Mack Trucks has a new multi-year marketing deal with NASCAR that designates Mack as the “Official Hauler of NASCAR.” The decal dominated spec series allegedly runs 450,000 transport miles a year during a season. Mack is providing custom-designed Pinnacle high-rise sleeper models – made in America – for carrying the loads.
The trucks will be equipped with a 505-horsepower, 13-liter Mack MP8 engine, a so called “mDRIVE automated manual transmission,” whatever that means and “GuardDog Connect” telematics system that big-brother like monitors the truck’s performance, alerting customers to “potential concerns.”
Mack Trucks will promote its participation “to engage dealers and potential customers,” according to the release today, but no pictures were available from NASCAR.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season begins at the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 21 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
