Machinery, will target students about their new Electric Power Generation Technology program, one of the fastest growing segments within Caterpillar dealers. www.linnstate.edu

Headquartered in Columbus, Kan., Crossland Construction Company, Inc. is ranked by Engineering News as the 139th largest U.S.-based general contracting company in the nation. Crossland Construction, with locations in Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas backed Fuller during the NHRA Fall Nationals at Ennis, Texas last Sept. www.crosslandconstruction.com

“This is very cool to see  three dealers in the surrounding area support our race program at Topeka,” Fuller said. “There will be a lot of people rooting us on at Topeka and that excites me. It’s great that Linn State will be back on the car. We won with them at St. Louis, so hopefully we can do well for them again. I’m also happy that Crossland Construction is back with our team. Being from Northwest Arkansas, it’s great to have a local company support our race team.”

Fuller enters the 20th annual O’Reilly Summer Nationals, May 30-June 1, at Heartland Park Topeka ranked fourth in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings. The driver of the Caterpillar dragster has one victory this season, St. Louis, and seven career NHRA Top Fuel victories. Fuller has scored three wins flying the recognizable yellow and black colors of Caterpillar. The Las Vegas racer has qualified for 69 consecutive events in his Rob Flynn-tuned dragster.