There was a time when Pennzoil was a pretty cool brand. They were in all kinds of motorsports and had a good high performance image. For whatever reason, that promotional direction changed and they all but disappeared from the racing and high performance realm. They still sold products for guys to use but they were not really doing a ton to actively promote themselves as a performance brand. Something has either changed in house or the right guy is steering the direction on that front now because the company is very much back in performance mode. From videos like this one which feature a 707hp Hellcat Challenger roasting tires and drifting (via CGI) on an airlifted platform to the recent announcement that Pennzoil will become the official oil of Don Schumacher Racing and an associate sponsor of Matt Hagan’s funny car, things are looking up for hardcore gearheads and Pennzoil.
We can all remember Eddie Hill’s screaming yellow dragster, the one that became the first wheel driven car to ever traverse the quarter mile in less than five seconds back at the Texas Motorplex in 1988 during an IHRA event. Hill was Pennzoil sponsored for many years and Pennzoil was also the primary sponsor on cars like Jerry Eckman’s pro stocker and other vehicles throughout motorsports. We’re glad to have them back and glad to have them investing to make some simply awesome videos like the one you see here.
That Hellcat engine sounds mean!
No kidding. Pennzoil was huge. Years ago, one of their regional guys walked into our local distributor’s shop, where we had a picture of our race car. They guy looked at it, and told the distributor, “give them any products they want”. We thought we’d hit it big! We got all of their products we ever asked for or needed, and promotional stuff, of course, jackets, hats, etc, by the score. Then, poof! Gone. Eddie Hill, for God’s sake! He carried the brand well…
This ad is pretty bonkers. Love it. And, man, do those Hellcats sound mean.
Don’t forget Rick Mears’ Penzoil Chapparel race car that was very successful in CART.