STOCKS: Pennzoil To Sponsor ASA Rookie Of The Year Jimmie Johnson
26 February 1999
HOUSTON -Pennzoil-Quaker State Company supports grassroots racing in America and likes to align its products with past and future champions. So it's natural that the marketers of Pennzoil, America's No. 1-selling motor oil brand, and 23-year-old racing sensation Jimmie Johnson have agreed to join forces in the American Speed Association."We should have the coolest uniforms and paint job on the ASA circuit," said Johnson, whose Herzog Motorsports team signed a one-year deal with Pennzoil to paint their Chevrolet Monte Carlo similar to the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo driven by NASCAR Winston Cup driver Steve Park.
"It's really an honor to have a sponsor as big as Pennzoil on our race car," said Johnson. "They have been an associate sponsor for about a year, but to have them as our major sponsor means we are going to have a top-notch team in 1999 and reinforces the feeling of big-time racing."
Tom Floyd, Pennzoil-Quaker State's senior vice-president of lubricants marketing, said Johnson is one of just a handful of drivers Pennzoil targeted for a long-term relationship. Johnson joins the Pennzoil racing family, which already includes A.J. Foyt, Johnny Rutherford, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Eddie Hill, the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series and the Indy Racing League, among others.
"If you talk with people who know racing, they will tell you that Jimmie is someone who is going to make a name for himself," said Floyd. "We wanted to get on board early in his career and stick with him as he and the Herzogs become household names to race fans."
In 1998, Johnson posted 15 top-10 finishes, including six in the top-five, and earned one pole position. He led 313 laps and completed 99 percent of the laps raced during the season - the most of any driver. The former off-road truck driver finished second twice in 1998. In addition to a full schedule of ASA races, Johnson and his Herzog Motorsports team plan to run several races in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1999. The California native drove in three Busch races in 1998, with a best finish of 15th at Gateway International Speedway.
"We have plans to move into Winston Cup, but right now our focus is the ASA and some Busch series races," said Johnson. "But, first things first, and that's winning ASA races."
Johnson knows he is taking the right path to reaching the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit. ASA stars like Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, Dick Trickle, Ted Musgrave, Johnny Benson and the late Alan Kulwicki all learned their racing lessons in the ASA, then moved to NASCAR's premiere series. The ASA's 20-race schedule is based predominantly in the Midwest, with all races televised live on TNN, FOX Sports Network or Speedvision.
Pennzoil motor oils are manufactured by Pennzoil-Quaker State Company, a leading automotive consumer products company. Pennzoil-Quaker State Company markets premium quality lubricants and some 1,300 other car care products, and is the parent company of Jiffy Lube International, Inc., the world's largest franchiser of fast oil change centers.