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Health issues of C.E.O. Knoll Cited As Reason |
DECATUR, MI. – Latrell Preston, Chief Financial Officer for Torco Race
Fuels, Inc., announced yesterday, January 8, 2008, that the company has
suspended some of its drag racing programs.
Evan Knoll, President and C.E.O. of Torco Race Fuels, was involved in a
single-car accident dating back to November 2004 in which the vehicle he
was driving went off of the highway and struck a tree. He was later
diagnosed with a severe concussion and later developed multiple brain
bleeds. This medical condition worsened to the point that Knoll has
opted to take a leave-of-absence from his company to properly heal.
Preston conducted the following question and answer session on Wednesday
afternoon.
Q – What happened?
LP – “Evan’s health has been an ongoing issue since November of 2004 and
it has not improved, in fact, it has gotten worse as time has passed.
Since his accident, he has not been the same person. He hasn’t taken the
time to heal properly with the demands of his regular business in
addition to the racing business. It’s no secret that all of the deals we
had in place, makes the racing part a full-time job. Evan just couldn’t
function in the way he needed to stay on top of the business because of
his health. He finally came to the realization that he needed to take a
medical leave for at least a year if he had a chance of returning to a
life of being normal, never-mind work and the racing. We will return in
2009 with business continuing in 2008.”
Q – Does this affect the employees of Torco Race Fuels?
LP – “Absolutely not and I can’t emphasize that enough. Every employee
will still have their job, insurance and benefits. Every one is retained.”
Q – Does this affect all of Torco’s sponsorships?
LP – “This only affects the large number of race teams we support. We
will continue to support the races and the sanctioning bodies that we
are involved in. Our IHRA and NHRA relationships will continue. We are a
race fuel company and we cannot get out of the sport completely. We sell
race fuel, that’s what we do. We’re just taking a step back on the race
teams we support.”
Q – Rumors suggest this is part of a boycott to transition over to
NASCAR. Is that true?
LP – “Absolutely not. We wouldn’t play those kinds of games. That’s
playing a game. We are a race fuel company and therefore we can’t
boycott any sanctioning body or we’d be shooting ourselves. We are a
race fuel company, why would we want to boycott the very ones who help
us stay in business?”
Q – How serious is Evan’s condition?
LP – “He had a closed head injury and any time you have one of those it
is considered serious because you are fine today and the next could be
another story. We’ve already found out how serious head injuries can be
in other situations. We are doing everything we can to ensure that Evan
heals properly. This is serious and it’s not good. Sometimes he has good
days and then there are others that he’s not the Evan Knoll we all have
come to know and love. Sometimes, I don’t even know that it’s Evan Knoll
talking. He doesn’t look the same at times. He’s not the same. Anyone
who knows him prior to the accident can tell that he’s a different man.”
Q – What medical procedures are being undertaken at this time?
LP – “Currently Evan is away from the day-to-day demands of the business
and under the care of multiple neurologists. They are monitoring his
condition and administering treatment. He has been to the Mayo Clinic, a
leading neurological facility, at least eight to ten times since the
accident. In addition, he’s brought in doctors to assist. The doctors
have told us time and time again that Evan has to take time off to heal
or he won’t be with us. Evan just ignored that advice because he loves
the sport so much that he had to have his hand on the pulse of
everything. The doctors made it perfectly clear that he had to slow down
because his life and his quality of life were in jeopardy. Myself and
the doctors finally convinced Evan that if he took a year off to heal,
he can return in 2009 at a level he’s wanted to run at since the accident.”
Q – Will Torco be back?
LP – “Absolutely. We’re not selling our race team assets and we are
keeping our leases intact. We will be back in 2009 running for
championships.
"I want to urge everyone to keep Evan's recovery in their prayers and to
please remember the good he has done for this sport. He loves this sport
and taking a break is something he has to do for his long-term health."
www.ihra.com source
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