DSR OFFICIALLY ADDS TOLIVER
Mon, 2008-01-21 14:27
Jerry Toliver will drive the Rockstar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don
Schumacher Racing in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, beginning at the
Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 7-10, 2008, it was confirmed today by
team owner Don Schumacher.
A native of California, Toliver returns to his first full year of NHRA Funny Car competition since 2004. The popular, articulate and outgoing racer skipped the 2005 and 2006 seasons and ran all but four national events in 2007 under his own banner with Rockstar backing.
Rockstar, Inc., maker of Rockstar Energy Drink, returns as Toliver's primary sponsor on the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, a major associate sponsor on the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, and as an associate sponsor on the rest of the Don Schumacher Racing teams.
Phil Shuler, who, along with Todd Okuhara in 2007, tuned the Mail Terminal Services Dodge for Jack Beckman and the Mopar/Oakley Dodge for Gary Scelzi, was named crew chief. Jerry Toliver will drive the Rockstar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, beginning at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 7-10, 2008, it was confirmed today by team owner Don Schumacher.
A native of California, Toliver returns to his first full year of NHRA Funny Car competition since 2004. The popular, articulate and outgoing racer skipped the 2005 and 2006 seasons and ran all but four national events in 2007 under his own banner with Rockstar backing.
Rockstar, Inc., maker of Rockstar Energy Drink, returns as Toliver's primary sponsor on the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, a major associate sponsor on the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, and as an associate sponsor on the rest of the Don Schumacher Racing teams.
Phil Shuler, who, along with Todd Okuhara in 2007, tuned the Mail Terminal Services Dodge for Jack Beckman and the Mopar/Oakley Dodge for Gary Scelzi, was named crew chief.
"Rockstar had expressed a desire to expand their operation and their footprint in the NHRA," said Toliver, "and they had a conversation with Don some time ago regarding Don Schumacher Racing. In 2007, Rockstar and I were looking for new and better ways to improve our entire program and, of course, we decided going to Schumacher Racing was certainly going to help us in performance as well as being able to get the brand out there in a big way with all the other associates and teams we would be working with.
"We feel that Rockstar will have a much bigger footprint, a lot more visibility, and if we get the performance up to a level that I'm absolutely confident will happen, Rockstar will certainly get the return on their investment that they're looking for.
"Don's got a great winning history," continued Toliver, whose NHRA career record shows five wins in 10 final rounds since 1998. "He's done a great job. He's built this organization over the last 10 years from one team to what it is today. To succeed in the real world, as in NHRA, you need all the help you can get and all the resources you can muster. With Schumacher Racing we have all the help and all the resources I think we need to have in order to make this car a championship contender."
"It is truly exciting to help synergize Jerry Toliver with Don Schumacher Racing, which now will generate massive brand visibility for us in all the right ways," said Jason May, Executive Vice President - Marketing,
Rockstar, Inc. "Don is a legend, he has an amazing presence within the sport, and has the top talent in the pits, which we need to propel Toliver onto the podium this year. Additionally, we are excited for our associate sponsorship of the dynamic drivers on Don's roster. Rockstar is very proud of this opportunity to sponsor some of the world’s most talented drivers. We are looking forward to a fruitful and exciting season, to say the least."
Said team owner Don Schumacher: "I've always said that NHRA drag racing needs personalities and characters in its driver lineup. And Jerry Toliver certainly fits that bill. He is also a veteran businessman and a talented race-car driver. He understands how this sport and business work, from every aspect, and that is a major asset to our team.
"We welcome Rockstar to DSR and, working together with Jerry and Phil Shuler, we promise we'll do our best to provide all the necessary resources for the Rockstar Dodge Charger R/T team to be a championship contender."
Rockstar is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the the potent herbal blends of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, Rockstar is scientifically formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles—from athletes to rock stars.
Since its introduction in 2001, when Rockstar created the first 16-ounce energy drink, the brand has experienced triple-digit growth year after year and firmly established itself as a major player in the beverage industry.
JERRY TOLIVER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
* Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing.
* Enjoyed his best season the same year, winning three events in seven final-round appearances, finishing a career-best third in the point69-91 standings.
* Finished in the Top 10 in the points standings twice (third in 2000, eighth in 1999).
