WALLER, Texas – ABC Supply prides itself on supporting its associates, its customers, and its race team-- AJ Foyt Racing. This Sunday the nation’s largest exterior building products distributor will host nearly 1900 guests at the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway, marking a new high in the company’s guest count at this event in the Northeast region. It stands as the largest hospitality gathering for the company at a Verizon IndyCar Series event this year.
Tom Kuchan, the company’s northeast region vice-president, explained why this event has worked so well for the company, which last year hosted over 1400 guests at Pocono.
ABC Supply guests are given race team hats and t-shirts among other goodies when they register at the hospitality tent.
“Pocono Raceway is in a central location for most of the Northeast Region of ABC Supply, which means a lot of our people can easily get there for the day,” Kuchan shared. “Once our guests get there, they are well taken care of by the Pocono Raceway staff. We have had a great partnership with them since we first sponsored the Indy race back in 2015.”
The company manages its own hospitality program which often sees over 500 guests at any given race. Asked how his staff manages a guest total approaching 2000 people, Kuchan responded, “It is a team effort.”
Northeast Region Vice President Tom Kuchan drives ABC guests to garage area to meet the drivers.
As to why the guest list continues to grow at Pocono, Kuchan referenced the company’s continuing expansion and the curiosity of the newcomers to the ABC family.
“The ABC Supply family continues to grow with more branches, more associates and more customers every year. Our repeat attendees like to come back year after year for a great family day at the races, and the rookies want to see what Indy Racing is all about.”
Indeed, American Builders and Contractors Supply founded by Ken and Diane Hendricks in 1982 started with just three stores in Wisconsin. Through the foresight of its founders, the company revolutionized the roofing material distribution business and then expanded to include all exterior building materials in its stores. Now 36 years later, ABC Supply has burgeoned into a multi-billion dollar enterprise that is still a privately held, family-owned business with over 700 stores operating in 49 states. In 2017, sales topped $9 billion.
ABC Supply made its foray into motorsports sponsorship in 2005 when it entered into an agreement with A.J. Foyt to sponsor his race team in the IndyCar Series. The relationship continued to grow over the years as the team expanded to two cars in 2015, and this year hired superstar Tony Kanaan to drive the flagship No. 14 ABC Supply Chevrolet. Kanaan was leading the Indianapolis 500 before a punctured tire dashed hopes for victory in the race.
“IndyCar racing lines up with many of our company values,” Kuchan explained. “The race team works hard and at the end of the day you just want to have fun. Our associates and customers work hard all year long and come out to the races to have fun together with their families. The race team is a family just like our associates and customers are one big family. With races across the country, it’s easy for everyone to rally behind the team.”
When Kanaan and his 19-year-old rookie teammate Matheus Leist take the green flag in the ABC Supply 500 Sunday afternoon, they can be assured there will be a large contingent of supporters cheering them on!