GF Machining Solutions Car Runs in NASCAR Cup Series Race at Kansas
GF Machining Solutions, a leading provider of machine tools, automation solutions and services to manufacturers of precision components, enjoyed a company first on October 18, when it became the primary sponsor of a racecar in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The No. 96 GF Machining Solutions Passion for Precision Toyota Camry debuted in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas with live coverage on NBC.
The car will be fielded by Gaunt Brothers Racing, a longstanding partner of Toyota Racing Development (TRD), U.S.A. Its driver, Daniel Suárez, won the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry. Kansas will mark Suárez’s 140th career NASCAR Cup Series start.
In 2018, TRD named GF Machining Solutions as an Official Technical Partner. Since adding GF’s high-performance manufacturing and automation technology, TRD has accelerated production of key aluminum and cast-iron components for its fleet of 800-horsepower engines designed specifically for NASCAR competition, a contributing factor to TRD’s success in NASCAR year after year.
The GF Machining Solutions partnership with TRD began in 2014 when TRD added a fully automated production cell to its manufacturing facility. The cell is comprised of seven 5-axis machining centers (six Mikron HPM 800 U HD machines and one Mikron HPM 1350 U) connected by a shared pallet pool system that uses a rail-guided robot to load the machines from more than 80 open pallets along a 32-meter track.
“We take great pride in our partnership with TRD,” said Peter Eigenmann, director of sales and marketing for GF Machining Solutions. “Together, we both share the same passion for precision and drive for leadership in our fields.”
TRD, located in Costa Mesa, California, designs and builds engines for Toyota race teams to keep pace throughout the grueling 38-race NASCAR season. With a highly competitive racing environment and strict series regulations, precision, quality and speed of manufacture are essential for each of the engines TRD produces annually.
