Purex re-sign with Buhl for 2002.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing announced on Saturday that current sponsors Purex have resigned with the team as title sponsors for a fourth consecutive Indy Racing Northern Light Series campaign with driver Robbie Buhl in 2002.

Purex Detergent, the United States' fastest-growing detergent brand, has renewed its co-primary sponsorship of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the 2002 Indy Racing Northern Light Series season.

Robbie Buhl drives and co-owns the No. 24 Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G Force-Infiniti in the Northern Light Series and has scored one victory for the team at Walt Disney World in 2000 when he drove from last to first in what is his only career IRNLS victory to date.

"In 2002, we will enter our fourth year of partnership with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and the Indy Racing League, which is a testament of our belief in the team, Robbie Buhl and the momentum of the Indy Racing League," said Steve Tooker, vice president and general manager of Laundry Care of parent Dial Corporation. "Not only have we been fortunate to be professionally represented on and off the racetrack by Robbie and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, we have built an industrious business model with our retail partners, who have also experienced the growth of the Purex brand."

The Purex model includes a strong presence with numerous Purex retail partners across the country.

"Our retail partners have been excited to develop special retail displays, which feature our relationship with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Robbie Buhl and the Indy Racing League," said Scott Fullmer, marketing director for Dial's Laundry Care brands, including Purex. "These displays create a win-win for Purex consumers, Purex and the Indy Racing League, and we look forward to more retail activities in even more stores in 2002."

Said Dennis Reinbold, team co-owner: "From a team standpoint, we're very excited to have Purex back with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for a fourth year. We're just excited that the continuity and the chance to continue to grow is there."

Buhl won the Indy Racing League event in January 2000 at Orlando, Fla., with Purex sponsorship. Buhl is 14th in the Indy Racing standings this season with a best finish of third in June at Pikes Peak International Raceway although the new 35A Infiniti engine used by the team has really come on strongly in the second half of the year and from Indianapolis onwards Buhl has been one of the most consistent threats at the front of the pack but has often been thwarted by bad luck and mechanical problems.

Buhl was on course for a seasons best result at the last round in Kentucky and was battling wheel to wheel for the lead of the race in the dying laps before running out of fuel with one laps to go and dropping from second to ninth.