CORNELIUS, N.C. – Zack Tate of Coolidge, Ariz., enjoyed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Phoenix International Raceway as NAPA AUTO PARTS' Honorary Pit Crew Member with the Michael Waltrip Racing team.

Tate, in his fourth year as manager of NAPA Day Auto Supply, is A.S.E. certified as a parts specialist and a technician in brakes. NAPA named Tate the Phoenix ASE Parts Specialist of the Year and nominated him for the national award. The pro stock, dirt track racer said he prides himself on using and recommending NAPA parts.

"NAPA has been good to me," said Tate. "NAPA takes good care of their people, and it makes me feel good to get treated well by them. They're good people. They want to be the best, so they hire the best and they expect to be the best. The programs they offer are tremendous. Not only do they help us countermen, they help the technicians, the shop owners and everyone.

Tate enjoyed an opportunity of a lifetime Sunday when he attended the NAPA Race Day Experience with driver Martin Truex Jr. and two-time Daytona 500 champion and team owner Michael Waltrip. Tate received an authentic crew shirt signed by the duo plus tours of the garage, team hauler and pit road where Tate was surprised to see his name decaled on MWR's No. 56 NAPA Toyota.

After lunch with the NAPA Know How Crew, Tate watched pre-race ceremonies that included driver introductions, a performance by the band Los Lobos, a Veteran's Day salute, and a flyover by four F-16s. Tate went to pit lane where he joined crew chief Scott Miller on the NAPA pit box for a front row seat for the start of the race.

"This experience has been awesome," Tate exclaimed. "I'm really having a good time. I had been to PIR about 10-15 years ago, but it was just in the far stands. I've never been this close at all. It's impressive to see the time that goes into this and how professional these crewmembers are just as we have to be. It's amazing. I was really impressed to see my name on the car. I was shocked. That made me feel good. I felt like I could be in the pits then. Once I saw it, I told Martin I wanted him to get tire marks all over my name. That was the coolest part of my day, getting to meet Martin and shaking his hand. I was impressed by that. I've just been watching Truex for the past year or so and he's been doing a really good job. Michael was cool to meet too. Everyone tells me he's funny, and he really was. This day has been awesome."

For the third year in a row, NAPA is offering the Honorary Pit Crew Member program during its popular Race Day Experience at 38 NASCAR events. NAPA selects a valued member of the NAPA community based on different criteria determined by the NAPA management from that region.