SYLVANIA SilverStar ULTRA Headlights Light the Way for NASCAR's Unseen Stars

Hauler Headlights Initiatives Makes Highway Drives Safer for Crews

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Sep 23, 2011, 08:00 ET

LOUDON, N.H., Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Powerful cars and celebrity drivers attract the most attention at NASCAR races, but team haulers are the unsung heroes. Each season, more than 50 hauler drivers are responsible for safely transporting cars, crews and parts across the country, logging in thousands of highway miles.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110923/NY73856 )

As the title sponsor of the SYLVANIA 300, SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting understands the critical role of the haulers and emphasizes the importance of keeping the teams safe on the road with its second annual "Hauler Headlights for Safer Nights" initiative. The leader in automotive lighting provided 33 NASCAR teams with a set of SilverStar® ULTRA headlights for their haulers, which will help them see better during nighttime driving, in inclement weather and on rural roads.

"Being a hauler driver is not a 9 – 5 job," said Joe Verbanic, Marketing Manager for SYLVANIA. "Many of the drivers spend significant amounts of time behind the wheel after dark, which makes visibility crucial, especially when taking into account that AAA estimates the hours between midnight and 4 a.m. have the highest number of fatalities based on the amount of people on the road. We are proud to not only be a sponsor of the SYLVANIA 300, but to also outfit these hauler drivers with our SilverStar® ULTRA headlights."

Whiter, brighter headlights benefit all drivers in that they help motorists see further and wider down the road, and give them more time to react in case of a distraction or hazard.

The "Hauler Headlights for Safer Nights" initiative kicked off on July 14 with the Lenox race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway and came full circle with the SYLVANIA 300 Hauler Parade on Thursday in anticipation of the SYLVANIA 300 race on Sunday, September 25. During this short timeframe, the teams traveled to nine other races across the country, docking more than 5,000 miles.

"Safety is NASCAR's number one priority for the teams and their vehicles," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President for Competition. "Hauler drivers put in thousands of miles driving across the country for their teams and safety measures like installing the SilverStar® ULTRA headlights can make a big difference for them. We appreciate the commitment SYLVANIA makes to keep our sport's drivers safe during their travels. "

According to SYLVANIA, headlights can dim up to 20 percent in two years, which can drastically impact a driver's ability to see well at night if bulbs aren't replaced often enough. SYLVANIA SilverStar® ULTRA headlights allow drivers to see better at night by providing up to 40 percent increased down road visibility, up to 50 percent increased side road visibility and up to 50 percent brighter light compared to worn standard halogen headlights.

SYLVANIA has been the title sponsor of the SYLVANIA 300 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the last nine years. The SYLVANIA 300 has historically been one of the highest rated NASCAR events on national television, and routinely draws crowds of well over 100,000 to NHMS, the only superspeedway in the six-state New England region and the largest sporting facility in the region.

For more information from OSRAM SYLVANIA on improving driving visibility, visit www.sylvania.com/auto.

About OSRAM SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting

OSRAM SYLVANIA, together with OSRAM GmbH, is the world leader in automotive lighting for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the aftermarket. The company's global automotive lighting division has its principal North American operations in Hillsboro, N.H., with nearly 700 employees. In addition to TS 16949, this facility has also achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications. Automotive Lighting designs, develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art automotive light sources, including auxiliary, advanced halogen, LED and high-intensity discharge lighting for interior, exterior and forward lighting applications. More than 400 lamp types are produced for cars, trucks, and electronics in facilities throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Automotive applications for OEMs are marketed under the OSRAM brand while products for the aftermarket are sold under the SYLVANIA brand.

About OSRAM SYLVANIA

OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions and services, specializing in innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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