VALVOLINE EXTENDS DSR CONTRACT
“We are thrilled to extend this relationship,” conveyed
Rob Clendening, Manager- Global Brands for Ashland. “We are like all sponsors in that we are watching every dollar we spend. We are very demanding in what we get back for the money we spend. We are picky about the sponsorships we choose.
“It is critical for Valvoline to partner with teams that can provide big wins even before the cars hit the track. DSR is that type of partner. The team’s on-track success is not just the icing on the cake, but it really pushes our research and development team to constantly deliver the next technical innovation.”
Valvoline and Don Schumacher
Racing announced on Saturday during the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals a
contract extension through 2010. Under the agreement, Valvoline will
appear at 13 races this season as primary sponsor on the Funny Car
driven by Jack Beckman.
“We are thrilled to extend this relationship,” conveyed
Rob Clendening, Manager- Global Brands for Ashland. “We are like all
sponsors in that we are watching every dollar we spend. We are very
demanding in what we get back for the money we spend. We are picky
about the sponsorships we choose.
“It is critical for Valvoline to partner with teams that can provide
big wins even before the cars hit the track. DSR is that type of
partner. The team’s on-track success is not just the icing on the cake,
but it really pushes our research and development team to constantly
deliver the next technical innovation.”
Team owner Don Schumacher, whose team has won 128 NHRA national events
and seven world championships since 1998, has been associated with
Valvoline dating back to the 1960s. He ran Valvoline in his personal
race cars throughout his driving career.
“Besides the monetary support they provide which allows us to come out
here and race, they provide us a product that surpasses anything we’ve
ever used,” Schumacher explained. “Their engineers work closely with
our team if there’s ever any new hiccups we develop in the bearing or
rear-end area in our race cars or the rigs that go down the road, they
have jumped in there and helped us in resolving those issues.
“It’s a great relationship. I’m thrilled in these economic times to be
able to announce a multi-year continuation of our relationship. We look
to win world championships and that’s why we race.”
Beckman has represented Valvoline for as long as they have been a part
of DSR in the modern era. That suits Beckman fine considering that he’s
been a longtime Valvoline customer. Even when he was a paid endorser
for another oil company, Beckman confided that he still purchased
Valvoline.
“I think the proof of belief in a product is not how much you use when
you get it for free,” Beckman explained. “I think it’s when you have to
pay for something. When I was a sportsman racer, I used it in my race
car and personal vehicles. I think it’s a matter of putting your money
where your mouth is.”
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