PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — Justin Ashley Racing will feature Phillips Connect, a national leader in semi-trailer tracking and sensor technologies, as its primary to begin the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
The wide-ranging marketing program will initially include the NHRA Winternationals, NHRA Arizona Nationals, and NHRA Gatornationals with primary sponsorship on Ashley’s Davis Motorsports 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragster and comprehensive corporate hospitality and business-to-business initiatives.
“I believe this is only the beginning of what will be an incredibly valuable win-win relationship,” said Ashley, the No. 4 finisher in Top Fuel last season and 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year. “I am honored to represent Phillips Connect and anxious to be a part of their team. I want to win on the track and equally important I want to win for them in the business-to-business sector. I believe our team, the NHRA, the fans, and for that matter, the entire sport of drag racing is a high-speed golf course where some of the greatest business deals get done. I can’t wait for the season to get started.”
Through the on-track program, Phillips Connect will be demonstrating a wide range of smart-trailer technology products that improve and streamline its customers’ businesses with instant data analysis and insight in the most critical conditions to improve up-time, operational efficiencies, and driver safety.
For nearly 100 years, Phillips Industries has been devoted to making products that make a difference for its customers. Its products are standard equipment on nearly 100 percent of all semi-trucks that are manufactured in North America, and 70 percent of all trailers. From their engineers to their passionate sales team, Phillips Industries and Phillips Connect both understand the unique challenges transportation and logistics customers face every day and are driven to innovate and build products that are easy to install, intuitive to use, and scalable for the future.
“It’s been 28 years since I was the first professional driver to break the 300 miles per hour barrier in a Funny Car, and 20 years since I retired from the sport as an NHRA driver, and I can’t explain how exciting is to return as a primary sponsor,” said Jim Epler, executive vice president of Phillips Connect. “From my early days as an owner and driver, I have been focused on the business-to-business side of marketing a race team. NHRA has the best platform to conduct relationship selling and Justin Ashley and Davis Motorsports are the perfect fit for Phillips Connect. Justin has proven to be an incredible driver and spokesperson, and we are honored to be partnered with him. I can’t wait to kick this off on my 30-year anniversary of my first funny car win!”
The program will kick off in Pomona, Calif. at the season opening NHRA Winternationals on Feb. 18 with the official unveiling of the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster powered by Vita C Shot.