* Returned to competition in 2007 after a two-year hiatus, qualifying in the top half of the field twice and setting top speed of the event in Denver (319.60 mph)
* Has five national event wins in 10 final rounds, since 1998, and a career round win-loss record of 69-91
A native of California, Toliver returns to his first full year of NHRA Funny Car competition since 2004. The popular, articulate and outgoing racer skipped the 2005 and 2006 seasons and ran all but four national events in 2007 under his own banner with Rockstar backing.
Rockstar, Inc., maker of Rockstar Energy Drink, returns as Toliver's primary sponsor on the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, a major associate sponsor on the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, and as an associate sponsor on the rest of the Don Schumacher Racing teams.
Phil Shuler, who, along with Todd Okuhara in 2007, tuned the Mail Terminal Services Dodge for Jack Beckman and the Mopar/Oakley Dodge for Gary Scelzi, was named crew chief. Jerry Toliver will drive the Rockstar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, beginning at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 7-10, 2008, it was confirmed today by team owner Don Schumacher.
A native of California, Toliver returns to his first full year of NHRA Funny Car competition since 2004. The popular, articulate and outgoing racer skipped the 2005 and 2006 seasons and ran all but four national events in 2007 under his own banner with Rockstar backing.
Rockstar, Inc., maker of Rockstar Energy Drink, returns as Toliver's primary sponsor on the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, a major associate sponsor on the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, and as an associate sponsor on the rest of the Don Schumacher Racing teams.
Phil Shuler, who, along with Todd Okuhara in 2007, tuned the Mail Terminal Services Dodge for Jack Beckman and the Mopar/Oakley Dodge for Gary Scelzi, was named crew chief.
"Rockstar had expressed a desire to expand their operation and their footprint in the NHRA," said Toliver, "and they had a conversation with Don some time ago regarding Don Schumacher Racing. In 2007, Rockstar and I were looking for new and better ways to improve our entire program and, of course, we decided going to Schumacher Racing was certainly going to help us in performance as well as being able to get the brand out there in a big way with all the other associates and teams we would be working with.
"We feel that Rockstar will have a much bigger footprint, a lot more visibility, and if we get the performance up to a level that I'm absolutely confident will happen, Rockstar will certainly get the return on their investment that they're looking for.
"Don's got a great winning history," continued Toliver, whose NHRA career record shows five wins in 10 final rounds since 1998. "He's done a great job. He's built this organization over the last 10 years from one team to what it is today. To succeed in the real world, as in NHRA, you need all the help you can get and all the resources you can muster. With Schumacher Racing we have all the help and all the resources I think we need to have in order to make this car a championship contender."
"It is truly exciting to help synergize Jerry Toliver with Don Schumacher Racing, which now will generate massive brand visibility for us in all the right ways," said Jason May, Executive Vice President - Marketing,
Rockstar, Inc. "Don is a legend, he has an amazing presence within the sport, and has the top talent in the pits, which we need to propel Toliver onto the podium this year. Additionally, we are excited for our associate sponsorship of the dynamic drivers on Don's roster. Rockstar is very proud of this opportunity to sponsor some of the world’s most talented drivers. We are looking forward to a fruitful and exciting season, to say the least."
Said team owner Don Schumacher: "I've always said that NHRA drag racing needs personalities and characters in its driver lineup. And Jerry Toliver certainly fits that bill. He is also a veteran businessman and a talented race-car driver. He understands how this sport and business work, from every aspect, and that is a major asset to our team.
"We welcome Rockstar to DSR and, working together with Jerry and Phil Shuler, we promise we'll do our best to provide all the necessary resources for the Rockstar Dodge Charger R/T team to be a championship contender."
Rockstar is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the the potent herbal blends of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, Rockstar is scientifically formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles—from athletes to rock stars.
Since its introduction in 2001, when Rockstar created the first 16-ounce energy drink, the brand has experienced triple-digit growth year after year and firmly established itself as a major player in the beverage industry.
JERRY TOLIVER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
* Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing.
* Enjoyed his best season the same year, winning three events in seven final-round appearances, finishing a career-best third in the point69-91 standings.
* Finished in the Top 10 in the points standings twice (third in 2000, eighth in 1999).
* Returned to competition in 2007 after a two-year hiatus, qualifying in the top half of the field twice and setting top speed of the event in Denver (319.60 mph)
* Has five national event wins in 10 final rounds, since 1998, and a career round win-loss record of 69-91
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