CORNELIUS, N.C. — Toyota Racing Development officials announced a new relationship with Apex Tool Group on Tuesday that makes the company the official hand tool, power tool and storage of TRD.
The multi-year agreement was revealed at the Toyota Performance Center, a training facility for TRD drivers located here.
As part of the arrangement, Apex Tool Group’s Crescent Tools brand will be featured as a primary sponsor on Toyota vehicles in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series.
“Racing has been something that has been really essential to our customers in terms of their entertainment. They love racing, they’re excited about it,” said Curt Weber, Crescent Tools vice president of marketing. “We were looking for ways to amplify the brand message and presence we decided to reach out to the folks at Toyota Racing and they put together a really compelling proposal.”
The sponsorship agreements include a four-race primary placement on Corey Heim’s No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and a 12-race agreement as primary sponsor on Jesse Love’s No. 20 Venturini Motorsports Toyota in the ARCA Menards Series.
Lastly, the Crescent Tools brand will expand into grassroots racing by serving as the primary sponsor of the No. 08 Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports entry driven by Cannon McIntosh in 40 USAC and POWRi midget events across the United States.
“For us this is a great opportunity. We’re always excited to bring on new partners,” said Toyota Racing Development General Manager Tyler Gibbs. “For us, building on the relationships we have with drivers, with partners, with teams, with our customers, with our dealers, that’s kind of what we are. So for us to add to the family, I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for us.”
This is not the Apex Tool Group’s first foray into NASCAR or motorsports. The company also owns several other brands, including GEARWRENCH, which had been involved as a primary sponsor in the NASCAR Cup Series for Chip Ganassi Racing and RFK Racing in past years.
GEARWRENCH has also been named a primary sponsor of Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang.