Alexis DeJoria
Courtesy NHRA Communications
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 29, 2023) – NHRA and Toyota officials announced today that Toyota will continue as the “Official Car of NHRA” as part of a new multi-year extension.
This continues the long-term partnership between NHRA and Toyota that started in 2002. Toyota became the “Official Car of NHRA” in 2014, with the latest extension continuing the official partnership between the two companies for now more than a decade.
“Toyota is pleased to extend our agreement with the NHRA,” said Paul Doleshal, Group Manager, Motorsports and Assets, Toyota Motor North America. “The partnership with the NHRA has provided a unique platform to promote our Toyota product lineup in markets across the nation with their passionate and dedicated fanbase. We look forward to continuing to build on that momentum for years to come.”
As part of the long-standing partnership with NHRA, Toyota will have a season-long presence at NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series national events and will be featured prominently throughout the NHRA’s television broadcasts on FOX and Fox Sports 1, and on the NHRA social media pages.
Toyota will also continue to enjoy a significant onsite presence at NHRA national events, including trackside signage, in-venue video ad placements the popular Toyota display as part of NHRA’s Nitro Alley and more. The Toyota displays feature a number of interactive items for fans to enjoy and also showcase the Toyota line of vehicles, including a replica Toyota GR Supra Funny Car driven by some of the top NHRA stars.
“For more than 20 years, Toyota has been an integral part of the NHRA at so many levels and we’re thrilled to have them remain as ‘Official Car of the NHRA’ and continue this great partnership,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “Toyota has continually shown a strong commitment to NHRA drag racing and its race teams, and their dedication to innovation on the track has been evident in the outstanding success they’ve enjoyed over the years.”
Along with its “Official Car of NHRA” status, Toyota also works closely with a number of standout race teams in the nitro ranks, including Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon and J.R. Todd with Kalitta Motorsports, Antron Brown, Steve Torrence, Justin Ashley, Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria.
Toyota-supported NHRA teams hit a milestone during 2023 season, as Torrence’s win in Seattle handed Toyota its 200th victory in the NHRA. Toyota ended the season with 210 victories as well as a championship, as Top Fuel veteran Kalitta won his first world title in a winner-take-all final round in Pomona to close out the season. In all, Toyota-supported teams won 17 races in 2023 between the Top Fuel and Funny Car ranks.
Kalitta’s championship handed another world title to Toyota, with the likes of Brown, Capps, Todd, Langdon, Del Worsham, Larry Dixon and Cruz Pedregon also winning world championships under the Toyota umbrella.
For more information on Toyota, please visit www.toyota.com. For more information on the NHRA, including the 2024 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com.
