Toyo Tires Signs as Primary Sponsor of NHRA Drag Racing’s Frank Pedregon
CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA – Toyo Tires® has signed as the primary sponsor of Frank Pedregon and his Toyo Tires Dodge Stratus Funny Car for the 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and the 21st annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, both events of the NHRA® POWERade® Drag Racing Series. Pedregon’s funny car features black paint with a brilliant yellow lightning bolt emblazoned with “Toyo Tires” along its side.
The veteran drag racer has posted a career best speed of 322.96-mph in the quarter mile, and a career best elapsed time of 4.754-seconds. NHRA’s Mac Tool U.S. Nationals will take place Labor Day weekend at Indianapolis, Indiana, and is considered the premier event on the tour. Pedregon has enjoyed great success at this event, winning overall in 1999 and as the overall winner of the Skoal Showdown at the Indianapolis Raceway Park track in 2001. According to Pedregon, “This is huge for drag racing to have a major tire company involved with the sport. This is huge for me. 2005 is my first year as a car owner, and I am excited to be involved with Toyo Tires.”
The next stop for Pedregon’s Dodge Stratus is the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals September 15-18 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Maple Grove event represents the first time Toyo is title sponsor for a major NHRA® race weekend. According to Gregg Vandermark, Senior Marketing Manager of Motorsports and Events for Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corporation, “We are excited to be associated with Frank Pedregon. His experience and professionalism are apparent, both with his team and track record. The Toyo Tires Dodge Stratus will be the car to watch at upcoming events.”
To learn more information on the full line of tires for your vehicle and view the Team Toyo™ driver’s section, log on to toyo.com. During 2005, Toyo Group celebrates its 60th Anniversary. Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of high performance and original equipment replacement tires for passenger car, light truck, commercial truck, bus, off-road and construction applications.
