Drag Illustrated Issue 137, October 2018 | Page 70

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
One Cure & J&A Service
Colorado-based
organizations
support WSOPM
as presenting
sponsors
T
he Drag Illustrated World Series
of Pro Mod received record participation
when it came to drivers at its event in 2018.
That type of impressive participation also
carried over to sponsors, as a record number of
partners worked with the WSOPM during its
second annual event this year at Bandimere
Speedway.
Leading that charge for a second consecu-
tive year were title sponsors One Cure and J&A
Service, two companies who both continued to
support the WSOPM in a major way.
For One Cure, an initiative created in 2011
by the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado
State University, the race on Thunder Mountain
again provided a unique opportunity to spread
awareness about their cause on a national level.
The One Cure initiative was founded on the
principle that cancer affects all creatures and
breakthroughs in treatment come through col-
laboration between scientists and doctors work-
ing with both people and animals.
Spreading that message through motorsports
has been an important aspect of One Cure’s abil-
ity to raise awareness, which played a key role in
getting involved with the WSOPM.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” One Cure’s
Greg Schumann said. “You talk to these drivers
and even if they’re putting the car back together,
they stop and talk and get some things for you.
You don’t see that very often. These guys are so
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willing to help the cause. Our No. 1 goal is to
create awareness and we’re definitely on the
grassroots side of it. For this race, it’s just been
phenomenal. We’re elated.”
The WSOPM competitors helped put together
more than 50-60 goodie bags loaded with ap-
parel and merchandise to be used for drawings,
while the Jr. Dragster drivers racing at Bandimere
Speedway as part of the event also competed to
help to raise awareness for One Cure and the chil-
dren with cancer that they work with. It proved
to be a touching tribute during the event, while
the atmosphere of the race continued to play a
major factor in One Cure’s involvement.
“The excitement of the race and just the consis-
tent, positive energy, it’s so refreshing,” Schumann
said. “Everyone is here to race and have fun. It’s
competitive, but it’s a fun competition. That hap-
pens because everyone is here for one purpose and
they want to see that enjoyment in the fan’s faces.”
There were plenty of smiles from Jim Whiteley,
who again competed in the WSOPM for a second
straight year, but also had his J&A Service com-
pany serve as a sponsor for a second consecutive
season.
J&A Service was previously the title sponsor for
the NHRA Pro Mod class, moving to a presenting
sponsorship role in 2018, while its participation
as a partner with the WSOPM the past two years
has also helped enable the company for impres-
sive growth.
“The J&A name is a household name now,”
Whiteley said. “We’re real happy we’re part of
(the NHRA Pro Mod class and the WSOPM).”
The television time on the NHRA Pro Mod
scene paid dividends for Whiteley’s company,
while the WSOPM has also spread awareness
while taking place almost in Whiteley’s backyard.
The Grand Junction, Colorado, native has
raced at Bandimere Speedway for years, but never
at an event like the WSOPM. Whiteley called the
race the most fun he has had in more than two
decades of racing, leaving him excited about the
impressive growth of the race.
Business-wise, the proximity has been ex-
tremely beneficial as well. With more than 25
years of experience, and nearly 300 employees
operating in 10 states, J&A Service has proven
itself to be a leader in oilfield production. That
means designing and fielding custom flowback
equipment to solve challenging oilfield problems,
a message the WSOPM has helped spread at its
events. Being able to showcase the company at
his home track is simply the icing on the cake
for Whiteley.
“For us, it’s huge because it’s the home base
and it’s close,” Whiteley said. “If I could race 16
races in Denver, I would. Not to take anything
from other facilities, but we know the folks here
and they treat us so well. They’re just super
folks and I’m tickled to pieces they’re doing
it here.” - JOSH HACHAT
Issue 137