Irvine, CA (February 22, 2022) – Phillips Connect kicks off the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season as a primary sponsor to Justin Ashley Racing and its Davis Motorsports 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragster. Justin and his car will be at the Phillips Connect booth #1879 in the Vehicle Pavilion during TMC 22.
Ashley was the number 4 finisher in Top Fuel in 2021 and the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year. In addition to being available for interviews and autographs during TMC 22, Ashley will also be driving the Phillips Connect “Derby Digger” in the annual Pinewood Derby during the show.
“I’m excited about this new partnership with Justin Ashley Racing and we’re all pretty stoked that they will be part of our TMC presence this year,” commented Rob Phillips, founder and CEO of Phillips Connect. “There are obvious synergies between our businesses with the ultimate goal of combining maximum performance with efficient operations. Visitors to TMC 22 will see firsthand the awesome power of a Top Fuel dragster and can talk directly to Justin about how he and his team have succeeded in a highly competitive sport.”
Jim Epler, executive vice president at Phillips Connect and a past NHRA record holder added, “From my early days as an owner and driver, I have seen the business-to-business relationship development potential from the access available to race team sponsors. 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. We’ll be offering our customers a unique and amazing experience.”
Vice president of channel sales, Todd Wazny said, “We see TMC and the NHRA as an amazing opportunity to showcase Phillips Connect’s technology. We are proud of our current partnerships and believe that our NHRA sponsorship is a great way to create and foster future relationships.”
As the partnership kicked off in Pomona, CA at the Lucas Oil Winternationals on February 17, Justin Ashley took home his first win of the season with the Phillips Connect team cheering for him on the sidelines. “That was the 30th anniversary of me winning the Winternationals,” Epler reminisced. “I was more nervous about this win than when I was driving. The races are so much closer now. You need incredible attention to detail because the race is won or lost by one-thousandth of a second. Every second counts, just like in our industry. Our sponsorship is to generate business relationships. Winning is just the icing on the cake.”
The Phillips Connect sponsorship includes a wide-ranging marketing program that will initially support Justin Ashley Racing at the NHRA Winternationals, NHRA Arizona Nationals, and NHRA Gatornationals. Through the on-track program, Phillips Connect will showcase its unparalleled suite of smart-trailer technology products while offering its customers the unique in-person experience of NHRA drag racing.