LONG BEACH, Calif. – Intensive laboratory testing, including wide-open-throttle dynamometer sessions, reveal a lot about a spark plug’s performance and durability. But sometimes the best proving ground is the quarter-mile stretch of pavement at a drag strip. DENSO spark plugs helped take three class wins at the recent NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, and the same DENSO technology can be found in the spark plugs of everyday cars.

“DENSO spark plugs deliver peak performance for many professional racing teams around the world,” said Larry Fidance, marketing manager at DENSO Products and Services Americas. “The DENSO sponsorship of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series not only helps racers take advantage of the benefits of DENSO spark plugs, but it also provides our engineers with confirmation of DENSO technology.”

DENSO Iridium Racing spark plugs share a surprising number of advanced features with DENSO Iridium TT spark plugs, which are available for a wide range of domestic, Asian and European vehicles, the company says. Both designs use a patented 360-degree laser welding process, creating a seal so reliable, the electrode resists wear even under the harshest conditions. They also feature the world’s smallest 0.4mm Iridium center electrode, reducing voltage requirements for ignition and greatly improving combustion efficiency. DENSO’s Iridium alloy has a unique material structure and uses patented production processes to achieve its particular characteristics.

“You don’t have to set a 6.5-second Pro Stock E.T. to realize the benefits of DENSO spark plug technology,” Fidance said. “Whether maximizing racetrack performance, or providing reliable starts and consistently low emissions even at 100,000 miles, DENSO spark plugs deliver.”

DENSO is the title rights sponsor of the 2016 National Hot Rod Association Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and the fourth of 24 races in the series is the DENSO Spark Plug NHRA Nationals, April 1-3, in Las Vegas. Racing fans are invited to visit the DENSO display on the midway at every NHRA race, to learn more about and purchase DENSO premium Iridium TT, Iridium Power and Iridium Racing spark plugs. Throughout the series, DENSO will post its own race and product updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also enjoy DENSO posts on NHRA social media during the nationals.

To find out more about DENSO spark plugs, visithttp://densoautoparts.com/spark-plugs. All DENSO Products and Services Americas catalogs are available at http://densoautoparts.com/catalogs.