NHRA: ACDelco Extends Kurt Johnson Sponsorship
27 October 1999
GRAND BLANC, Mich. - Kurt Johnson will carry ACDelco's red, white, and blue colors into the long-running battle in NHRA championship drag racing under a three-year sponsorship agreement with General Motors Service Parts Operations. The sponsorship extension announced today by Bill Fitzgerald, manager of event marketing for GM Service Parts Operations, will continue the second-generation racer's affiliation with ACDelco through 2002. "ACDelco is pleased to be associated with a rising star like Kurt Johnson," said Fitzgerald. "Kurt is more than an accomplished driver; he has learned the business of motorsports from the ground up as a machinist, engine builder, and crew chief. He understands the technical side of racing and can help us develop and evaluate new products that will ultimately benefit ACDelco customers." "I'm proud to be part of the ACDelco team," declared Johnson, the 36-year-old son of five-time NHRA champion Warren Johnson. "Consistent products and consistent support are what ACDelco is all about. "Every part in a racing engine plays a critical role," said Kurt, who prepares the Johnson family's stable of record-setting GM motors. "I've relied on ACDelco components since I started my driving career, and I've finished in the Top Five in the NHRA championship six straight years. I couldn't have done it without ACDelco." Johnson will continue to campaign his colorful ACDelco Camaro Z28 with support from Chevrolet. Sue Seaglund, Chevrolet motorsports marketing manager for NHRA, announced that Chevrolet has also extended its multi-year sponsorship of Kurt Johnson's racing program. "Kurt made history last year when he put a Pro Stock Chevrolet in the NHRA winner's circle for the first time in over a decade," noted Seaglund. "Kurt showcased the Z28's aerodynamic design when he set the national elapsed time record in May. His performance has certainly contributed to Camaro's stature among performance enthusiasts." "There are thousands of Chevrolet fans in the stands at every NHRA event," Johnson noted. "I want to give them something to cheer about." Kurt works side-by-side with his father in the family's top-secret R&D center in suburban Sugar Hill, Ga., where he assembles and dyno tests the team's record-setting engines. "We know that we can count on the reliability and quality of ACDelco RAPIDFIRE Spark Plugs to deliver peak performance every time," Kurt commented. "RAPIDFIRE Spark Plugs have an advanced electrode design that gives me the edge I need. Our Pro Stock engines are expensive, and we depend on ACDelco Oil Filters to protect them. I also use ACDelco Batteries in my Camaro because they deliver consistent voltage and cranking power. "One thing I've learned about NHRA competition is that a thousandth of a second can make the difference between winning and losing," he added. "The continued support of GM Service Parts Operations and Chevrolet will give me the edge I need to realize my dream of winning the NHRA Pro Stock championship."