Shepherd gets assoc sponsor:

Cabell County-based ECO-FIRST, Inc. is entering NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series as an associate sponsor of #89 Victory Motorsports, fielding veteran driver Morgan Shepherd in the nation’s top stock car racing series. ECO-FIRST President Dana Tomes says the company’s agreement will run through the 2006 season, beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 19. “We are very excited about having the opportunity to get involved in the Nextel Cup Series and particularly with being able to support someone like Morgan Shepherd,” Tomes said. “Morgan is truly an excellent person and a pleasure to work with.” As part of the sponsorship agreement, ECO-FIRST will become the “Official Environmental Services Provider” of the Hickory, North Carolina-based Victory Motorsports, LLC. ECO-FIRST, based in Lesage, provides environmental and industrial services, including hazardous waste cleanup and high pressure industrial cleaning. The ECO-FIRST name and slogan, “Making Earth a better place,” will be carried on Shepherd’s #89 Dodge Charger throughout this year’s 36-race Nextel Cup season.(ECO-FIRST PR)(2-10-2006)