Full Size or as a Toy, Ford Raptor is a Winner!

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor’s Success as Performance Truck Mirrored in the Toy Store as Top-Selling Licensed Truck

• Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has become the most sought-after truck for licensed merchandise

• Raptor’s popularity on toy store shelves reflects its popularity in Ford showrooms. Sales of Ford’s high-performance off-road pickup increased by 40 percent in 2012

• Raptor replicas and integrations have helped the world’s most popular toy and video game brands enjoy tremendous success

  

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 20 2012 – You don’t need a license for the latest Ford F-150 SVT Raptor high-performance truck product. You can now buy the Ford high-performance truck in the toy shop.

 

Reflecting Raptor’s leading sales results – with an increase of 40 percent in 2012 – sales of licensed products of Raptor are also leading their categories in toy and gaming segments.

 

Raptor replicas are extremely popular when it comes to children’s choices in toys and video games. Manufacturers know how much children of all ages enjoy the pickup. In fact, Ford Motor Company’s licensing demands have reached an all-time high, replacing GM’s Hummer brand as the most sought-after licensed truck. 

 

  Raptor’s popularity in licensed merchandise clearly reflects its leading position in the performance truck market. Its reputation as the ultimate high-performance off-road pickup has helped increase sales this year by 20 percent, breaking last year’s record. And, in October and November, Raptor sales reached an all-time high as the first and second best sales months, ever.

 

The most popular toy and video game brands in the world enjoy tremendous success from their Raptor-inspired creations.

 

“We knew we had a winner on our hands when we first introduced Raptor to the toy and video game companies three years ago,” said Mark Bentley, licensing manager, Ford Global Brand Licensing. “Licensing executives from all the top brands immediately understood Raptor’s potential and moved quickly to sign agreements with Ford Global Brand Licensing. They have not regretted that decision.”

 

A wide range of toys from ride-ons to simulator games are available this holiday season:

 

• Mattel licenses Raptor for its Hot Wheels and Matchbox brands
• Fisher-Price licenses the highly popular Raptor Power Wheels Ride-On. It is one of the most popular toys at Walmart since its introduction in 2011
• Electronic Arts “Need for Speed” franchise showcases Raptor in its No. 1-selling racing video game, “Need for Speed Most Wanted”
• Microsoft Forza 4’s top-selling racing simulator game counts Raptor as one of its most downloaded vehicles

“Raptor products can be found in nearly every major distribution channel,” said Bentley. “From toy retailers such as Toys R Us, Walmart and Target, to hobby stores such as Hobby Lobby, Michaels, smaller independent retailers, drug store chains and dollar stores, Raptor is everywhere.”

 

Raptor isn’t limited to toy trucks, remote-controlled trucks and video games; replicas are now available in almost every imaginable form for kids to enjoy, including 3D puzzles and sketchbooks.

 

It is a global phenomenon licensed by companies in Canada, Germany, Japan, China and Brazil, so children all over the world can enjoy the fun of Raptor.

 

“Although it is a very American truck, Raptor is truly global in its appeal and is sought by companies everywhere,” said Bentley.

 

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Antron in the Running for Speed Performer Award.

Brown finalist for Speed Performer of the Year

 

 The

2012 NHRA Top Fuel champion Antron Brown is one of 16 racers from 13 styles of racing from throughout the world to be nominated for the 7th annual presentation of the Mario Andretti Trophy as the Speed Performer of the Year.

"This might be one of the most difficult decisions to date," said Andretti, the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, and Formula One world championship. "Every year, a few racers seem to elevate themselves above the rest, but this is a season loaded with extremely strong and passionate performances that all deserve consideration."

Brown is joined by 2010 Speed Performer of the Year Sebastian Vettel (F-1), Fernando Alonso (F-1), Brad Keselowski (NASCAR), Jorge Lorenzo (MotoGP), Casey Stoner (MotoGP), Ryan Hunter-Reay (IndyCar), Kyle Larson (USAC), Sammy Swindell (World of Outlaws), Sebastien Loeb (World Rally), Andre Lotterer (World Endurance Championship), Max Biaggi (World Superbike), Scott Pruett (Grand-Am), Donny Schatz (WoO), Josh Hayes (AMA Pro Superbike), and Ryan Villopoto (Supercross).
Representing both four-wheel and two-wheel efforts across the globe, the Mario Andretti Trophy goes to the racer who puts a premium on winning races, shines on the sport's biggest stages, and does it all with a measure of sportsmanship and class.

Brown and his Matco Tools team out of Don Schumacher Racing won six NHRA national event titles in 11 championship rounds to earn his first NHRA world championship. The New Jersey native living in Pittsboro, Ind., led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, also was the No. 1 qualifier three times this season and set the NHRA elapsed time record in Top Fuel with a time of 3.701 seconds on Oct. 8 at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading.

Brown is the first African-American to win a major U.S. auto racing season championship.

The 36-year-old hopes to become the second drag racer on the elite roster; DSR teammate Tony Schumacher won the prestigious prize in 2009 after being runner-up the previous year.

Andretti will present the trophy, a 100-pound sculpture created by bronze artist Elie Hazak, as part of a Speed Center special Jan. 27.

Another Good Thing for the World Champion!

Matco Tools will enter 13th season as marketing partner with Don Schumacher Racing as Brown’s primary sponsor

December 03

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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Dec. 3, 2012) – Matco Tools and Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) became marketing partners in 2000 and that relationship will continue in 2013 with a contract extension to serve as the primary sponsor on the Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster for 2012 NHRA world champion Antron Brown.

Matco is a manufacturer and distributor of premium quality automotive equipment, tools, and tool storage for professional technicians.

“Matco Tools is pleased to continue our relationship with Antron Brown and Don Schumacher Racing,” said John Green, vice president of marketing at Matco Tools. “Our employees, distributors, and customers look to Antron and the Matco Tools’ racing team as a part of our family and we look forward to another year of high visibility generated through this racing partnership.”

Matco started with DSR in 2000 as an associate sponsor on the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster driven by Tony Schumacher before moving to primary status on a DSR Funny Car in 2001. In 2008, Matco Tools became the primary sponsor for Brown when he moved from riding Pro Stock Motorcycles to piloting 330-mph Top Fuel Dragsters.

“This truly is a blessed day for me because I can continue to fly the colors of Matco Tools,” said Brown, 36, a native of Chesterfield, N.J., living with his family in Pittsboro, Ind.

The contract extension is one of several that DSR owner Don Schumacher expects to make before the end of the year. DSR was started in 1998 and has won 196 NHRA national event titles and 11 NHRA world championships since then. This season, DSR fielded seven professional teams out of its 120,000-square-foot headquarters that employs 120 in Brownsburg, Ind.

“Matco Tools is one of our first marketing partners, and I always will remember the faith they showed in DSR during our earliest years,” Schumacher said. “We consider each Matco distributor across the country to be members of our team.”

Brown has won 21 NHRA event titles with Matco Tools including six this year. He has advanced to 42 championship rounds and earned No. 1 qualifying honors 21 times during his tenure with Matco.