| | Companies feel the need for speed. Richard Petty promotes Hustler mowers. |
| | | Brett Favre works with Snapper. |
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Joe Gibbs is a frequent visitor to the Husqvarna loge at Lowe's Motor Speedway, near Charlotte, NC. Gibbs, of course, is the head of the Joe Gibbs racing team and the coach of the NFL Washington Redskins. Husqvarna commercial power equipment has been one of the sponsors of his successful NASCAR team. Brett Favre, quarterback for the NFL Green Bay Packers and future hall of famer, says he loves mowing his property with a Snapper rider. Advertisements show a smiling Favre as just another guy enjoying "getting away from it all" on the seat of a shiny mower. Legendary NASCAR champion Richard Petty, in his trademark black hat and sunglasses, partnered with Hustler Turf Equipment in the "Mow for Victory Tour" this summer to raise money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, NC. A number of other sponsors joined with Hustler and Petty in the fund raiser. Victory Junction Gang Camp is a year-round racing-theme camp that serves campers ages 7 to 15 that have chronic illnesses and would not otherwise be able to go to summer camp. Other manufacturers have attached their products to popular sports stars, usually in motor sports. But the biggest attraction at equipment trade shows (certainly the loudest!) is arguably the Dixie Chopper motorcycle, built by Orange County Choppers. Landscape pros never tire of ooohing and ahhhing at the customized show "bike," especially when an employee fires up the machine and lets loose with a couple of loud roars from its 90-hp engine. Contractors love their horsepower and they're addicted to speed. | 
