CINCINNATI, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Old Spice, the No. 1 anti-perspirant/deodorant stick and body wash choice for guys in the United States, is joining forces with drag racing's most successful Funny Car Team -- John Force Racing (JFR), with rookie Funny Car driver Mike Neff behind the wheel of the new Old Spice Ford Mustang in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
The 320-mile-an-hour Old Spice Ford Mustang -- identified by the iconic buoy bottle that adorns its sides -- made its debut in Pomona during the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway this February. In addition to Neff's car, Old Spice branding also will appear on the Ford Mustangs of John Force, Ashley Force and Robert Hight.
Led by John Force, the only drag racing driver to have won more than 100 NHRA tour events (125), JFR has dominated Funny Car racing since 1989. Over the last 19 seasons, the team has won 15 championships and five drivers have contributed to the team's record 175 tour victories. Neff, who joins JFR this season, has a long history of racing, starting off in motorcross and off-road trucks, transitioning to drag racing in the early 1990s as a mechanic. In 2002, he was promoted to crew chief at Don Schumacher Racing, where he won the 2005 NHRA POWERade championship with driver Gary Scelzi.
"I'm a big fan of Old Spice, and we're excited to partner with a brand that brings such a strong commitment to our team and the world of racing," John Force said. "With Old Spice as our newest sponsor, we hope together we will enjoy the sweet smell of success this racing season."
A long-time supporter of motorsports, Old Spice also has sponsored NASCAR champion Tony Stewart's Nationwide Series team for the past eight seasons. As part of Stewart's post-race ritual, an Old Spice towel can be seen draped over his shoulder after many long, hot afternoons at the race track. Since 1999, Stewart has waved a sweat- and champagne-soaked Old Spice towel in NASCAR victory lanes more than 40 times. After the celebration and media interviews have ended, Stewart signs and turns over each Victory Towel to Old Spice to be auctioned off on eBay, with proceeds going to the Tony Stewart Foundation.
Based on the success of the Victory Towel Auctions with Tony Stewart, Old Spice is also working with JFR to auction off Victory Towels when Mike Neff and team members John Force, Ashley Force or Robert Hight win (2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series). All proceeds from JFR Victory Towel auctions will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. So far this season, JFR has already collected one win (Pomona, Feb. 7 - 10), and the Victory Towel from that race will be auctioned off together with the next John Force Racing Victory Towel. Fans can bid on JFR Victory Towels following each win by visiting http://www.oldspice.com/ or http://www.johnforceracing.com/.
"Old Spice is thrilled to pair up with drag racing's biggest icon, John Force, and the JFR team," said Carl Stealey, Old Spice associate marketing director. "With such strong drivers, this is sure to be a fast-paced, exciting racing season. And after our first big win right out of the gate in Pomona, we're already on the road to success!"
The 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the following dates and locations:
21st annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals March 28 - 30 Houston, TX 9th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals April 10 - 13 Las Vegas, NV 28th annual Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals April 24 - 27 Atlanta, GA 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals May 2 - 4 Madison, IL 8th annual O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals May 16 - 18 Bristol, TN 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals May 30 - June 1 Topeka, KS 11th annual Torco Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals June 5 - 8 Chicago, IL 39th annual NHRA SuperNationals June 19 - 22 Englishtown, N.J. 2nd annual Summit Racing NHRA Nationals June 26 - 29 Norwalk, OH 29th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals July 11 - 13 Denver, CO 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals July 18 - 20 Seattle, WA 21st annual Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals July 25 - 27 Sonoma, CA 27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Aug. 7 - 10 Brainerd, MN 24th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Aug. 14 - 17 Reading, PA 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Aug. 27 - Sept. 1 Indianapolis, IN NHRA Carolina Nationals Sept. 11 - 14 Charlotte, NC 23rd annual O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals Sept. 18 - 21 Dallas, TX 21st annual O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals Sept. 26 - 28 Memphis, TN 3rd annual Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals Oct. 10 - 12 Richmond, VA 8th annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals Oct. 30 - Nov. 2 Las Vegas, NV 44th annual Automobile Club of So Calif NHRA Finals Nov. 13 - 16 Pomona, CA About P&G
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Gain(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella(R), Gillette(R), and Braun(R). The P&G community consists of 138,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com/ for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
About John Force Racing:
John Force Racing, Inc., based in Yorba Linda, Calif., is a professional sports dynasty, one that has earned 15 POWERade championships and claimed 175 professional tour victories. Led by team owner and driver John Force, a 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection and 1996 Driver of the Year for all of American motor racing, JFR is additionally comprised of Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club Ford Mustang and 2005 NHRA Rookie of the Year; Ashley Force, driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang and 2007 Rookie of the Year; and rookie Mike Neff, driver of the Old Spice Ford Mustang. Brittany and Courtney Force also represent JFR in the Top Alcohol Dragster division.
