In one fell swoop. the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) has put their stamp on drag racing through a major associate sponsorship of Don Prudhomme Racing's Top Fuel team driven by Spencer Massey and title rights sponsorship of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events in Chicago and Englishtown. Both programs were announced today.

As the Major Associate Sponsor, U.A. and its International Training Fund (ITF), will enjoy significant identification on the Top Fuel dragster, driver and team uniforms; enjoy pit-side hospitality during the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Series national events, personal appearances by Massey and Team Owner Don Prudhomme, and other key value elements.

“We are very pleased to welcome U.A. as a valued partner at Snake Racing,” said Team Owner, Don Prudhomme.  “The U.A. is such a strong organization and we are proud to have the opportunity to help in their efforts to increase awareness of the great programs that U.A. offers, not only to its existing members, but for new members as well.  Their job training programs and facilities are very impressive, as well as their Veterans In Pipe (VIP) effort, which assists returning U.S. Military servicemen and servicewomen with job placement.  I am very proud of our new relationship with U.A. and look forward to many years of mutual success both on and off the race track.”

In one fell swoop. the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) has put their stamp on drag racing through a major associate sponsorship of Don Prudhomme Racing's Top Fuel team driven by Spencer Massey and title rights sponsorship of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events in Chicago and Englishtown. Both programs were announced today.

As the Major Associate Sponsor, U.A. and its International Training Fund (ITF), will enjoy significant identification on the Top Fuel dragster, driver and team uniforms; enjoy pit-side hospitality during the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Series national events, personal appearances by Massey and Team Owner Don Prudhomme, and other key value elements.

“We are very pleased to welcome U.A. as a valued partner at Snake Racing,” said Team Owner, Don Prudhomme.  “The U.A. is such a strong organization and we are proud to have the opportunity to help in their efforts to increase awareness of the great programs that U.A. offers, not only to its existing members, but for new members as well.  Their job training programs and facilities are very impressive, as well as their Veterans In Pipe (VIP) effort, which assists returning U.S. Military servicemen and servicewomen with job placement.  I am very proud of our new relationship with U.A. and look forward to many years of mutual success both on and off the race track.”

“The UA Team is thrilled with the partnership we have developed with Don Prudhomme Racing,” said UA Director of Training Mr. Michael Arndt.  “The UA through this new partnership will have access to a yet unexplored group of apprenticeship applicants. These applicants will become a part of our ongoing recruitment effort and supply additional applicants to pipe trade apprenticeship programs throughout the United States. These apprenticeship programs are in the welding, plumbing, pipefitting, HVACR and sprinkler fitting industries of the pipe trades.”

The United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals will be contested June 4-7 at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. and the United Association NHRA SuperNationals will take place the following week, June 11-14, at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.

“Through NHRA’s unique platform and proven ability to personally reach out to fans attending a national event, UA hopes to build awareness for the International Training Fund (ITF) and United Association as well as recruit new members,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA.  

In addition to sponsoring NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events in Chicago and Englishtown, United Association will receive display space at three additional events: the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis; the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka; and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.   The interactive display space features welding booths and virtual simulators and is designed to drive awareness for and showcase the benefits of United Association and the International Training Fund.

“The UA Team is thrilled with the partnership we have developed with NHRA,” said Michael Arndt, UA Director of Training.  “The UA through this new partnership will have access to a yet unexplored group of apprenticeship applicants.  These applicants will become a part of our ongoing recruitment effort and supply additional applicants to pipe trade apprenticeship programs throughout the United States.   These apprenticeship programs are in the welding, plumbing, pipefitting, HVACR and sprinkler fitting industries of the pipe trades.”

IMG, NHRA’s strategic marketing partner, identified the opportunity and provided assistance to NHRA in procuring the sponsorship package at both the sanctioning body and team level.