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| Why Racing? |
NASCAR Racing:
Ultimate Research Lab
For avid fans, NASCAR racing provides a great opportunity
to cheer on their favorite drivers as they compete for
the checkered flag. For engineers at WIX Filters, racing
provides one of the world’s best research facilities for the design
of filters and filter components used in regular cars and trucks.
WIX Filters, which became an industrial member of the National
Association for Stock Car Auto Racing during 1968 and
is celebrating 40 years in NASCAR throughout 2008, earned the
title of #1 Filter in NASCAR because more teams use its filters
than any other brand. With a broad depth of resources at the
track, WIX takes a multi-faceted approach to its research with
motorsports teams.
Racing and Learning
On-track testing is ideal for focusing on scenarios such as
high temperatures, fluctuations in pressure and rapid breakdown
of engine oil. With everyday drivers frequently facing
similar problems, experience at the track has led to the development
of products that can take the toughest punishment racing,
and cars in general, can dish out.
Product component design benefits in several areas:
- Sealing gaskets for oil filters that withstand sudden
exposure to high pressures, high temperatures, synthetic oils.
- Synthetic filtration media that holds up better under
high pressures and when impacted by high-flow contaminants.
- The development of premium coatings for metal components
that resist corrosion in severe environments.
- Wire-backed, synthetic filtration media that are more durable
under high pressure when impacted by high-flow contaminants.
- Unique filter component designs that are lightweight, yet
very strong.
These product components are not only used by NASCAR teams, but have
been incorporated into light- and heavy-duty filtration products for
consumers.
WIX has been tapping into this fast-track research lab for
four decades. In 1967, Richard Petty began using WIX filters. The
King won his second NASCAR championship that season, and
WIX filtration technology helped him win five more. Today WIX
filters are under the hoods of more than 20 Sprint Cup cars, from
two-time champion Tony Stewart to 2007 Raybestos Rookie of
the Year Juan Pablo Montoya. In fact, nine of the twelve 2007
Chase participants utilized WIX filters.
Special Partnerships
WIX maintains a 15-year relationship as an associate sponsor
of Joe Gibbs Racing, as well as a partnership with Toyota
Racing Development (TRD) that began when Toyota entered
NASCAR racing. The partnership with TRD includes the design
and supply of WIX filters for all Toyota vehicles racing in every
NASCAR series. These two partnerships drew even closer
with the news that Joe Gibbs Racing had switched to the Toyota
Camry for 2008. The brand’s exclusive relationship with TRD is
further validation of the technical superiority of WIX's filtration
offerings and its extensive coverage for foreign nameplates.
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