Drag Illustrated Issue 143, April 2019 | Page 62

PRODUCTS & PRESS THERMO-TEC SIGNS ON AS OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE 2019 NMRA SERIES MICKEY THOMPSON IS READY FOR A SHOWDOWN Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels is ready for an old-fashioned drag rac- ing showdown. The well-known rac- ing tire manufacturer has announced a sponsorship agreement with Don Schumacher Racing’s (DSR) NHRA Stock Showdown Series program and driver Leah Pritchett. The sponsorship of DSR’s SAM- Tech.edu NHRA Mopar Factory Stock Showdown Series team will involve support for drivers Leah Pritchett and Mark Pawuk. The agreement includes plans for driver appearances, marketing partner- ships and exposure on Pritchett’s social media channels throughout the 2019 and 2020 race seasons. “Mickey Thompson is no stranger to championships, and we’re thrilled to align ourselves with DSR’s cham- pionship-winning Stock Showdown Series team and driver Leah Pritch- ett,” said Ken Warner, Vice Presi- dent of Marketing, Mickey Thomp- son Tires & Wheels. “We know this is going to be another great year for the DSR team, and we can’t wait to hit the track.” Last year, 30-year-old Pritchett closed out her second full season as a member of Don Schumacher Racing with a championship in the Factory Stock Showdown Series, to go with a top-five finish in the Top Fuel class. Throughout 2018, Pritchett pulled double-duty, competing in the full seven-event Factory Stock Showdown Series schedule while simultaneously competing in the 24-race NHRA 62 | D r a g Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. She clinched the 2018 SAMTech. edu NHRA Factory Stock Show- down Series championship in her Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak at the Texas NHRA FallNationals when she raced to her third con- secutive win during her first full year competing in the class. Her first win came at the presti- gious NHRA U.S. Nationals, where she raced to victory from her sec- ond Factory Stock No. 1 qualifier position. At the very next event, she became the first Factory Stock driver to make a 7-second pass. The 2018 Factory Stock Show- down crown was the fourth title for Pritchett, who previously captured the 2000 and 2001 Jr. Dragster di- vision 7 championships, and the 2010 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Se- ries championship in the Nostalgia Funny Car class. While securing the Factory Stock title, Pritchett was the only professional driver to contend for two world titles during the 2018 NHRA season. The first race of the 2019 SAMTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Series is set for March 14-17 at the Amalie Mo- tor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. The series will expand to eight races during the year, including inaugural visits to the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond, Virginia, and the Me- nards NHRA Heartland Nationals in Topeka, Kansas. I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com Heat insulation leader Thermo- Tec plans to show drag racers the benefits of cooler components after signing on as Official Sponsor of the 2019 National Mustang Racers Association. Thermo-Tec specialists will be onsite at select NMRA events across the country, offering product knowledge and suggestions to com- petitors as they race to keep cool during the hot summer months. “The high-performance cars of the NMRA series produce heat—a lot of it. Thankfully, Thermo-Tec will be right by their side the entire season with temperature control products and advice that provide proven results on the track,” said Nick Helms of Thermo-Tec. Thermo-Tec boasts an un- matched line of performance sound and heat control products includ- ing: insulators, shields, wraps, sleeving, tapes and coatings to protect vital engine components. All will be available to NMRA com- petitors, including the company’s popular Express Sleeves easy-to- use removable sleeving designed to keep radiant heat away from vul- nerable wiring, hoses and cables. “We are proud to partner with Thermo-Tec because their prod- ucts offer innovative solutions to the heat problems these high- horsepower cars produce,” said Steve Wolcott, NMRA CEO and co-founder. “Simply put, they make products that solve problems for any drag racer.” The NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals is the No. 1 all-Ford motorsports show in the United States, attracting the most racers, fans, sponsors and contingency. Each NMRA event features awesome heads-up Ford drag racing, a huge all-Ford car show, a giant manufac- turers’ midway, burnout contest and true street and bracket racing. The season kicks off Feb. 28 at the 25th annual Nitto NMRA Spring Break Shootout at Braden- ton Motorsports Park in Braden- ton, Florida. Visit www.nmradigi- tal.com for details. STROUD SAFETY SEAT BELT COLORS Add to your professional image with a coordinated color theme. Stroud SFI rated harnesses are available in 5, 6, 7, and 9 point styles. All colors available in either Kam-Lock or Latch & Link release systems. Also, be sure to check out the Stroud Safety Seat Belt Informa- tion and Installation Video on their YouTube channel. Stroud Safety has been supply- ing competitive drivers with Drag Chutes and Launchers, Seat Belts, Window Nets, Ballistic Blankets and Diapers, Fire Suits, Safety Ap- parel, Fire Suppression Kits, and more for 30 years! Stroud re-certi- fies all their SFI rated products and specializes in custom design appli- cations for many of their products. Call 405-632-2022 for free cata- log, visit the website at www.stroud- safety.com and follow on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Issue 143