WIX Filters Renews Sponsorship With Kalitta Motorsports For 2018 NHRA Season

GASTONIA, North Carolina – WIX Filters said it has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Kalitta Motorsports as a chief technical partner.

The partnership will expand for the 2018 season as both J.R. Todd and Shawn Langdon serve as WIX Filters’ lead National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drivers, which includes major associate branding on Todd’s DHL Toyota Camry funny car and Langdon’s Global Electronic Technology Toyota Camry funny car.

WIX Filters also will continue to serve as the official filters of Team Kalitta with associate branding on the Top Fuel dragsters driven by Richie Crampton and Doug Kalitta, according to the company.

“Last year, we shifted gears and sponsored a new NHRA team. We had a good feeling about Kalitta, but we didn’t realize just how great this partnership would be,” said Jennifer Gibson, brand manager for WIX Filters. “From multiple moments in the Winner’s Circle to all the support behind the scenes, 2017 was extremely successful. We couldn’t be more excited to continue our partnership with Team Kalitta.”

WIX will see its filters perform in the Top Fuel and Funny Car competition, where cars reach top performance speeds of more than 330 mph in less than 3.7 seconds. Last year, Todd drove WIX Filters to the Winner’s Circle twice, including the biggest drag race in the world, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

“We are excited to have WIX back on our DHL Toyota Camry,” Todd said. “It has been great to get to know Jennifer and the whole WIX Filters family this past season. I’m looking forward to winning more races together and cheering on the rest of WIX Filters’ drivers across their other motorsport partnerships.”

WIX Filters also will grow its hospitality presence with Kalitta Motorsports in 2018 with five major activations across NHRA’s extensive reach nationwide, according to the company. The events bring major WIX Filters customers to the track and allow them to experience the most extreme motorsport up close.

“I am happy to expand my relationship with WIX Filters this season,” Langdon said. “They are a great partner of Kalitta Motorsports and they have so much history in the motorsports world. We are excited for this upcoming season and welcoming many of WIX’s customers to the track.”

The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) announced the launch of its 65th-anniversary fundraising initiative. Running through July 1, 2024, the campaign aims to raise $65,000 through 1,000 donations of $65 each. This impactful effort highlights the industry's commitment to taking care of its own, the AACF said.

From sudden illness and death to natural disasters, the foundation has provided assistance to industry professionals and their families during their darkest hours. As AACF celebrates its 65th year of service, it remains steadfast in its mission to provide financial support and resources to those in the automotive aftermarket industry in need, the organization said.