WIX Filters, a member of the Affinia Group family of brands, has announced it will join Richard Childress Racing and serve as the primary sponsor of Ryan Newman for three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and one race with Brendan Gaughan in the NASCAR Nationwide Series during the 2014 season.
Newman will drive the black and yellow No. 31 Chevrolet SS at Pocono Raceway in June, Daytona International Speedway in July and Michigan International Speedway in August, while Gaughan will carry the WIX Filters colors at Auto Club Speedway in March.
WIX Filters also will become a technical partner to both RCR and ECR Engines, providing air and oil filters as well as research and development support. WIX will utilize marketing rights to RCR’s drivers, cars and teams in the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series. All RCR racecars will be adorned with the WIX Filters logo under the hood.
“Since 2010, Ryan Newman has been a tremendous advocate of the WIX Filters brand, both on and off the track,” said Mike Harvey, brand manager for WIX Filters. “Our customers have valued our relationship with Ryan, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with him in 2014. In addition, our technical partnership with RCR goes back many years, and we are excited to play a role at both RCR and ECR Engines.”
“WIX Filters is a first-rate partner to have for any team in racing,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “They are a market leader and the performance and reliability of their products helps us perform on the track. I look forward to also having WIX featured as the primary sponsor for some races next year with both Ryan (Newman) and Brendan (Gaughan).”
A graduate of Purdue University, Newman has amassed 17 wins, 93 top-five finishes, 184 top-10 finishes, 51 pole awards and led 4,617 laps over his 14-year Sprint Cup Series career. His career highlights also include wins in the Daytona 500 in 2008 and Brickyard 400 earlier this season.
“I am looking forward to continuing the relationship with WIX Filters,” said Newman. “We’ve had a lot of fun together racing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. I look forward to representing them at RCR and getting the WIX Filters Chevrolet into Victory Lane.”
Gaughan will compete full time in the Nationwide Series during the 2014 season in RCR’s No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro. Driving for RCR during the 2013 season, the Las Vegas native competed full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, along with three Nationwide Series starts.
“WIX Filters has been in the sport for an extremely long time so to have them join RCR is fantastic,” said Brendan Gaughan. “I’m thrilled to have them on board and even more excited to have them working with ECR Engines. I’m also looking forward to having such an iconic racing brand associated with my team and I next season.”