GASTONIA, NC – WIX Filters has been named the 2006 Supplier of the Year for Marketing Excellence by the National Pronto Association, recognizing the filter manufacturer for its ability to create and execute impactful marketing initiatives.

“One of our primary marketing objectives is to provide our customers with creative and effective tools that help drive their sales of WIX Filters’ products, and the Marketing Excellence Award from Pronto is welcome recognition that we are meeting that goal,” said Bruce Johnston, brand manager, WIX Filters. “We are honored to accept this high praise for our marketing efforts and extend our appreciation to all the members of the National Pronto Association.”

The National Pronto Association is an organization of independent automotive aftermarket Pronto warehouse distributors, auto parts stores and auto service centers, and WIX Filters was selected by the association’s members as the 2006 Supplier of the Year for Marketing Excellence.

“Our shareholders vote via a balloting system; therefore, each supplier award represents a true measure of greatness by the winning company,” said Pronto Vice President Mike Mohler, who presented the award along with Pronto President Bill Maggs to Bill Sheehan, vice president of sales, and Darrell Wesley, southwest regional manager, of WIX Filters at the association’s annual meeting in Dallas in October. “Our shareholders see WIX as being one of the most sought-after brands in the industry, thanks in large part, to their expertise in differentiating their product through the use of marketing.”

WIX Filters each year launches a comprehensive marketing program, including dramatic point of sale materials, to support its customers’ sales of WIX Filters products. The 2006 WIX Filters Sales Promotions featured: a die cast collectible of Richard Petty’s ’69 Talladega Torino Ford with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Petty family’s Victory Junction Gang Camp; the WIX Box Top Program that enables customers to earn gift certificates for free items; the WIX Hummer H2 custom-designed mobile marketing unit available for customer events; the WIX “Party Like a Rock Star” Sweepstakes to win a trip to a NASCAR race; a fundraising program for the Future Farmers of America; and more.

For more information about WIX Filters, go to: http://www.wixfilters.com.