NEWS RELEASE
John Force Racing Joins Advance Auto Parts in supporting
TechForce Foundation’s FutureTech Success® Initiative
Organizations will kick off expanded partnership at 2019 NHRA Mellow Yellow Drag Racing Series
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — October 10, 2019 — Advance Auto Parts, a major sponsor of John Force Racing, is bringing the team’s popularity and influence to TechForce Foundation®’s FutureTech Success Initiative, which seeks to educate young men and women, as well as their parents and influencers, about the myriad of opportunities existing in transportation technician careers. John Force Racing will support Advance and TechForce Foundation at races throughout the 2019 NHRA Mellow Yellow Drag Racing Series.
During the 2019 NHRA Mellow Yellow Drag Racing season, Advance Auto Parts, TechForce Foundation and John Force Racing will host local students enrolled in transportation technical programs for a day at the races. These students will be treated to special hospitality events at the John Force Racing pit with the opportunity to meet the team’s drivers. Through this event, students will see for themselves what it takes to be NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car superstars.
“It is imperative that we work as hard as possible to recruit and train the next generation of automotive technicians,” said Lauren Beaulieu, VP of Professional & Product Marketing at Advance Auto Parts. “Advance is proud to partner with John Force Racing to continue our support of TechForce Foundation’s FutureTech Success Initiative, giving young people the opportunity to see the many opportunities available to them when they choose a career in the automotive aftermarket.”
Developed by leading educational nonprofit 501(c)(3) TechForce Foundation, the FutureTech Success® initiative is an industry-wide effort driving tomorrow’s workforce of technicians by inspiring, supporting and connecting middle and high-school students and their influencers with the resources necessary to support their technical education and career development. Since joining in 2016 Advance Auto Parts has pledged $200,000 in support of the campaign.
“We are so excited to get involved with TechForce Foundation and their incredible FutureTech Success® initiative to solve the technician shortage,” said John Force. “This industry means so much to us and without our drivers and pit crew, none of this would be possible. It’s great that students came out to watch all that goes in to allowing us to race and do what we do best!”
“Experience is a key motivator in this industry, so having students out there in the pit atmosphere to watch what goes into transforming the Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars between races is inspiring,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO and Executive Director of TechForce Foundation. “Advance Auto Parts has been a fundamental connector in making this event happen for our students and we could not be more thankful! We are looking forward to continuing this great partnership with one of the biggest leaders in the industry!”
About John Force Racing
John Force Racing, Inc., based in Yorba Linda, Calif., and Brownsburg, Ind., is a professional sports dynasty, one that has earned 20 NHRA championships and claimed 278 professional victories in Funny Car (268) and Top Fuel (10). Led by team owner and driver John Force, a 16-time Funny Car world champion, 1996 Driver of the Year for all of American motor racing, 2011 International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, and driver of the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, JFR is additionally comprised of Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS driver Robert Hight, 2017 and 2009 Funny Car world champion and 2005 NHRA Rookie of the Year; Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel driver Brittany Force, 2017 Top Fuel world champion and 2013 NHRA Rookie of the Year; and Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist driver Austin Prock, 2019 Rookie of the Year candidate. For more information, please visit johnforceracing.com.
About Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of July 13, 2019, Advance operated 4,912 stores and 150 Worldpac branches in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company also serves 1,250 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands. Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.
About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $2.0 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and is spearheading FutureTech Success®, the industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit www.techforce.org.
Media Contacts
For Advance Auto Parts: Matt Johns, matt_johns@richards.com, 214-891-5707
For John Force Racing: Sara Slaughter, sara@johnforceracing.com, 951-212-9818
For TechForce Foundation: Mike Pressendo, mpressendo@techforce.org, 623-445-9354
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