NASCAR announced Friday that Sunoco, the world’s largest manufacturer of premium racing gasoline, will become the ‘Official Fuel of NASCAR,’ beginning with the 2004 season.
Under the 10-year agreement, Sunoco will provide racing gasoline for NASCAR’s three national series – the Winston Cup Series — which will be the Nextel Cup Series beginning next season, Busch Series, and Craftsman Truck Series.
Sunoco, a leading manufacturer and marketer of petroleum and petrochemical products, distributes gasoline to more than 400 racetracks in the United States. Sunoco already has a relationship with NASCAR as the gasoline supplier to approximately 80% of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series that competes at 75 tracks.
‘Because our sport literally runs on gasoline, this partnership is one of the most important relationships for NASCAR,’ NASCAR President Mike Helton said. ‘Sunoco has a well-earned reputation for producing the highest-quality racing gasoline and for reliably distributing it to racetracks.
‘In our NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series association with Sunoco, we have been impressed with Sunoco’s people, products and passion for our sport. We are proud to welcome them as the Official Fuel of NASCAR.’
Robert Owens, senior vice president, Sunoco, shares Helton’s excitement.
‘While Sunoco is already the authorized gasoline manufacturer for more than 30 racing series, we are extremely proud of this partnership with NASCAR, one of the world’s premier motorsports and the epitome of performance-based competition,’ he said.
‘Sunoco has enjoyed a reputation for producing high-quality race gasoline for more than two decades. Through our dedicated manufacturing facility in Marcus Hook, Pa., Sunoco produces racing gasoline that delivers the exact components, exactly the same way, every time.
‘This partnership with NASCAR is a crowning achievement for our performance products.’
Sunoco will replace Conoco Phillips’ Unocal ’76’ brand as the official fuel provider of NASCAR in 2004. After the recent merger of Conoco, Inc. and Phillips Petroleum Company, the company’s marketing strategy shifted; Conoco Phillips chose not to renew the 76 fuel supplier contract, which expires at the end of the 2003 season.
‘Unocal 76 has been a trusted and valued partner for more than 40 years,’ Helton said. ‘We’ve enjoyed our long and successful relationship, and would like to thank 76 for their support and partnership in helping grow NASCAR through the years.’
Contact:
NASCAR Public Relations
Tel: +1 386 253 0611
mediapr@nascar.com