Courtney Force will roll into the 2017 season with a familiar name emblazoned on her Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car.
Force, the youngest daughter of 16-time NHRA champion John Force, will race with sponsorship from Advance Auto Parts, as part of a multi-year agreement announced on Friday at John Force Racing's Brownsburg, Ind.-based facility.
“I am thrilled to be driving the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car starting in 2017,” said Force. “Last season, we made some big strides toward our first championship, and I am very confident in my team led by my crew chiefs, Dan Hood and Ronnie Thompson, and that next season can be even better. I love the look of this red, yellow and black Camaro and I can’t wait to get it into the winner’s circle.”
Advance Auto Parts tested the waters in 2016 at select events with John Force, including his race win at the NHRA Carolina Nationals outside of Charlotte, NC.
“We expanded our relationship with PEAK at the beginning of last season and we ran the Advance Auto Parts Funny Car a couple times,” John Force. “The opportunity came to grow the deal and they were interested in Courtney so it was a perfect match.
"We are excited to work with Sponsorship Integrated Manager Matt Davis and his team at Advance to help them grow their business across all their stores. I have done shows with Advance Auto Parts in the past and am looking forward to working with them again.”
Advance Auto Parts has been actively involved in motorsports through the NHRA, NASCAR and other motorsports series important to its customers.
“We are proud to be partnering with Courtney Force and the John Force Racing team for the 2017 season and beyond,” said Walter Scott, Chief Marketing Officer for Advance Auto Parts. “After working with John and the team last year through our partnership with PEAK, we got to know Courtney and felt she would be a great ambassador for our company. Our team members and customers love NHRA drag racing, and we can’t wait to see the Advance Auto Parts Funny Car on the track in 2017.”
The John Force Racing sponsorship marks the leading automotive aftermarket parts provider's second foray into major league championship drag racing, having served as primary sponsor for Cruz Pedregon for eight seasons until 2009.
Advance Auto Parts replaces Traxxas, whose role is undetermined at this time.
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Bobby Bennett is the Publisher/Editor of CompetitionPlus.com, a leading independent online drag racing magazine, since 1999. For the latest in dragster news worldwide, visit www.competitionplus.com or follow on Twitter @competitionplus
