It may be either the worst-kept secret in drag racing or just the most obvious of partnerships-in-the-making, but we’re hearing that John Force Racing will announce a new major sponsorship agreement with PEAK Auto at the upcoming Toyota NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas.

PEAK, a brand heavily involved in motorsports marketing, joined John Force Racing as a major associate sponsor on all four of the team cars, including the Ford Mustang Funny Cars of 16-time champion John Force, daughter Courtney Force, and Robert Hight, as well as the Top Fuel dragster of Brittany Force, at the beginning of the 2014 NHRA season. PEAK served as the primary sponsor of Top Fuel racer T.J Zizzo’s part-time operation from 2005 to 2013 before departing to join Force’s mega-team — without question the most visible and marketable team in drag racing.

Said Bryan Emrich, Chief Marketing Officer for Old World Industries at the time: “We’re proud to expand our support of the NHRA and its fans through our new relationship with John Force Racing. Partnering with JFR, a respected organization with a history of success, was a natural fit for PEAK, BlueDEF and our family of automotive products. We’re looking forward to a longstanding, winning relationship together.”

With PEAK’s prior involvement as a major backer in the sport and their high-profile new deal with Force, there has been no more likely a suitor for one or both of the team cars presently carrying Castrol backing. A no-brainer, if you will. Whether the deal would support both Force and daughter Brittany’s dragster, and for how many races per season, are not yet known. As well, it’s unknown which auto manufacturer, if any, will step in to replace Ford, which also announced last year that it would be exiting professional drag racing at the close of the 2014 season.

Photo courtesy NHRA/National Dragster