Robertson and Eaton TA/FC Team Score First NHRA North Central Region Championship

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

 

HARRISON TWP, Mich. (November 25, 2015) – Todd Robertson and his Eaton Corporation team had little experience with flip-top Funny Cars when they entered NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car competition in 2012. The former Outlaw Pro Mod standout admits he still has a lot to learn, but Robertson has progressed significantly in four years of competition. He kicked off the 2015 season with his first TA/FC win and went on to win the season championship in the NHRA North Central Region.

Robertson started the year with high expectations after reaching the final round at the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in 2014. The Michigan native picked up his first-ever NHRA Wally when he drove his Eaton Monte Carlo to the winner's circle at the season-opening Lucas Oil Series North Central regional event in Indy.

“We left everything pretty much untouched from the year before since we did well at the U.S. Nationals in the fall. That strategy worked out for us. It was a crazy weekend because the parachutes kept going underneath the car, then I had no brakes or parachutes in the final so I ended up in the gravel. The winner's circle photos were taken after we towed the car back and dusted off the body,” Robertson remembers of the exciting weekend.

The Eaton/Aeroquip team continued their success at the next race at Norwalk. Racing in front of a sold-out Summit Motorsports Park crowd, Robertson again raced to the final round, this time falling to west coast sensation Doug Gordon because of an engine failure. Robertson struggled with early round losses at the next three races, but maintained his lead.

“We had the regional points lead all season long,” Robertson said. “After Columbus we shared the points lead with Paul Noakes until we passed him at the next race at St. Louis, where we passed him by only whatever points we received for going through tech inspection. We had issues with the car and didn't qualify.”

Robertson's season picked back up at the Bowling Green event, though. Despite the fact that the Beech Bend Raceway track was new to Todd and his team, led by crew chief Dennis Kolomyjec, the Eaton Top Alcohol Funny Car went on to another final round. Robertson clinched the championship at the Earlville race, where he qualified number two, a career-best qualifying position.

The 2015 NHRA Lucas Oil Series North Central Region championship is a coveted title for Robertson, not just because of the ultra-competitive nature of the class, but also because his team is so new to the class.

“This was our fourth year doing this. We came here with no prior background in alcohol Funny Car. Nobody knew us. We did it with no hired leadership. It's been a great learning experience. To go on and win the regional championship...I don't even dream that big.

“There are a lot of big racers that we race against, a lot of second-generation drivers. I had never even touched an alcohol Funny Car before I bought one four years ago. It's been a whole lot of learning. That's the challenge that I love, learning how to make everything work together. We pretty much do everything from one end of the car to the other; that's the only way to understand and successfully race these things. A lot of time and a lot of energy from a great bunch of people go into this.”

Todd Robertson and the Eaton Corporation/Aeroquip Top Alcohol Funny Car team will celebrate their first championship title at the NHRA North Central awards banquet, December 12, in Indianapolis.

ProPower Motorsports is a NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car team owned by driver Todd Robertson. Based in Harrison Township, Michigan, the team competes in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national events and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional events throughout the Midwest. The Eaton Corporation-backed driver also receives support from Aeroquip, DMPE, Lucas Oil Products, PAC Springs, Total Seal, CV Products, Safety Kleen, Clevite Bearings, Mike Nabor Fabrication, Line to Line Coatings, and Jax Wax.

Robertson's Eaton TAFC Headed to Matco Summer Showdown at Cordova

Courtesy of Kozak Motorsports Marketing
Photo courtesy of Jody Wilson

Harrison TWP. MI. …  In their last outing at the Division three event in Jolliet, Ill. the Eaton TA/FC team of Todd Robertson was able to crack the tough eight car field but went out early to former TAD World Champion Jay Payne in round one.

 “Jay Payne is an impressive racer. He’s won a ton of races in the Top Alcohol ranks. We knew we were a long shot against him but, we gave it our best shot. We’ve got no excuses and we don’t need any. We are on a steep learning curve and we keep inching our way up each time out,” said Crew Chief, Dennis Kolomyjec.

 This weekend the Eaton Funny Car team is headed to Cordova, IL for the fourth of six NHRA North Central Regional events.

The Matco Tools Summer Showdown presented by Clinton Harley-Davidson is this Friday and Saturday, June 21 & 22 at Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova, IL. Racing will begin on Friday morning with time trials and qualifying for the NHRA classes. Then beginning at 5 PM the powerful Supercharged Funny Cars, Nitro Injected Dragsters and Nitro Top Fuel Harley-Davidson classes will take center stage for two qualifying sessions. The action then increases on Saturday with final time trials, qualifying and into eliminations. Headlining the Saturday evening show is a variety of feature cars and classes including West Coast based Nitro Fueled Altereds, Nostalgia Pro Stocks, Harley-Davidson Classes, NHRA Supercharged Funny Cars, Injected Nitro Dragsters and more! To follow all the action, log onto http://www.dragracecentral.com  or you can follow along at NHRA.com

Eaton is a diversified power management company providing energy-efficient solutions that help customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power. A global technology leader, Eaton acquired Cooper Industries plc in November 2012. The 2012 revenue of the combined companies was $21.8 billion on a pro forma basis. Eaton has approximately 103,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries.

Eaton To Sponsor Todd Robertson's TAFC Effort

Courtesy of Rob Kozak

MAUMEE, Ohio ... Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced its sponsorship of owner/driver Todd Robertson and his National Hot Rod Association's Pro Power Racing team in its new Top Alcohol Funny car class beginning February 2012.

A longtime supporter of competitive drag racing, Eaton will act as Robertson's primary sponsor also providing product support to Pro Power Racing.

Robertson's car has a Brad Hadman chassis with a Chevrolet Monte Carlo body and is equipped with Aeroquip Performance hoses and fittings for fuel, oil, vacuum and brake lines. Eaton will also support the team with toggle switches for electrical controls and data acquisition and tubing and fittings for fuel management.

"Todd's racing ventures have been an effective marketing tool for Eaton for several years," said Mike Rasnick, Eaton sales manager. "We are happy to help him take the leap into one of NHRA's most competitive classes."

With the help of Eaton products, Robertson fielded some of the quickest and fastest door slammers in the Midwest, including his first series championship in 2010. The jump from a door car to an alky flopper will be a challenge that the Harrison Township, Michigan, racer is eager to take.

"While the drivetrain for our door car is very similar to that of a Top Alcohol Funny Car, that's about where the similarities end," Robertson said. "Even though a door car looks violent as it dances down the track, it requires the driver to turn the steering wheel with finesse to get from point A to point B. A funny car requires manhandling the wheel to keep it in the groove. With Eaton's support, I am ready for the challenge and can't wait for the offseason to be over."

"Eaton is excited to support Todd in this level of competitive racing with its high-quality StartLite racing hose and fittings," said Eric Durrant, business development manager---Aeroquip Performance Products by Eaton. Eaton products will help give Todd and other racers a competitive advantage in the form of reduced weight, as well as increased safety with our flame-resistant hose cover."

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 73,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit http://www.eaton.com/.