Throwback Thursday: Dan and John at the Indy 500
Give that man a tractor. And a $10,000 check.
The July 5, 1995 issue of National Home Center News, the forerunner of HBSDealer, included a brief article and (relatively) historic photo of John Menard, the CEO of Menards; and Dan Cotter, the CEO of Cotter & Co., the forerunner of True Value Co.
The two home improvement industry leaders were brought together by Menards' sponsorship of an Indianapolis 500 racecar and Cotter’s sponsorship of a prize for the team that earned the pole position by being the fastest during time trials.
For the full explanation, here’s the article, which ran under the headline “Industry competitors embrace (almost):”
“Cotter & Co. bestowed its annual Master Mechanics award for the fastest time in the Indianapolis 500 time trials to a home center rival: Menard Inc.
“Dan Cotter, president and CEO of Cotter & Co., the 6,000-store wholesale cooperative, shook hands and made the presentation to Menard chairman John Menard and Bill Martin, lead mechanic on the Scott Brayton racing team that is sponsored in part by the 104-store Menard.
“Brayton’s team received a Cotter private-label Lawn Chief garden tractor painted with Menard’s logo and a $10,000 cash prize. The race car, which went more than 231 m.p.h. in time trials, started in the pole position but finished 17th in the Memorial Day weekend race.”
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