Nextant Signs two-year commitment in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Cleveland-based Nextant Aerospace, the world leader in business aircraft remanufacturing, today announced it will join ThorSport Racing for the 2014 and 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series seasons. The No. 98 Nextant Aerospace Toyota Tundra, piloted by championship contender Johnny Sauter, is due to take flight as primary sponsor beginning in Daytona for a total of 12 races per season as well as associate sponsorship throughout the duration of the alliance.
Nextant President Sean McGeough predicts a dynamic partnership:
“Sponsoring ThorSport is more than just a business tie-up: we’re both passionate about innovative technology – and about keeping ahead of the competition. Now we’re backing them on the race track just as we back their new Nextant 400XTi jet wherever they fly.”
As ThorSport’s pilot of the No. 98, Sauter is just as optimistic about the relationship:
“I am excited to represent Nextant Aerospace, a company that understands our drive to a championship,” Sauter said. “To have them join our organization as we continue to test our limits seems like the perfect arrangement. And most important, Nextant seems to have the same bold spirit as my driving – the will to win drives us every day.”
Nextant and ThorSport Racing are proud of their shared Ohio heritage. For ThorSport, its geographical location far from the majority of other teams in North Carolina, makes the organizations NASCAR success including 12 wins, 110 top-5, 245 top-10 finishes and 14 pole awards, all the more significant. To make its competitive efforts more efficient, ThorSport Racing has acquired a Nextant 400XTi to support racing logistics.
Both companies have a reputation as entrepreneurial organizations whose independent thinking and pioneering attitude differentiate them from the competition. Together they intend to reinforce each others brands, performance and sales.
“It makes perfect sense,” said Duke Thorson, owner of ThorSport Racing. “Two Ohio-based companies both focused on building their businesses, selling aircraft, and winning in their respective industries. Together, we will build brand identity for Nextant Aerospace in the motorsports world while continuing to run for championships.”
The truck was unveiled today, in Las Vegas, Nevada at The Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. One of the premier aviation events of the year, the partnership between Nextant Aerospace and TSR was introduced to 25,000 attendees, over 100 journalists and more than 45 media partners. The truck will make its on-track debut February 21, 2014 at Daytona International Speedway, where Sauter is the defending race winner.
“The controlled combination of power and speed is always exciting, whether you’re racing a truck or building the world’s fastest light business jet. On the ground and in the air, to stay in front you need imagination and a lot of great engineering. We’re looking forward to some winning experiences with ThorSport,” says McGeough.
“TSR is working closely with Nextant Aerospace to introduce them to the NASCAR nation, its sponsors and drivers as well as multiple other forms of motorsports,” stated Matthew LaNeve, Vice President of Sales for TSR. “Our sport is fueled by partner growth, and TSR is poised to help make the introductions that keep our Series growing and thriving through 2015.”
About ThorSport Racing
ThorSport Racing, based in a state-of-the-art 100,000 square-foot facility in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport has run full-season Truck Series schedules annually since 1998. In 2013, their field consists of the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by Matt Crafton and the No. 98 Carolina Nut Co./Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Sauter. Additionally, the team fields the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota Camry driven by Frank Kimmel in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Kimmel secured his 10th ARCA Championship in 2013, along with breaking the all-time win record (80 wins) in the season finale.
About Nextant Aerospace
Nextant Aerospace is recognized as the first company in the world to introduce aircraft remanufacturing to the business jet market. The Nextant 400XTi is a completely-rebuilt Beechjet 400A/XP with Williams FJ44-3AP engines and the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated avionics suite. The new aircraft also has major aerodynamic enhancements and an improved engine mounting configuration with resigned nacelles and pylons. The 400XTi is delivered with a two-year full-aircraft warranty and after-sales support provided by a global network of owned and authorized service centres. Founded in 2007, Nextant is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Nextant is a Directional Aviation Capital company. For more information, please visit www.nextantaerospace.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @nextantaero or join us on LinkedIn.