Strutmasters

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Strutmasters is an American automotive parts manufacturer that specializes in suspension parts. It was founded by Chip Lofton in 1999 and is headquartered in Roxboro, North Carolina. [1] [2] Strutmasters invented an air-to-coil suspension conversion kits. [2] [3]

History

Chip Lofton founded Strutmasters in 1999. [1] [2] Lofton initially began operations for Strutmasters in a barn on his goat farm after receiving requests to convert cars to a conventional suspension after he fixed the same issue on his Lincoln Continental. [2] Lofton went on to move operations for Strutmasters into a factory and eventually into a modern facility in Roxboro. [4]

Strutmasters sponsored the No. 17 truck driven by Timothy Peters in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series from  2009 to 2012. [5] [6] [7]

In 2015, Strutmasters sponsored the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Strutmasters.com 199 at Bowman Gray Stadium. [8]

In 2019, Strutmasters signed on as a major associate sponsor for NHRA Top Fuel racer Doug Foley. [1] In the same year, the company also signed on as a sponsor for professional Pro Fuel motorcycle racer Janette Thornley. [9]

Strutmasters also became the co-primary sponsor for NHRA Top Fuel’s Stringer Performance team and its driver, Clay Millican, replacing Great Clips as the racing team’s sponsor. [10] Strutmasters also joined Nitro Funny Car driver Dave Richards as a sponsor for the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals. [11]

Strutmasters sponsored former NHRA Pro Stock champion Bo Butner for the 2020 season of NHRA's Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. [12] Lofton sold Strutmasters in August 2020, remaining as a partner in the company. [13]

A year later, he would step back from his business projects due to contracting cobalt poisoning. [13] [4] Strutmasters has also funded NHRA race car drivers such as Pro Modified racer Wally Stroupe, and Top Fuel racers Justin Ashley, Lex Joon, and Audrey Worm. [2] [13]

Strutmasters also sponsored NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle racer Scotty Pollacheck. [14]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Strustmasters Backing Foley Lewis Racing". speedsport. December 12, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "A FAN OF THE UNDERDOG, LOFTON MAKING HIS MARK IN DRAG RACING". competitionplus.com. 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  3. ↑ "How Strutmasters Turned a Breakdown Into a Breakthrough". www.automoblog.com. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  4. 1 2 "After-Effects of Cobalt Poisoning to Sideline Key Nhra Sponsor Chip Lofton". competitionplus. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  5. ↑ "Camping World Truck Series Owner DeLoach Calls Timothy Peters 'Breath Of Fresh Air' | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  6. ↑ "Timothy Peters Signs with Red Horse Racing, Joined by His Crew Chief and Sponsor". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  7. ↑ "Truckin' Thursdays: The Secret To Red Horse Racing's 2012 Success". frontstretch.com. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  8. ↑ "NASCAR Confirms Major 2025 Cup Series Calendar Change With Return Of Historic Track". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  9. ↑ "Strutmasters.com Backs Janette Thornley's Pro Fuel Harley Drag Bike". Drag Bike News. 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  10. ↑ "Strutmasters.com to become co-primary sponsor of Clay Millican driven Top Fuel Dragster in 2019". NHRA. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  11. ↑ "STRUTMASTERS JOINS AS SPONSOR FOR DAVE RICHARDS | Competition Plus". competitionplus. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  12. ↑ "Bo Butner and Strutmasters partner in Pro Stock for 2020". NHRA. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  13. 1 2 3 "NHRA Super-Sponsor Chip Lofton To Step Back After Three-Year Cobalt-Poisoning Battle". Dragzine. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  14. ↑ "Indy champ Scotty Pollacheck to carry Denso/Strutmasters into the new season". NHRA. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
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