Torco pulls out of Drag Racing
Today is a very dark day in drag racing.
Torco Race Fuels has been the single largest sponsor in NHRA Drag Racing over the last few years. Evan Knoll has a heart the size of Texas, and has given opportunities to so many different racers over the years that would never had a fighting chance otherwise. Walking around an NHRA or IHRA event, its hard NOT to find a car that doesn't have some form of Torco/Knoll sticker on in some fashion. Torco has even helped us here at Horsepower & Heels Racing with a fuel sponsorship.
But yesterday, his flagship team, Mike Ashley's Gotham City Funny Car operation, announced that they were seeking a title sponsor. Not only is Mike one of the most successful and the original teams of Evan's Torco empire, but Mike is also a very close personal friend of Evan's. His announcement was the most unexpected, shocking news that could've hit. And it started a firestorm of speculation.
Evan had been suffering from a head injury he sustained from a car wreck several years back, and had announced earlier on his myspace page, that he was seeking treatment to help with recurring problems. Though most knew of his accident, I do not think many knew of his ongoing struggles with it.
Today, Torco released their Official Statement, confirming the rumors that Torco Race Fuels and all their entities were pulling out of their team sponsorships for 2008. Torco CFO, Latrell, also shared more grave concern for Evan in his interview with Competition Plus, the Torco backed drag news site.
The fallout of this action is staggering. The short list of those affected include Mike Ashley, Melanie Troxel, Dale Creasy, Scotty Cannon, Matt Hagan, Matt & Rickie Smith, Clay Millican, Jessie Harris, Dave Connelly, Mick Snyder, Gary Densham and I'm sure a score of others that I'm missing. I do not recall a single event in motorsports quite this wide-spread.
But what is important is that someone who has championed the cause of drag racing and single handedly given birth to so many opportunities out of a love for the sport seems to be in serious medical condition. Prayers are with Evan Knoll for a speedy recovery. It seems that we do not have the full story of what is going on and it hitting so suddenly, but what is important is that we keep this man in our thoughts and prayers as gratitude for all he has done for the sport already.
Torco Race Fuels has been the single largest sponsor in NHRA Drag Racing over the last few years. Evan Knoll has a heart the size of Texas, and has given opportunities to so many different racers over the years that would never had a fighting chance otherwise. Walking around an NHRA or IHRA event, its hard NOT to find a car that doesn't have some form of Torco/Knoll sticker on in some fashion. Torco has even helped us here at Horsepower & Heels Racing with a fuel sponsorship.But yesterday, his flagship team, Mike Ashley's Gotham City Funny Car operation, announced that they were seeking a title sponsor. Not only is Mike one of the most successful and the original teams of Evan's Torco empire, but Mike is also a very close personal friend of Evan's. His announcement was the most unexpected, shocking news that could've hit. And it started a firestorm of speculation.
Evan had been suffering from a head injury he sustained from a car wreck several years back, and had announced earlier on his myspace page, that he was seeking treatment to help with recurring problems. Though most knew of his accident, I do not think many knew of his ongoing struggles with it.Today, Torco released their Official Statement, confirming the rumors that Torco Race Fuels and all their entities were pulling out of their team sponsorships for 2008. Torco CFO, Latrell, also shared more grave concern for Evan in his interview with Competition Plus, the Torco backed drag news site.
The fallout of this action is staggering. The short list of those affected include Mike Ashley, Melanie Troxel, Dale Creasy, Scotty Cannon, Matt Hagan, Matt & Rickie Smith, Clay Millican, Jessie Harris, Dave Connelly, Mick Snyder, Gary Densham and I'm sure a score of others that I'm missing. I do not recall a single event in motorsports quite this wide-spread.
But what is important is that someone who has championed the cause of drag racing and single handedly given birth to so many opportunities out of a love for the sport seems to be in serious medical condition. Prayers are with Evan Knoll for a speedy recovery. It seems that we do not have the full story of what is going on and it hitting so suddenly, but what is important is that we keep this man in our thoughts and prayers as gratitude for all he has done for the sport already.
Posted by Erica Ortiz on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 4:08 PM | Permalink 
The headline should read "Torco Racing Fuels pulls out of Drag Racing" Torco Int'l Corp. the manufacturers of "Torco Oil" and the owners of the name "Torco" in the motorsports industry has all of its 2008 sponsorship in place. Torco is not pulling out of any of the many facets of racing they are involved in. Torco has been in the racing industry for 58 years and is going strong. I just don't want people to be confused by the headline.
Posted by
Ernie |
1/11/2008 12:13 AM
why is he pulling out of the drag racing part then? dont
confuse us drag racing fan what are we to expect?
Posted by
Anonymous |
1/19/2008 12:23 PM
The official Torco Race Fuels release sites Evan's health as the primary reason behind the pull-out.
Drag Racing fans can expect to see some of their favorite teams struggling in this month before the season starts to find new funding so that they will be able to continue on without Torco. Some may be parked indefinitely.
Posted by
Erica Ortiz |
1/19/2008 1:17 PM
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