A vac truck manufacturer is getting involved in the stock car racing scene this weekend. Not to run a truck on the race track of course, but rather to introduce a new dealer to the fold and support a longtime customer.

GapVax and its new Florida-based dealer, Carter’s Equipment & Specialty Products, will be at the Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, for the 51^st annual Snowball Derby. Both companies are serving as sponsors for Jerry Artuso Racing. 

Jerry Artuso began what has turned into a lengthy racing career as a teenager, racing motocross. In 2018, he has competed in the APC Racing Series in Ontario, Canada, as well as traveled to short tracks across the United States for the largest events. The Snowball Derby will be his final race of the season. Outside of racing, though, Artuso owns and operates Algoma Industrial Ltd., based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, a wide-ranging environmental cleaning company that runs several GapVax hydroexcavators in its truck fleet.

“When Jerry approached us about a sponsorship, it seemed like a perfect time to introduce our new Florida dealer at the same time,” says Kate Blair, marketing manager for GapVax. “Carter’s Equipment was happy to share in the sponsorship. We are having a catered ‘Party in the Pits’ to watch the race.”