Mario Andretti, a racing legend whose resume includes wins in NASCAR\u2019s Daytona 500 as well as the Indianapolis 500 among many others, helped open the new Firestone in Covington Dec. 14 and broke the ceremonial scissors in the process.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The racing legend signed the broken scissors. Turns out he wasn\u2019t the first one, according to staff from the Covington Chamber of Commerce.It was a light moment during what was a joyous grand opening for a new Covington business.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Andretti, whose relationship with Firestone since he started racing decades ago, has helped open eight Firestone stores this year including the one in Covington. He explained the company is selective about which stores he makes appearances at, so, it\u2019s something special for him to visit.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThese stores are fabulous,\u201d Andretti said. \u201cIt\u2019s all about trying to create some awareness that they\u2019re here. Firestone, they\u2019re a very good neighbor. When they come into the community, they become a part of it. They\u2019ll be a good asset.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
He commended the design of the store, describing it as \u201cefficient,\u201d while Firestone will provide a full line of tires and services for cars.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Andretti added that Firestone selects locations like Covington because the company sees value in communities that are investing in development.During the grand opening ceremony, Firestone donated $500 each to Meals on Wheels and the Covington Rotary Club, demonstrating what Andretti explained about the company\u2019s involvement in the community.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It\u2019s something that city officials are pleased about as well, as Covington Mayor Margaret Harto noted.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are excited to have Firestone come to Covington,\u201d Harto said. \u201cThey\u2019re not just sitting on this corner trying to get your business. They\u2019re involved in this community.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
With the addition of Firestone, Harto said, it enhances the city\u2019s mission to make Covington a great place to shop, work and play.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t his first trip to the Pacific Northwest or the Covington area.Andretti raced once at Pacific Raceways on the road course.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a faint memory of it,\u201d Andretti said. \u201cI think it was back in the late \u201960s, could be \u201968 actually. I remember that I finished second \u2026 other than that, the closest I\u2019ve raced in the Pacific Northwest is Portland.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In fact, Portland has some special memories for Andretti, who beat his son Michael by seven one-thousandths of a second on Father\u2019s Day in 1986.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI nipped him right at the end,\u201d Andretti said. \u201cHe was so pissed then he realized it was Father\u2019s Day, then he said, \u2018Happy Father\u2019s Day.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Andretti, who is 72, was happy to return to Covington to support the latest Firestone store. His relationship with the company goes back to the mid-1960s when he raced on the tires and became a tester of the product.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMy relationship with them helped me tremendously to develop my skills,\u201d he said. \u201cI won some major races with Firestone tires, so, the relationship continued.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
During the grand opening ceremony, Andretti told the crowd that even though it\u2019s unlikely most drivers won\u2019t need tires that can handle speeds in excess of 200 mph, the testing and development he\u2019s been involved with ensures that those tires can handle that which enhances their safety on the roads.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I have the opportunity to make these appearances, I have the ability to talk with some authority,\u201d Andretti said. \u201cIt\u2019s one of those win-win relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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