American Racing Custom Wheels to partner with KVRT

E.J. Viso gets American Racing Custom Wheel backing

KV Racing Technology announced today that American Racing Custom Wheels will join the team for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

American Racing has a long and respected history with roots in aftermarket performance wheels dating back to the golden era of hot rodding in the mid 1950’s. The American Racing brand is an essential part of American automotive culture. American Racing Custom Wheels will be a sponsor of E. J. Viso’s No. 8 CITGO | PDVSA – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone entry and will be represented on the hat and helmet of KVRT teammate Tony Kanaan.

“We are very excited to announce that American Racing Customs Wheels has joined KV Racing Technology," said KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser. “American Racing has a long history in motorsports and in automotive aftermarket products. We look forward to having a successful season with American Racing supporting both E. J. and Tony during the upcoming season."

"American Racing is an historic company with its roots in racing and we wanted to continue that tradition," said Jody Groce, president of Wheel Pros, the company that owns American Racing. "We're proud to be on board with KV Racing Technology."

Groce went on to say, "We've been talking about bringing American Racing back to IndyCar for a long time. The Chevrolet engines that drive KV Racing Technology's vehicles represent some serious modern muscle and the team is a perfect fit to extend American Racing's motorsport legacy."

Viso, who is coming off a victory last weekend in the Prototype Challenge class in the 12 Hours of Sebring, is entering his fifth IZOD IndyCar Series season and third with KV Racing Technology. One of the most exciting young talents in the series, Viso scored four top-10 finishes with a season best seventh place showing in Texas Race No. 2 in 2011. In 67 career starts, the outgoing 26-year-old Venezuelan has earned 13 top-10 finishes with a career high third place showing on the oval at Iowa in 2010 and a street/road course best of fourth at St. Petersburg in 2008 in just his second IndyCar start.

Kanaan, 37, is entering his 15th U. S. based open-wheel season, 11th in the IZOD IndyCar Series and second with KVRT. The 2004 IndyCar Series champion and perennial championship contender has 14 IndyCar wins (15 career) with 52 podiums (58 career), 85 top-five showings (101 career) and 111 top-10 performances (159 career) in 149 IndyCar starts (242 career). Kanaan holds the series record for most consecutive IndyCar starts with 148. He finished fifth in the championship race last year with 367 points.