John Force Racing Partners With Simpson Performance Products in Multi-Year Safety Initiative

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Simpson Performance Products and John Force Racing have reached an agreement naming Simpson as the official safety gear for John Force Racing, beginning with the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle season. The partnership between the two companies will further the safety initiatives undertaken by The Eric Medlen Project, a safety initiative that grew out of the tragedy that claimed the life of promising young driver, Eric Medlen.

Additionally, discussions are underway between JFR and Simpson to move some personnel to Brownsburg, IN to grow the effect and influence of The Eric Medlen Project and safety programs in motorsports. The Eric Medlen Project has been responsible for many of the safety innovations that now are mandated by the NHRA in Funny Car and Top Fuel. A worldwide leader in the manufacture of racing safety equipment including helmets, gloves, firesuits and parachutes, Simpson will operate as a "safety partner" with JFR, working with John Medlen and The Eric Medlen Project.

Commenting on the partnership, Chuck Davies, CEO of Simpson said, "Simpson looks forward to working closely with the Force Team and The Eric Medlen Project. Working together and sharing our knowledge and engineering resources with John Force Racing will lead to better, safer products for racers. Everyone at Simpson is very proud to be associated with John, his family and the entire team. John's sixteen Funny Car championships as a driver and owner are a powerful testimony to his leadership and ability. When Force Racing wants to make something better, it happens. John wants to win with safety as a top priority which is good for everyone in racing."

"I like and trust the folks at Simpson," said team owner John Force. "I have worked with Dave Nelson for twenty years on my suits. Dave and his people are the best in the business.  For fifteen years, Allen and Debbie Bridges have attended every NHRA Full Throttle event with the traveling Simpson trailer providing support, onsite service and a full complement of Simpson gear. We take safety seriously at John Force Racing. I asked for a safety company to step up and provide more than helmets and firesuits, and Simpson did that. That is why we are partnering with Simpson Performance Products."

About Simpson Performance Products

Since 1959, Simpson Performance Products (www.teamsimpson.com) has been manufacturing a complete line of products for racing safety, including drag parachutes, the flagship Simpson product. That is over 50 years of being the dominant brand in racing safety, protecting the driver and crew from head to toe with helmets, Nomex® firesuits, restraints, shoes and gloves. Simpson firesuits, team apparel and sublimated shirts are created at our 53,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Harbor City, CA. Helmets, restraints and parachutes are manufactured at our 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in New Braunfels, TX. Simpson offers trackside race support at all NHRA Full Throttle races.

About John Force Racing, Inc.

John Force Racing, Inc. (www.johnforceracing.com) is a professional sports dynasty spanning 35 years, one that has earned 16 Funny Car championships and claimed over 185 funny car tour victories. Led by team owner and driver John Force, the most prolific winner in NHRA history, JFR's driver lineup also includes 2009 Full Throttle Funny Car champion Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club Ford Mustang; 2009 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Ashley Force, driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang; and Brittany and Courtney Force, who compete in the Top Alcohol Dragster division.

SOURCE Simpson Performance Products