• The 30-event Mopar® Midget National Championship schedule on tap for 2008
• About the United States Auto Club
Center Line, Mich. — Mopar®, Chrysler LLC’s original equipment parts manufacturer, announced it will take the reins as title sponsor of the 2008 United States Auto Club (USAC) Mopar Midget National Championship. The partnership announcement was made today at a joint press conference at the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Okla.
Rob Richard, Director of Global Mopar Parts, Sales and Service Marketing, Chrysler LLC, and Kevin Miller, CEO and president of USAC, revealed the newly-created Mopar Midget National Championship logo with the help of Team Mopar drivers Jerry Coons Jr., Brady Bacon and Brad Sweet. Also making an appearance was four-time NHRA POWERade champion and Team Mopar Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi, who is competing at the Chili Bowl in his Gary Scelzi Motorsports Mopar-powered midget. Richard and Miller spoke about the new sponsorship at the press conference. The partnership marks the union of two of the most widely respected organizations in circle track racing today.
“USAC is the racing series where legends are born, and Mopar’s recent success in the USAC National Midget Series is proof of that,” said Richard. “Mopar midget engines have had a legendary run in the series, with Jerry Coons Jr. [2006-2007] and Josh Wise [2005] earning Team Mopar three straight USAC Midget championships. With Mopar’s new role as title sponsor, we’ll expand on this success. And at the same time, strengthening our ties to USAC and deepening the Mopar brand’s recognition with the grassroots racers and enthusiasts that drive circle track racing.”
“This partnership between USAC and Mopar combines two organizations that define the true passion of racing,” said Miller. “Both USAC and Mopar have long and storied heritages in motorsports, along with devoted fan bases. Mopar’s title sponsorship of the 2008 Mopar Midget National Championship will enable both organizations to grow as leaders in grassroots open wheel racing. We at USAC are proud to welcome Mopar on board.”
30-event Mopar Midget National Championship schedule on tap for 2008
The 2008 Mopar Midget National Championship will feature a 30-event schedule at tracks across the country. The series will visit 10 states and famed tracks including Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis and the Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kan. The 2008 Mopar Midget National Champion will be crowned at the season-ending “Turkey Night” event in November at Southern California’s Irwindale Speedway.
About the United States Auto Club
USAC was formed in late 1955, replacing the American Automobile Association as the National auto racing sanctioning body. In the ensuing 52 years, USAC has sanctioned virtually every form of motorsports, from quarter-midgets to Formula One, including a 42-year term as the sanctioning body for the Indianapolis 500 mile race. In those 52 seasons, more than 7,500 events have been presented in nearly every state in America, plus events in Japan, Argentina, Italy, England, Canada and the Bahamas. USAC also provides professional testing and seal of approval programs for major automotive manufacturers.
70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “Special Parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
Today, Chrysler LLC’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.
• About the United States Auto Club
Center Line, Mich. — Mopar®, Chrysler LLC’s original equipment parts manufacturer, announced it will take the reins as title sponsor of the 2008 United States Auto Club (USAC) Mopar Midget National Championship. The partnership announcement was made today at a joint press conference at the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Okla.
Rob Richard, Director of Global Mopar Parts, Sales and Service Marketing, Chrysler LLC, and Kevin Miller, CEO and president of USAC, revealed the newly-created Mopar Midget National Championship logo with the help of Team Mopar drivers Jerry Coons Jr., Brady Bacon and Brad Sweet. Also making an appearance was four-time NHRA POWERade champion and Team Mopar Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi, who is competing at the Chili Bowl in his Gary Scelzi Motorsports Mopar-powered midget. Richard and Miller spoke about the new sponsorship at the press conference. The partnership marks the union of two of the most widely respected organizations in circle track racing today.
“USAC is the racing series where legends are born, and Mopar’s recent success in the USAC National Midget Series is proof of that,” said Richard. “Mopar midget engines have had a legendary run in the series, with Jerry Coons Jr. [2006-2007] and Josh Wise [2005] earning Team Mopar three straight USAC Midget championships. With Mopar’s new role as title sponsor, we’ll expand on this success. And at the same time, strengthening our ties to USAC and deepening the Mopar brand’s recognition with the grassroots racers and enthusiasts that drive circle track racing.”
“This partnership between USAC and Mopar combines two organizations that define the true passion of racing,” said Miller. “Both USAC and Mopar have long and storied heritages in motorsports, along with devoted fan bases. Mopar’s title sponsorship of the 2008 Mopar Midget National Championship will enable both organizations to grow as leaders in grassroots open wheel racing. We at USAC are proud to welcome Mopar on board.”
30-event Mopar Midget National Championship schedule on tap for 2008
The 2008 Mopar Midget National Championship will feature a 30-event schedule at tracks across the country. The series will visit 10 states and famed tracks including Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis and the Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kan. The 2008 Mopar Midget National Champion will be crowned at the season-ending “Turkey Night” event in November at Southern California’s Irwindale Speedway.
About the United States Auto Club
USAC was formed in late 1955, replacing the American Automobile Association as the National auto racing sanctioning body. In the ensuing 52 years, USAC has sanctioned virtually every form of motorsports, from quarter-midgets to Formula One, including a 42-year term as the sanctioning body for the Indianapolis 500 mile race. In those 52 seasons, more than 7,500 events have been presented in nearly every state in America, plus events in Japan, Argentina, Italy, England, Canada and the Bahamas. USAC also provides professional testing and seal of approval programs for major automotive manufacturers.
70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “Special Parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
Today, Chrysler LLC’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.
