Matco Tools and Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) became marketing partners in 2000 and that relationship will continue in 2013 with a contract extension to serve as the primary sponsor on the Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster for 2012 NHRA world champion Antron Brown.
Matco is a manufacturer and distributor of premium quality automotive equipment, tools, and tool storage for professional technicians.
“Matco Tools is pleased to continue our relationship with Antron Brown and Don Schumacher Racing,” said John Green, vice president of marketing at Matco Tools. “Our employees, distributors, and customers look to Antron and the Matco Tools’ racing team as a part of our family and we look forward to another year of high visibility generated through this racing partnership.”
Matco started with DSR in 2000 as an associate sponsor on the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster driven by Tony Schumacher before moving to primary status on a DSR Funny Car in 2001. In 2008, Matco Tools became the primary sponsor for Brown when he moved from riding Pro Stock Motorcycles to piloting 330-mph Top Fuel Dragsters.
“This truly is a blessed day for me because I can continue to fly the colors of Matco Tools,” said Brown, 36, a native of Chesterfield, N.J., living with his family in Pittsboro, Ind.
The contract extension is one of several that DSR owner Don Schumacher expects to make before the end of the year. DSR was started in 1998 and has won 196 NHRA national event titles and 11 NHRA world championships since then. This season, DSR fielded seven professional teams out of its 120,000-square-foot headquarters that employs 120 in Brownsburg, Ind.
“Matco Tools is one of our first marketing partners, and I always will remember the faith they showed in DSR during our earliest years,” Schumacher said. “We consider each Matco distributor across the country to be members of our team.”
Brown has won 21 NHRA event titles with Matco Tools including six this year. He has advanced to 42 championship rounds and earned No. 1 qualifying honors 21 times during his tenure with Matco.
