Valvoline Becomes Official Lubricants Partner of Hendrick Motorsports

Valvoline, one of the largest producers of motor oil in the United States, has announced a new partnership with NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports in 2014.

The new multi-year agreement through 2017 will see Valvoline featured as a prominent associate sponsor on the four cars driven by Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne. Valvoline will also be the preferred oil for the Hendrick Automotive Group, the fleet of dealers owned by Hendrick Motorsports team boss Rick Hendrick.

Valvoline has past history with Hendrick – it was a lubricant technology partner for Gordon’s first three full seasons in Cup from 1993 to 1995 – and Hendrick himself won his first drag race at age 14 with Valvoline in the car.

Valvoline has long been associated with Roush Fenway Racing, notably on Mark Martin‘s No. 6 Ford and more recently with its green Valvoline NextGen brand featured on the No. 17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth and this year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. It has also been on the No. 13 Germain Racing Ford driven by Casey Mearsthis year.

“The Valvoline team is thrilled to partner with Hendrick Motorsports and continue the long history of winning on the track for both organizations,” said Sam Mitchell, president of Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline). “Both companies have a strong heritage and similar values with employees driven by hard work, commitment to innovation and passion for cars. This is going to be an exciting and great relationship.”

When I was 14 years old, I won my first drag race with Valvoline in the car,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. “It’s an innovative American brand that has great racing heritage and a winning history with our organization. This is the company that basically invented motor oil, and we’re excited about having them as a corporate sponsor and hands-on technology partner.