Fri, 7 Mar 2003, 06:53 PM Todd Paton Returns to the Funny Car Cockpit in Gainesville with Chill Factor Performance

Courtesy of Chill Factor Performance

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Canadian Funny Car veteran, Todd Paton, will return to action behind the wheel of the Paton Racing/Chill Factor Performance 6,000 horsepower fuel flopper at the upcoming 34th annual NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals at infamous Gainesville Raceway, March 13-16. The historic Florida facility is where the 33-year-old Paton made his stunning transition from a successful stint in the Alcohol Funny Car class to nitro Funny Cars in 2000.

Paton reached the semifinals in his successful debut at Gainesville Raceway in 2000, a season that was highlighted by qualifying in the No. 1 position in Funny Car for the inaugural race at "the Strip" in Las Vegas. Paton skipped the 2001 POWERade Drag Racing season and moved his family to Tennessee and opened a second race shop. With the help of his famous racing father, Barry, and his brother, Tony, the Paton family returned to the quarter mile in 2002. The married father of two competed at 21 NHRA races, qualifying at 14 events, and recording a career-best elapsed time of 4.876 seconds. A heavy financial underdog, Paton won four rounds in 2002, defeating such Funny Car heavyweights as John Force, Ron Capps and Dean Skuza during eliminations.

Now Paton Racing is returning to competition at the NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals with a major one-race sponsorship deal with Chill Factor Performance Inc., out of South Florida. Chill Factor is the major supplier of a full line of air/fuel temperature and body control products currently being used by some of the finest racers and firefighters in the world. Chill Factor Motorsports Director, Ken Collins, also secured one-race associate sponsorship from both Phil Deems Real Estate and All American Lube of Boca Raton for the Gatornationals.

Paton will receive additional co-sponsorship from Mac Tools, Lucas Oil Products and Crosbie Industrial Services Inc., throughout the season. The team will run the same Chevy Camaro body from last season with a fresh new paint scheme. "We plan to run a selected number of events on the NHRA POWERade tour this year," commented Paton, "we just have to figure out a good schedule that is beneficial to both our sponsors and all of our fans."

"We're excited to welcome Chill Factor as part of the Paton Racing heritage and we hope to put on a good show for everyone at the Gatornationals."

NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Apr 09- POMONA 1 - Thursday Schedule
Apr 08- Hood Scoops Set to Return to NHRA Pro Stock Category in 2027
Apr 07- PowerEdge Returns as Presenting Sponsor of DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway
Apr 07- GESi Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Award Returns for 2026 Season
Apr 06- POMONA 1 - Funny Car Preview
Apr 02- Revchem Composites Plays Critical Role in Ron Capps Motorsports' Continued Success
Apr 01- Second Wave of NHRA 75th Anniversary Commemorative Tickets Include Wealth of Legends
Mar 30- CHARLOTTE - Event Preview
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - Super Gas Round 5 Eliminations
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - HEMI Chootout Round 3 Eliminations