WIX® Filters Announces Technical and Associate Sponsorship of Kalitta Motorsports for 2017 NHRA Season
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Leader in Automotive Air and Oil Filters Becomes Official Filters of Team Kalitta
WIX® Filters, a global manufacturer of filtration products, has joined Kalitta Motorsports as a chief technical partner through a multi-platform sponsorship agreement and has been named the Official Filters of Team Kalitta, which competes in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
J.R. Todd will be WIX Filters' lead NHRA driver, with his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car featuring associate branding from WIX. Todd will debut the car at the February 10th Circle K Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.
“Our partnership with Kalitta Motorsports is a continuation of a great history with cars competing in NHRA, and reflects the shared value of high-performing engines,” said Jennifer Gibson, brand manager for WIX. “We’re looking forward to a successful season with the entire Kalitta team.”
Race teams have relied on the quality and performance of WIX Filters for 60 years, and in return the track provides exceptional R&D testing grounds for WIX engineers. With Team Kalitta, WIX will see its filters perform in the Top Fuel and Funny Car competition, where cars reach top performance speeds of more than 330 mph in less than 3.7 seconds. In addition to Todd’s car, the WIX Filters logo also will be seen on Team Kalitta entries driven by Troy Coughlin Jr., Alexis DeJoria, Doug Kalitta and Paul Lee.
“It’s exciting to announce a partnership with an iconic brand like WIX Filters as we start this new NHRA season,” said Todd. “WIX Filters is the best in the filter world, and we plan on following that lead by celebrating many wins with their customers this year.”
Jim Oberhofer, vice president of operations for Kalitta, said this new partnership with WIX Filters has been a part of what has been an exciting offseason for Kalitta Motorsports.
“I know J.R. is going to do a great job representing WIX and all of their customers,” said Oberhofer. “WIX and Team Kalitta mesh extremely well, and we plan on making this a long and lasting relationship.”
For more information on WIX, please visit wixfilters.com.
About WIX Filters
Since 1939, WIX® Filters has been an innovator in filtration products. WIX designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Part of the MANN+HUMMEL family of brands, WIX's product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks, off-road equipment and manufacturing applications. For more information, visit www.wixfilters.com, or any of our social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
About Kalitta Motorsports
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team that competes in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Kalitta has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with six world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Kalitta in 1959.
Team Kalitta fields four full-time entries in the NHRA Mello Yello nitro classes. Connie Kalitta’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster; Auto Club Road to the Future candidate Troy Coughlin, Jr. drives the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster; J.R. Todd is the driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car and Alexis DeJoria pilots the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car. Kalitta Motorsports also manages the McLeod Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car driven by Paul Lee. Connie Kalitta serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Todd Smith on the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, Nicky Boninfante and Tommy DeLago on the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car, Glen Huszar on the McLeod Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car, Rob Flynn on the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster and Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster.
Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include ARP, AutoDesk CAM, Champion, Cogistics, Darton Sleeves, DHL, Global Electronic Technology, JEGS, Justice Brothers, Kalitta Air, Mac Tools, Racing Electronics, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Technicoat Companies, Tequila Patrón, TMS Titanium, Toyota, WIX Filters and Ziebart.