Thu, 10 Dec 2009, 08:58 PM Mickey Thompson Named 'Official Tire' of National Guard ADRL

Courtesy of ADRL Communications

O'FALLON, Mo. --

Kenny Nowling, Carl Robinson & Brian Evans

The National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is proud to announce the naming of Mickey Thompson as the official tire for the eighth-mile drag racing series. In addition, Mickey Thompson will continue offering its extensive contingency sponsorship program to all five professional classes in the 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour.

"What this means is that it gives us a bigger venue and level of exposure for the brand," Mickey Thompson Motorsports Manager Carl Robinson says of the new official tire status. "It's all about getting the Mickey Thompson name out there, building relationships and increasing our market share on the race track and on the highways."

Robinson says National Guard ADRL race teams and fans also can look forward to additional tire and wheel support programs next year.

"It's an expansion of what we call the Team M/T initiative," he explains. "Basically, we have four areas of focus: Street, Strip, Truck and Off-Road, and although this initiative is part of our drag racing offering we want to tie it in to the other areas, too.

"It's our goal to become the tire of choice for everyone who attends an ADRL event, from the racers to the fan who arrives in his light truck or SUV to someone looking to put some high-performance tires on their street car. It's all part of an overall marketing plan."

Working with the National Guard ADRL makes implementing the plan that much easier, too, Robinson adds.

"It's great to have a sanctioning body that understands what we're trying to do and is willing to work with us at a high level to achieve our goals," he says. "It's all about cross promotion and partnership and the people at the ADRL get that."

Newly appointed National Guard ADRL Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brian Evans says he appreciates the confidence Mickey Thompson and Robinson is demonstrating in the series.

"We are thrilled to have another industry leader like Mickey Thompson increase its support of the ADRL and believe it's a testament to the hard work of everyone on both sides of the partnership," Evans says. "Most importantly, though, I think Mickey Thompson's increased involvement will greatly benefit our race teams, which always remains our first priority."

PHOTO CUTLINE ADRL_MT2.jpg National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling (left) joins Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brian Evans (right) in announcing Mickey Thompson as the official tire of the eighth-mile drag racing series with Mickey Thompson Motorsports Manager Carl Robinson. ABOUT MICKEY THOMPSON PERFORMANCE TIRES & WHEELS Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels designs, develops, and markets racing and high-performance tires for drag-racing cars and motorcycles, modified street cars, off-road race vehicles, modified pick-up trucks, Jeeps, 4x4s and sport utility vehicles. The company, founded in 1963 by racing legend Mickey Thompson, is headquartered in Stow, Ohio, and offers a wide range of tires and wheels in unique sizes to enhance the look and performance of these specialty high-performance and racing vehicles. For more information, visit www.mickeythompsontires.com, or visit the new Mickey Thompson TV at www.mickeythompsontv.com. ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD The National Guard is the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation's longest enduring institutions. The National Guard operates in all 50 states, three territories (Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia. For more information on the National Guard, visit www.NationalGuard.com. ABOUT THE ADRL Based in O'Fallon, Missouri, the American Drag Racing League is the nation's premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous, and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour consists of 10 national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us. -- END --