WIX Enters Product Sponsorship Agreement With Hendrick Motorsports

Thursday, 30 May 2002

The nation’s leading filter manufacturer has entered a product sponsorship agreement with one of NASCAR’s most prolific race teams. In addition to being the officially licensed filter of NASCAR, WIX Filters is now the official race filter of Hendrick Motorsports.

“We’ve always been proud to be NASCAR’s filter of choice,” said Bruce Johnston, brand manager for Wix Filtration Products. “And when a team like Hendrick Motorsports agrees to entrust both their good name and their vehicles’ performance with our products, that speaks volumes about the WIX reputation within the NASCAR community.”

The four Winston Cup and two Busch Series teams of Hendrick Motorsports will display the WIX decal on both sides of their race cars as well as under the hoods. Those teams include:

No. 5 Kellogg's Team (Terry Labonte)
No. 24 DuPont Team (Jeff Gordon)
No. 25 UAW-Delphi Team (Joe Nemechek)
No. 48 Lowe’s Team (Jimmie Johnson)
No. 5 GMAC Busch Team (Ricky Hendrick)
No. 24 NetZero Busch Team (Jack Sprague)

Randy Dorton, Engine Director for Hendrick Motorsports, made it clear that the agreement with WIX is about much more than money.

“Hendrick Motorsports has won more than 100 Winston Cup races and you don’t accomplish something like that through corporate agreements,” said Dorton. “You do that by surrounding yourself with the best in the business — the best drivers, the best builders and technicians and the best engine products. WIX produces the best racing filter on the market, so using anything else just isn’t an option.”

In return for their endorsement, WIX will supply its air, oil and fuel filters to the six Hendrick teams. In addition to using WIX filters for its Dynos, shop equipment, service vehicles and show cars, WIX has also agreed to provide Hendrick Motorsports with engineering support and prototype shop access along with air, oil and fuel filter testing.

The new agreement also awards contingency prize monies to those Hendrick race cars participating in the 2002 and 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup and NASCAR Busch Series races.

“WIX is looking forward to a long and productive relationship with Hendrick Motorsports,” said Johnston. “The combination of our expertise and their notoriety gives rise to the perfect ‘win-win’ situation.”

Since 1939, Wix has been an innovator in filtration products. Wix designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Its product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks and off-road equipment. WIX is the No. 1 filter in NASCAR and the only filter officially licensed by NASCAR. Wix Filtration Products is part of Dana Corporation, one of the world's largest independent suppliers to vehicle manufacturers and their related aftermarkets. WIX Filter's Internet address is www.wixfilters.com.

Dana Corporation is one of the world's largest suppliers of components, modules, and complete systems to global vehicle manufacturers and their related aftermarkets. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, the company operates some 300 major facilities in 34 countries and employs nearly 70,000 people. The company reported sales of $10.3 billion in 2001. Dana's Internet address is www.dana.com.