NECA, IBEW Sponsor Teen Driver's Run at NASCAR History

The National Labor Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC), a joint entity of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), announced that it has signed on as sole sponsor of 19-year-old racing phenom Alli Owens, powering her quest to become the first woman to successfully climb the ladder in stock car auto racing. The sponsorship will run through the 2008 racing season featuring Alli in the ARCA Remax Series.

Highlighting the sponsorship is use of the URL ElectrifyingCareers.com, prominently displayed on the car for the full season. The Web site, jointly developed by NECA and IBEW, aims at energizing young people about careers in the electrical industry. The site details nearly 60 types of electrical jobs, provides information on educational opportunities and includes video testimonials from young people successful in the trade.

Alexandra "Alli" Owens has been racing cars since the age of 13, beginning in the Dirt Pure Stock Division at Volusia Speedway in Florida, near her hometown of South Daytona. By age 15 she had graduated to the Late Model Division at New Smyrna Speedway, finishing the 2005 season third in championship points and earning "Rookie of the Year" honors.

The 2007 racing season saw Alli competing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American and USAR Late Model series. Alli scored two top-five finishes at Hickory Motor Speedway and four top-fives at Tri-County Speedway. Both tracks are located in North Carolina.

For 2008, Owens will run in the renowned ARCA RE/MAX Series, beginning with the 45th annual Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway on February 9th, 2008. Ultimately, says Owens, "My goal is to continue to move up the ladder, to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and from there, to compete for the NASCAR Sprint Cup."

Says Ed Hill, IBEW president, "By backing Alli in her quest for history we hope to bring attention to the opportunities that exist for young people in our industry and union. Our Web site, ElectrifyingCareers.com, is just one more way we're working to ensure that America has the skilled electricians it needs to meet the growing demand, both now and in the future."

ABOUT IBEW AND NECA

Through their joint marketing organization -- the National Labor- Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction industry -- NECA and IBEW together work to:

-- Reach customers with accurate information about the industry; and

-- Achieve better internal communication between labor and management.

Voice of the $100 billion industry responsible for bringing lighting, power and communications to buildings and communities across the United States, the National Electrical Contractors Association was founded in 1901. NECA's national office and 120 local chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and standards development. For more information, visit http://www.necanet.org.

With 725,000 members who work in a wide variety of fields -- including construction, utilities, telecommunications and manufacturing -- the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is among the largest member unions in the AFL-CIO. The IBEW was founded in 1891. For more information, visit http://www.ibew.org.