We have a dedicated group that works directly with race teams in the U.S. and Canada – teams that run some of the fastest vehicles around, from drift to drag to oval racing. In addition to providing engineering support and application-specific technology to almost 20 drivers and teams, Dayco also sponsors a number of races and participates in many racing industry events. To see our full line of racing products, click here.
NHRA
TSR – Tony Stewart’s championship winning team fields a powerhouse lineup in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series with Leah Pruett in Top Fuel and Matt Hagan in Funny Car. These two racers push their 11,000-horsepower machines to the limit, driving speeds in excess of 330mph down the track. They are partnering with Dayco for the 2023 season, putting Dayco blower belts to the ultimate test.
Kalitta Motorsports – This championship-winning team competes in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series with two Top Fuel dragsters and a Funny Car that will now power down the track with a Dayco 11mm blower belt installed. The Funny Car is driven by JR Todd, who has had 20 career wins and a best speed of more than 334mph. The team – who also brought home the Top Fuel championship last season – announced they will also be the exclusive trackside provider of Dayco blower belts for the 2024 season. Photo courtesy: Gary Nastase/Kalitta Motorsports.
Drag
Gillig Motorsports – Participating in a 16-race season between the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) and the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) circuits, the Gillig Wagner team runs a Dayco-sponsored Oldsmobile – with Dayco HT Power Plus timing belts and PowerBond by Dayco race performance harmonic balancers.
Chris Duncan Race Cars – This well-known fabrication shop and tuner of Pro-Mod and Top Alcohol cars outfits its dragsters with Dayco’s newest 8mm blower belt to help them perform under the most extreme conditions.
Watson Racing – Chuck Watson Jr. and team are competing with the two 2019 Cobra Jet Mustangs featuring Dayco supercharger belts and tensioners. Watson is also performing track testing for Dayco on new high-performance products.
Drift
Mike Steele – After a 20-year career in Motocross, Mike made the switch to drifting in 2012 and hasn’t looked back. Competing in the Grid Life circuit, Mike takes to the track in his fully built retrofitted competition drift car, a 1997 Nissan 240SX with LS 5.3L V8 engine.
Scherzer Racing – Steve Scherzer has been competing since 2013 and has been making his way through the ranks: 1st place, Drift Indy Street League Volume 2 (2020); 1st place team, Bloodmasters Invitational (2020); 2nd place team, Final Bout Special Stage Central. He runs a 1995 Nissan 240sx S14 with 1JZ VVT1 engine.
Chad Anderson Motorsports – Driver Chad Anderson races with his modified 2002 BMW 325I with 5.0L Coyote engine and Roush R2300 supercharger. His vehicle is also outfitted with Dayco’s serpentine belt, supercharger belt and accessory belt.
Messineo Motorsports – A lifelong fan of motorsports, Mike Messineo competes in the MI Drift and No Star Bash along with the Drift Indy series with a 1996 Nissan 240SX with a built 6.0L V8 LQ4 engine. In addition, his wife and teammate Ashley Munro is breaking down barriers for women in the drift scene.
“We have been installing Dayco components on our vehicles as we prepare for the upcoming season and love how parts like their water pumps come with new hardware, gaskets and other needed items that you typically have to buy separately.” – Mike Messineo, Driver/Owner, Messineo Motorsports
Bailey Birr – Hailing from Detroit, Bailey Birr entered the world of Drifting almost a decade ago, participating in driving events on the east coast with Clubloose before establishing events local to Michigan under the name “MI Drift.” He currently pilots a 2007 C6 Corvette and has expanded to larger, more national events.
Powersports
Cameron Wachtler – Pro-lite Rider, 2nd place National Point Pro-lite Rider, Cameron Wachtler has been on a roll since receiving most improved rider in 2018/2019, racing an Arctic Cat ZR6000RR 600 equipped with Dayco belts.
MPH Racing – Travis MacDonald with MPH is an ice oval racer based in Canada. He finished 10th as part of the 2022 USSA Pro Star Cup Tour.
Postula Motorsports – Featuring a dynamic father and son duo, this multi-discipline race team features vintage snowmobile, lawn mower and stock car racing based in Northern Michigan, and competes throughout the Midwest.
Angel Performance – As owner, Lonnie Angel leads the Angel Performance crew of SXS drag racers. Also a SXS roll cage and accessory manufacturer, Angel is working to develop the next gen of CVT belts on his 400+hp Can Am X3, tearing up the sand drag circuit in SDDRS racing.
UTV Outlaws – An off-road racing team with 13 drivers, UTV Outlaws competes in several endurance racing series and drag races around the Midwest. Tim Abner, team leader, along with his daughter and son and a handful of other talented drivers, all pilot different SXS in various races, including the Trail Master Challenge.
Jay Buckley – Currently marketing director at Dayco, Jay Buckley is a former motocross and ATV racer, and no stranger to the sport. He began racing a CanAm X3 two years ago with a full schedule of short course and endurance races in the Midwest, finishing 6th overall in the Trail Master Challenge Pro Turbo championship. With his car serving as a test bed for Dayco POWER CVT belt development, he also competes in the Redbull Snow Scramble with plans to run in Ultra4 in 2024.
Karkoulas Sisters – Canada’s only all-female snowcross team of 3, the Karkoulas sisters have dominated in their respective categories in the CSRA series. This past season the team won its 4th Pro/Am Women Championship and its 6th Transition Girls Championship. The sisters also had great races in the mixed classes earning a 5th in Transition 2 and 5th in Sport, with podium finishes at all events, including numerous 1st place finishes.
McCoy’s Racing – This family-ran team has grown steadily since son Taylor McCoy started racing in 2003 at age of 4. The McCoys use Dayco POWER CVT racing belts on their Skidoos to help them race in extreme environments – including tight turns, banked corners, steep jumps and obstacles.
