Strutmasters
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
[edit]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]
Products
[edit]Strutmasters specializes in manufacturing air-to-non-air suspension conversion kits.[2][10] Strutmasters also offers solutions for fixing failed complex air, magnetic, electronic, and hydraulic suspension systems.[10]The company also sells parts for specific car brands and models.[4] It also sells suspension conversion kits for motorcycles.[1]
Strutmasters assembles its kits in-house at its Roxboro headquarters.[3] The company also packages DIY instructions with its products and hosts video tutorials for suspension replacement on its website.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Strustmasters Backing Foley Lewis Racing". speedsport. December 12, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "A FAN OF THE UNDERDOG, LOFTON MAKING HIS MARK IN DRAG RACING". competitionplus.com. 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ a b c "How Strutmasters Turned a Breakdown Into a Breakthrough". www.automoblog.com. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ a b c "After-Effects of Cobalt Poisoning to Sideline Key Nhra Sponsor Chip Lofton". competitionplus. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Camping World Truck Series Owner DeLoach Calls Timothy Peters 'Breath Of Fresh Air' | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Timothy Peters Signs with Red Horse Racing, Joined by His Crew Chief and Sponsor". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Truckin' Thursdays: The Secret To Red Horse Racing's 2012 Success". frontstretch.com. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "NASCAR Confirms Major 2025 Cup Series Calendar Change With Return Of Historic Track". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Strutmasters.com Backs Janette Thornley's Pro Fuel Harley Drag Bike". Drag Bike News. 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ a b c "Strutmasters.com to become co-primary sponsor of Clay Millican driven Top Fuel Dragster in 2019". NHRA. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "STRUTMASTERS JOINS AS SPONSOR FOR DAVE RICHARDS | Competition Plus". competitionplus. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Bo Butner and Strutmasters partner in Pro Stock for 2020". NHRA. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ a b c "NHRA Super-Sponsor Chip Lofton To Step Back After Three-Year Cobalt-Poisoning Battle". Dragzine. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Indy champ Scotty Pollacheck to carry Denso/Strutmasters into the new season". NHRA. Retrieved 2024-10-19.