BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels will be the presenting sponsor for the first Elite Series event of 2016, set for March 17-20 in Palatka on Florida’s St. Johns River, B.A.S.S. announced today.
“Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels is synonymous with sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “We’re proud to have the company as the presenting sponsor for this first event, as well as a supporting sponsor.”
“As the original adventure tire brand, Dick Cepek is proud to expand its relationship with B.A.S.S. as the presenting sponsor of the Elite Series tournament at St. Johns River this year,” said Ken Warner, vice president of marketing for the company. “This is one of the most incredible stops on the tournament trail, and it’s great for us to have a special role in supporting the event and the anglers.”
Warner added that B.A.S.S. and its Elite Series competitors share the same adventurous spirit as the founder of the Ohio-based company. “Dick Cepek was a true outdoorsman,” he said. “He was an adventurer, and he developed tire and wheel products that could conquer any terrain that he and his friends encountered.”
The subsidiary of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. also will be a supporting sponsor for the seven other Elite tournaments, as well as the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, and Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Along with displaying its products and providing promotional material at B.A.S.S. events, the company is offering the Dick Cepek Rolling Forward Award to Elite Series anglers for the second year in a row. This competition centers around the race for Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, and awards $1,000 to the angler who makes the largest gain in the AOY standings from tournament to tournament.
This will be the fourth time that the Elite Series has visited the St. Johns River, a perennial favorite among the pros for its big-fish potential. Chris Lane won in 2014 with 90 pounds, 13 ounces in four days of fishing. On Day 2 alone, he brought in 37-9. Edwin Evers won with 77-1 in 2011 and Alton Jones with 75-9 in 2012.
Other 2016 stops include Winyah Bay (S.C.), Bull Shoals/Norfork, Wheeler Lake, Toledo Bend, BASSfest on Lake Texoma, Cayuga Lake, Potomac River, and Mississippi River at La Crosse, Wis.
“We believe the 2016 Elite Series lineup of lakes is the best we’ve ever put together,” said Akin. “Our Elite anglers will find a lot to love about it, and we are expecting to attract new fans in new places this year. That’s the key to growing the sport.”