NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

On the heels of round-wins at back-to-back races in Charlotte and St. Louis, the Jim Dunn Racing team heads into this weekend’s Texas NHRA FallNationals flying the colors of Havoline Motor Oil, but with heavy hearts after the passing of longtime sponsor Rob DiPinto over the weekend.

The DiPinto International Logistics colors were on the car at both of the event as driver Alex Laughlin reached the semifinals in Charlotte and the second round in St. Louis, delighting DiPinto, who’s been on the sponsor of the Dunn team for more than a decade after previous associations with John Force Racing and Terry Haddock.

“Those were his last two races sponsoring the car this year, and he told me ‘Man, I really hope this thing can win some rounds,' and it did, and he was just ecstatic,” said team manager Jon Dunn. 

“He loved coming to the races; his main race was Pennsylvania, because he lived in New Jersey, and any time he came we always did these huge dinners that were some of the funniest times we shared. He was more than a sponsor to us; he was a close friend. I’m going to miss his friendship. I would fly back to New Jersey just to spend personal time there.

“He was just a pillar for this team, and he's going to be deeply missed,” said team owner Jim Dunn. “He was one of the true sponsors who absolutely loved drag racing and the type of guy you could count on for anything. I’m sad that he's gone.”

Laughlin, a native Texan, will compete in his home state flying the colors of Havoline, which has backed Laughlin through his adventures and successes in Pro Stock, Top Fuel, and Funny Car.