Press release: Kalitta Motorsports, Todd to represent SealMaster for 2016 NHRA season
Kalitta Motorsports and SealMaster are pleased to announce a major expansion of their partnership. SealMaster will become the primary sponsor of the Top Fuel dragster driven by J.R. Todd for the entire NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
SealMaster will also have a role in the remainder of the Team Kalitta's entries as they return to sponsor Doug Kalitta's Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster for the third season, while adding 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car Champion Del Worsham's DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car and Alexis DeJoria's Patrón backed Toyota Camry Funny Car to their sponsorship portfolio.
"First, I cannot thank SealMaster and all of their franchisees enough for stepping up in a big way and sponsoring the entire season on my car," said Todd. "Over the past two years, having SealMaster as an associate partner, I've met a lot of their franchise owners and customers and I could not be more thrilled to be the driver to represent them in NHRA action. This announcement makes me even more excited for the new season. I know we are going to take the SealMaster machine to the winner's circle many times this year."
SealMaster franchisees manufacture pavement sealer and distribute a full line of pavement maintenance products and equipment throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico. Franchisees serve contractors, public and private road maintenance departments, property managers and others charged with pavement maintenance and preservation. The company's products and equipment are sold in every state where the NHRA Mello Yello Series races, and SealMaster franchisees and customers have enjoyed Kalitta Motorsports hospitality and winning tradition since 2014.
"After having top-notch experiences with Kalitta Motorsports, the NHRA and their fans for the past two years, we decided to take our partnership to a more prominent level 2016," says Rick Simon, director of franchise operations. "J.R. Todd is a great driver and a stand-up guy. He represented us in a SealMaster Top Fuel Dragster in Norwalk and Denver last year and the exposure our brand received for both events was quite eye-opening," he adds. "Our involvement with Kalitta Motorsports and the NHRA gives us a great national platform to share who we are and what we do: We're the one-stop source for pavement maintenance products and equipment," Simon adds.
"SealMaster has the same values as Team Kalitta," said Jim Oberhofer, Vice President of Operations, Kalitta Motorsports. "The growth of this program has been amazing, and we are excited to welcome even more SealMaster franchisees to the race track each week."
SealMaster will also continue its partnership with the NHRA as is sponsors the SealMaster Track Walk every race weekend. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Team Kalitta personalities all season as they walk the surface they will race on just hours before the race action. In addition, SealMaster's popular display dragster, the SealMonster, will also make several appearances during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Season.
Konnekt with Kalitta Motorsports:
About SealMaster:
SealMaster, the One-Stop Source for pavement maintenance products and equipment, is the world's leading manufacturer of pavement sealer with more than 100 locations in the United States, including Puerto Rico; licensed distributors in Canada, China, Israel, Mexico, Sweden and the United Kingdom; and distribution in more than 50 countries. Pavement maintenance professionals, property managers and owners, municipalities and others charged with pavement maintenance use SealMaster products and equipment to protect, preserve and beautify asphalt and concrete pavement.
About Kalitta Motorsports:
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with six world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
Team Kalitta is the home of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car World Champion, Del Worsham. He drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car. Alexis DeJoria pilots the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster while Connie's nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante on the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar on the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, Rob Flynn on the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster and Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster.
