John Force Racing, Inc., CEO John Force announced today the hiring of JMI as a strategic partner to help facilitate his pursuit of new sponsorship opportunities.

Force was joined by executives from JMI at a press conference in advance of the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals.

“I have been at a crossroads a few times in my career,” Force said.  “In the early days, I was in the Midwest, broke, planning to give up my dream of racing when an opportunity to match race materialized.  In 2007, I was at a crossroads when we lost Eric Medlen and when I crashed six months later.  Doctors told me I would be lucky to walk again but I came back in 2010 and won my 15th NHRA Funny Car Championship.

 
John Force Racing, Inc., CEO John Force announced today the hiring of JMI as a strategic partner to help facilitate his pursuit of new sponsorship opportunities.

Force was joined by executives from JMI at a press conference in advance of the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals.

“I have been at a crossroads a few times in my career,” Force said.  “In the early days, I was in the Midwest, broke, planning to give up my dream of racing when an opportunity to match race materialized.  In 2007, I was at a crossroads when we lost Eric Medlen and when I crashed six months later.  Doctors told me I would be lucky to walk again but I came back in 2010 and won my 15th NHRA Funny Car Championship.

“Now, I am at a new crossroads as I look for new primary sponsors for the first time in 25 years. I might have to start selling products to the competition something I never thought I would do if I don’t find another manufacturer,” acknowledged the 2012 inductee into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.  “I have never been on the open market and I feel like hiring JMI gives me the best chance to continue to grow my company.  I have great partners in Auto Club, Traxxas, Mac Tools and Freightliner, but this is an expensive sport and to be the best you need funding.”

“One thing I want to make clear moving forward, we have great partners through 2014 and we will be racing for more championships for them,” said Force. “Castrol and Ford deserve to have our full focus until the end of 2014 so we do not intend to discuss any major sponsorship developments until after the 2014 season.”

JMI is the world’s largest motorsports marketing agency, harnessing the marketing power of motorsports to create business solutions for some of the world’s most successful corporations and brands.    

“John Force is a drag racing icon and we’re honored to represent his legendary organization,” said Jon Flack, COO & President, Americas, JMI. “This partnership is exciting for our business and a great fit because we both eat, sleep and breathe, racing. We understand the challenges and opportunities in motorsports, and have a great responsibility as the team works towards the future.”

Through the multi-year agreement, JMI will work with the JFR marketing team to find primary sponsorship for Force, pro drag racing’s winningest driver, and his daughter Brittany Force.