Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper announced the enrollment of their 2,501st certified service center.

“Our WDs realize this segment of the business is essential to their prosperity. They have embraced our certified service center program to help us surpass the 2,500 mark,” said John Wick, vice president of sales and training. “The hard work of everyone has paid off as our program continues to grow and sustain momentum.”

The progression of the Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper certified service center program is substantiated by hard numbers, with a 12% increase over the same time last year.

Multi Parts Supply Opens China Facility
Multi Parts Supply Inc. (MPS), a multinational product development, engineering and supply chain management organization, recently announced the grand opening of its technical center, assembly and distribution facility in Pingyang, China. The facility was built as a Zhejiang government-private partnership in a high-tech industrial park with more than 1 million square feet of building area of which MPS currently occupies 100,000 square feet. The new facility houses MPS’ test laboratory, quality control department, light assembly and packaging operation.

AFFINIA Sweepstakes Winners To Be Honorary Pit Crew Members
Affinia Under Vehicle Group announced the winners of the Raybestos brand brakes “Pit Crew Member for a Day” sweepstakes and a prize that includes roles as honorary pit crew members of Robert Yates Racing before the 2007 Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Robert “Mike” Graham, a service technician at the Paces Ferry Exxon in Atlanta, won the “Pit Crew Member for a Day” sweepstakes when purchasing Raybestos brand brakes Advanced Technology friction and rotor products from Brenda Goddard of Brake Supply Company, also in Atlanta.

Graham and his wife, Kimberley, along with Goddard and her husband, Rickey, will experience all of the behind-the-scenes racing excitement at Lowe’s Motor Speedway during the Oct. 12 race weekend. They will meet Robert Yates and receive an insider’s look at the pre-race action with a garage, pit and track tour hosted by Affinia Under Vehicle Group.

Beck/Arnley Promotes Norris
Beck/Arnley has promoted Sandy Norris to marketing manager. In her new position, Norris is responsible for managing the marketing department, which includes overseeing all promotional programs, designing advertisements, marketing materials and packaging, in addition to maintaining the company website and coordinating trade shows and other events. She will report to Anne Coffin, vice president of marketing.

WORLDPAC Expands Coast To Coast with new locations
WORLDPAC has announced its newest locations in Methuen, MA; Glendale, CA; and Ft. Worth, TX. These additional facilities provide increased coverage, reduced delivery times and convenient service options for WORLDPAC customers.

Methuen, the company’s second-largest Boston metro facility, provides increased coverage for the North Boston area, as well as extends WORLDPAC’s reach into Vermont and to Portland, ME. The Glendale warehouse is strategically located in the Los Angeles area. The Ft. Worth location is positioned to better serve the growing demand for original equipment automotive replacement parts in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area. The Ft. Worth addition brings the WORLDPAC warehouse count in Texas to five.

ACDelco to Award Technician Scholarships
Predictions indicate there will be shortage of qualified automotive technicians in the U.S. in the coming years, with experts estimating that more than 30,000 new jobs will be needed annually through 2010. Both ACDelco and Kurt Johnson, driver of the ACDelco-sponsored Chevrolet Cobalt, recognize the need for well-qualified personnel and, to further support efforts to recruit future technicians, ACDelco will award a $2,500 scholarship each time Johnson wins in 2007. Each scholarship will be awarded to a technician employed at an Independent Service Center (ISC) that participates in ACDelco’s Total Service Support (TSS) program. For detailed information, and a scholarship application, visit www.acdelcotechconnect.com and click on the “Total Service Support” tab.

FRAM, Prestone & Bendix Brands Offer Box Top Rewards
The FRAM, Prestone and Bendix brands have teamed up to offer their technician customers the best in ultimate rewards with their newly enhanced Box Top Program.

Technicians who collect and send in proofs of purchase from eligible FRAM, Prestone and Bendix products will earn points that can be redeemed for a wide array of gifts. New prizes include a drive in an Indy-style racecar at the Mario Andretti racing school, a flat screen TV, Swiss Army brand luggage, a Bose SoundDock, a GPS navigation system and more.

Visit www.ultimaterewardsprogram.com for more details.

The Winning Continues With NAPA CHASSIS
Four service dealers’ back yards will be undergoing an “Extreme” makeover this spring — thanks to NAPA CHASSIS.

Extreme Backyard, the latest promotion in NAPA CHASSIS’ Extreme Campaign, awarded $5,000 each to four regional winners to help spruce up their home back yard.

The winners of the Extreme Backyard promotion are:

Western Region — Tedd Barnes, About Service Automotive Repair, Escondido, CA;

Southeast Region — Gregory Grayson, Airport Road Auto, Charlottesville, VA;

Midwest Region — Ryan Degner, Ryan’s Auto Care, Lake Mills, WI; and

Northeast Region — Traci Besecker, Hi-Tec Automotive, Arcanum, OH.

Melling Receives Jasper Engines’ Preferred Partner Award
Jasper Engines & Transmissions of Jasper, IN, has named Melling Engine Parts a Preferred Partner of 2006. The award was presented during the Jasper Engines & Transmissions 20th Annual Preferred Partners Banquet held this March. Melling was one of only six recipients of the award for 2006, and it was also the second time the company has been recognized by Jasper as a Preferred Partner.

Johnson Controls Signs Licensing Agreement with Federal-Mogul
Federal-Mogul Corporation and Johnson Controls Inc. have signed an agreement to market Federal-Mogul’s Champion brand in the lead-acid storage battery category. Johnson Controls recently introduced a full line of Champion-branded automotive, marine, commercial, utility and motorcycle batteries to the automotive aftermarket.

CARQUEST and MACS Team Up to Find Mobile A/C-Heat Transfer Tech
of the Year
CARQUEST and the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide have teamed up to find the best mobile air conditioning and heat transfer service technician in North America. The winner will receive a prize package that includes the opportunity to participate in the opening ceremonies at the CARQUEST 300 in Charlotte, NC, in May 2008.

Technicians who are certified in refrigerant recycling and recovery may sign up now at www.carquest.com/macs to participate in a series of written and hands-on skill assessments to test their mobile A/C and heat transfer service knowledge.

The winner of the CARQUEST-MACS technical skills competition will be announced at the Keynote Luncheon sponsored by CARQUEST at the MACS Worldwide 28th annual Convention and Trade Show, Jan. 31 through Feb. 3, 2008, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL.