Funny Car’s Lesenko, PSM Riders Smith, Ray Pick Up New Sponsors

Unless you were a drag racing fan spending your weekend living under a rock, no doubt you witnessed the multitude of replays of Funny Car driver Todd Lesenko and team owner Jim Dunn’s expensive weekend at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

Lesenko, a second-year nitro pilot on the professional level who previously excelled in the nostalgia ranks, rode out not one, but two fiery, highlight-reel explosions that destroyed two bodies, sending the shattered remains flying high into the Indianapolis sky. Although Lesenko was a little more confident in his post-crash interview on the ESPN2 cameras, Dunn, the bean counter of the bunch, wasn’t quite so sure the team would have the resources to make it to Charlotte this weekend.

However, thanks to the addition of new sponsor Eco-Absorb, that joins ongoing primary and associate sponsors Grime Boss Hand Wipes and Tap-It Brewing, Lesenko and Dunn will be back at it less than a week after their tough Indy outing. Eco-Absorb, a manufacturer of environmentally friendly spill cleanup products targeted at do-it-yourself mechanics, service centers, hardware stores, and other markets and retailers, will adorn the team’s Dodge Funny Car body in the company’s predominantly green colors.

“Indy obviously had its highs and lows, but we’ve determined the source of the engine failure, and the team re-grouped with new parts, and a new body for our sponsor this weekend, Eco-Absorb” said Lesenko.  “The car is running much quicker and faster and our goal is to qualify and win rounds at Charlotte this weekend to provide great exposure for Eco-Absorb as well as associate sponsors Grime Boss, Tap It, Lincoln Tech and others.”

In other sponsor news, 2007 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion and Countdown qualifier Matt Smith, along with Gottspeed Racing with rider Michael Ray — also seeded into the Countdown — revealed on Thursday a new backer for the remainder of the 2012 season. The Viper Motorcycle Co., maker of a trio of high-performance and stylish American-made motorcycles, has stepped up to a primary sponsorship role with Smith and Ray after first becoming involved in the sport back in Gainesville when both riders began running the Viper logo on their motorcycles.

“I excited to be a member of Team Viper,” said Ray. “They build an awesome motorcycle that offers both style and performance. My goal this weekend and the rest of the season is to go rounds and hopefully win my first race.”
“I have ridden a lot of bikes, but the Viper Diamondback is a kick in the pants,“ said Smith. “The Ilmor engine produces unbelievable power and performance. zMAX is my home track, so I want to put on a good show for both Viper and the hometown fans. We would love to be in the finals Sunday afternoon with Michael.”