MIDLAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hear that engine purr? We’ve come a long way from horse-and-buggy transportation. Now our horsepower is found under the hood, and Dow is helping keep our vehicles running stronger, safer and lighter with innovations that enhance your car from engine to trunk.
And who better to test and prove Dow’s technologies than some of the fastest drivers on Earth? Through a partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), Dow is able to develop technologies that are really put to the test under the most extreme driving conditions available.
“Dow and RCR share a passion for innovation and technology,” said Joe Harlan, executive vice president for Dow. “Partnerships like this help us strengthen and enhance our customer collaboration, research and development, and engagement with consumers who are ultimately the deciding force behind new innovations for our brand owner customers.”
Driving Consumer Engagement
Dow recently launched the “Gaps and Tracks” sweepstakes to provide one grand prize winner the opportunity to meet Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet SS car, and participate as an honorary pit crew member during the night race in Bristol, Tennessee on August 23. To enter, fans must purchase a GREAT STUFF™ product online or at a local home improvement store and enter the product code at www.greatstuffsweepstakes.com1.
“Dow and RCR are companies that both pursue high performance solutions,” said Tim Lacey, Dow Building Solutions business director. “This sweepstakes is exciting because it encourages homeowners to improve their homes’ energy efficiency quickly and inexpensively, with a chance to be entered to win an awesome grand prize.”
Providing Customer Collaboration
The program with RCR also provides Dow tremendous opportunities to engage with customers and employees at events around races and appearances with products like Mycogen Seeds® in Dow AgroSciences.
Dow is one of the few companies with a global breeding and R&D seed trait development program, and the partnership with RCR enables Dow to connect with its dealer and grower customers. Dow sees every acre as an opportunity to help farmers grow their operation, and Mycogen® Seeds offers a wide portfolio of products that tackle the challenges crop growers face today.
“Mycogen Seeds has become one of America’s fastest-growing seed companies because of our commitment to excellence in technology and performance,” said Brian Barker, general manager for Mycogen Seeds. “We work closely with our dealer and grower customers to help them identify the possibilities that Mycogen and Dow AgroSciences products can deliver for every acre. The partnership between Dow and RCR will provide additional opportunities for us to build even stronger relationships with many of our customers and new prospects.”
Participating in Research & Development
For the 2014 season, RCR has adopted a new line of extreme performance lubricants powered by UCON Oil Soluble PAG (OSP) technology from Dow in its cars.
“Working with Dow, RCR evaluated a range of new lubrication technologies, selecting 75W-90 and 75W-140 synthetic gear lubricants and a premium grease to provide exceptional lubrication properties under the punishing conditions of a NASCAR race,” said Raymond Hudack, strategic marketing manager for lubricants at Dow. “RCR is able to achieve a higher level of lubricant performance that they are striving for with novel Dow OSP technologies.”
Dow’s research and development and rich transportation background are helping to provide enhanced, sustainable solutions to the market. With products used in the car body, chassis and powertrain, interiors and exteriors and during in-service use and repair, Dow technologies are helping manufacturers create cars that are lighter-weight for better gas mileage and have stronger structures and crash resistance for increased safety.
“We’re extremely excited to support an organization like RCR and a young, talented driver like Austin Dillon this year,” said Harlan. “Our program with RCR allows us to develop automotive technologies that withstand the most strenuous situations. Our technologies are making race cars stronger, safer and lighter; imagine how they are enhancing the car you use to get you to work and the grocery store.”
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 15 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Its 2014 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Dow/Cheerios/American Ethanol/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet), 2011 Brickyard 400 champion Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet) and 2008 Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar/Quicken Loans/WIX Filters Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Brian Scott (No. 2 Shore Lodge/Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup Chevrolet), 2012 Camping World Truck Series rookie of the year Ty Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/WESCO/Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet), Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino/Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup Chevrolet) and a multi-driver lineup with the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet team.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of approximately $57 billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
1 No purchase necessary. To be eligible, winners must be 18 years or older. Sweepstakes end July 31, 2014. Visit www.greatstuffsweepstakes.com for complete rules.
