JR Motorsports Signs Sponsorship Deal With Ingersoll Rand

Cole Whitt

JR Motorsports announced today the beginning of a strategic sponsorship with Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments.

The sponsorship features a one-race primary sponsorship of the No. 88 Chevrolet driven by Cole Whitt in the NASCAR Nationwide Series later this year and full-season associate sponsor placement.

“As long as I’ve been in this business of racing, there have been Ingersoll Rand tools in my tool box. That’s not a corporate talking point, that’s just the truth," said JRM co-owner and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. “This partnership between JR Motorsports and Ingersoll Rand might be new, but we are not new customers. To be able to add Ingersoll Rand to our arsenal of sponsors only makes us better."

Ingersoll Rand will be the primary sponsor on Whitt’s No. 88 Chevrolet during the May 26 race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Whitt, a 20-year-old from Alpine, Calif., is in his first season at JR Motorsports. He is an eight-time International Karting Federation champion, two-time World Karting Association Grand National champion, and he became the youngest driver to ever win the USAC national championship in 2008. Whitt joins Danica Patrick as the two JR Motorsports drivers competing for a Nationwide Series championship in 2012.

“I had the privilege to go to Ingersoll Rand just to see all their new tools and products, and it is impressive," Whitt said. “I’m a tool guy, just like anyone else who spends most of their time in a shop or garage. Ingersoll Rand air-powered tools are incredible – very powerful, very durable, and very efficient."

JR Motorsports’ garage and pit crews will continue to use powerful pneumatic tools from Ingersoll Rand to improve the performance abilities of its cars throughout the season, including the Ingersoll Rand ThunderGun. Ingersoll Rand is a global company that employs more than 50,000 people.

“Ingersoll Rand has been supplying pit crews with the most efficient pit tools on the market since the inaugural NASCAR race in 1959," stated Bill Dwyre, director of marketing for Ingersoll Rand. “Today, nearly every pit crew team on the NASCAR circuit relies upon the Ingersoll Rand ThunderGun™ to service their cars, so the sponsorship is a natural fit."

Coupled with its presence at the track, JR Motorsports will incorporate a marketing, social media, and digital production plan as part of its sponsorship agreement with Ingersoll Rand. Fan bases of both entities can expect fresh and unique content throughout the year that will educate consumers and strengthen both brands through JRM’s powerful web platform and additional assets, such as Hammerhead Entertainment.