Robert Yates Racing

Advanced Equipment Company Beats the Challenge

Last year was a critical off-season for Robert Yates Racing (RYR). To say it was a busy season is an understatement. The Robert Yates Engine Shop was being completed and Dale Jarrett's NASCAR team was being moved from its Charlotte, NC, location to a new facility in Mooresville. On top of that, the Daytona race and a long season lay ahead.

As in the past, the purchaser for RYR called on Advanced Equipment Company in Charlotte to handle the storage needs. "Two things need to be done when RYR calls us to handle a project," says Bart Lassiter, sales representative for Advanced Equipment. "It needs to be done fast and it needs to be done right." These guys take laps at 200 miles per hour, change 4 tires and fill the gas tank in 14 to 20 seconds. They know fast. With over 40 races in 42 weeks, that's just the way these NASCAR teams live. When the season was over, RYR needed to be moved into its new locations. RYR knew they could count on Advanced Equipment based on a relationship of working together for over 20 years.

Behind every great race team is an even greater shelving system. The Robert Yates Engine Shop rests comfortably on shelving from Lyon Workspace Products.

The morning after the phone call, Lassiter met with staff from RYR to discuss several rooms in the engine facility and the Dale Jarrett facility. With no time to waste, Advanced Equipment designed a layout that afternoon and evening consisting of 137 shelving sections, 39 bulk storage sections and 10 pallet rack sections, plus other odds and ends. The following day, the Advanced Equipment delivery truck arrived at RYR and nearly fulfilled a $40,000 job out of its own inventory of Lyon Workspace Products.

What equipment Advanced Equipment didn't have, Lyon Workspace Products had in stock. With the help of Bob Blattner, Lyon's district manager, the remaining equipment was filled and Advanced Equipment's inventory was restored. "For years, Advanced Equipment Company has only aligned ourselves with top quality companies like Lyon," says Daryle Ogburn, Advanced Equipment president. "So when there is a need to have an expectation met for our customers, we rely on our 43-year relationship with Lyon."

The equipment was installed and the checkered flag is waving for the Advanced Equipment Company/Lyon Workspace Products team.

This story originally appeared in the September 1, 2004 edition of The MHEDA Connection. Reprinted with permission. Copyright© Data Key Communications.