For Rich Hottle, his passion for NASCAR and his love of his job as an automotive painter and body repair expert just delivered the experience of a lifetime – a winning ticket in the 3M Automotive Aftermarket “Your Ticket to the Track” sweepstakes.
Like this article? Sign up to receive our weekly news blasts here.
Hottle, who works for an automotive repair company called Lewis Auto Body in Easton, Md., and also operates his own collision repair business, attended the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, thanks to the specially marked gallon of 3M Platinum Plus Body Filler he purchased from his local distributor.
The entry label caught his attention, and he entered the code for the contest that evening. He won an instant prize – a skin for his cell phone – and was entered in the VIP prize drawing. Then his cell phone delivered the good news.
“I couldn’t believe it when they called,” said Hottle. “I was shocked”
Hottle’s VIP prize package for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Rac included round trip airfare and hotel accommodations, tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, NASCAR Rev’d Up VIP experience, tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, NASCAR race team shop tour, 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race tickets, VIP tour and hospitality and a 3M Racing merchandise bag.
Hottle got his start working on cars with his family when he was 13 and turned his teenage hobby into his profession. They also built race cars for dirt track racing, which sparked his interest in NASCAR, long before it was a popular sport. Now, he and his wife have two children, Abby, 10, and Tyler, 13, who are helping him out in the garage and have become big NASCAR fans.
“I use 3M products all the time, and prefer them over any other auto body product. My favorite is the 3M mask, since I wear it all day on the job,” said Hottle. “The best part of my job is seeing things put back together, like seeing a damaged car restored to its original condition.”
A devoted Earnhardt fan, Hottle goes to several races a year at tracks like Richmond and Dover, but has never been to Charlotte Motor Speedway. He also has Talladega Superspeedway on his “bucket list” for tracks to attend. And if he actually worked in NASCAR, Hottle would like to work in a race shop as a body man, building and repairing the race cars.
The 3M “Your Ticket to the Track” sweepstakes has many prizes remaining. 3M professional refinish products come with a special bonus inside – a chance to win prizes and a dream NASCAR experience in the 3M Automotive Aftermarket “Your Ticket to the Track” sweepstakes. When 3M customers who are employees of automotive, marine or truck collision repair or restoration facilities purchase selected products specially marked with the “Your Ticket to the Track” sticker, they win instant prizes and may qualify to win one of five remaining VIP prizes including racing experiences and 3M product solutions by entering the code from the “Your Ticket to the Track” promotional sticker at 3MCollision.com. For more information and specific product part numbers, see official rules at 3MCollision.com.
