NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Second-generation Southern California Funny Car driver Jason Rupert will kick off his five-race schedule on the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at his home track of In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip at this weekend's Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals flying the colors of Shell Roofing Solutions Group on his Ford Mustang Nitro Funny Car.

Rupert enters his fifth season in the Professional categories eager to build off the momentum he generated in 2024. Following his first career round-win at the four-wide event in Las Vegas last spring, Rupert reset his career-best elapsed time four times in his final three events, culminating in a 3.91-second blast during eliminations in Pomona last November. Rupert’s hot rod will continue to be tuned by Rahn Tobler, whose career résumé includes 72 victories and four world championships in the nitro classes. 

“We were really encouraged by the progress at the end of last year,” said Rupert. “The main focus over the winter has been getting parts ready and getting organized so Rahn can keep picking away at the performance. This time last year, we were still thrashing to recover from an explosion at the end of the 2023 season. These things are a lot of work regardless, but it is a nice change of pace to have a ‘normal’ offseason.

“We race on a part-time schedule with a voluntary crew, and the same guys have been working together for a couple of years now and have grown into their roles. After a couple of months in the race-car shop, it’s exciting to load up the trailer to go racing again.”

As significant to Rupert as the upward momentum of his on-track results are the evolving relationships off the track. Shell Roofing Solutions Group has signed on to support Rupert’s efforts for the 2025 season. The Chino, Calif.-based roofing company will be Rupert’s primary sponsor at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals and have a presence on his 11,000-horsepower Funny Car at the remaining events. This is Shell Roofing Solutions Group’s fourth season being involved with Rupert Motorsports. They have a presence at other motorsports events, such as Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks series at the upcoming Long Beach Grand Prix.

“It’s a great pleasure to have our company represented on Jason Rupert’s Funny Car competing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series,” said Rudy Gutierrez, Shell Roofing Solutions Inc. president and CEO. “The excitement of competition and atmosphere in the pits that is both professional and family-friendly is something that we and our guests really enjoy. We are looking forward to a great season.”

Shell Roofing Solutions Group headlines a lineup of Rupert Motorsports supporters that also includes Lucas Oil, J.S. Easterday Construction, CP-Carrillo, TW Networx, TMS Titanium, MAC Speed and Custom, and Chino Hills Transmission. 

Rupert’s renewed support from Lucas Oil marks a major milestone. 2025 is their 30th season of partnership dating back to 1996 when Lucas Oil, then primarily known for their popular Lucas Fuel Injector Cleaner additive sold at truck stops, became Rupert’s primary sponsor during his first season competing in Top Alcohol Funny Car in an entry he co-owned with Ed Vanderwoude. The relationship has continued through six season championships in the Nostalgia Funny Car category and his ascent to the Professional ranks.

“I am grateful that Forrest and Charlotte Lucas took a chance on me so many years ago,” said Rupert. “We have a lot of great memories, including Morgan working on the crew with us before he was old enough to start competing. As far as I feel like we’ve come in racing, it’s amazing to see how much Lucas Oil has grown over the decades with an expanded product line and the new headquarters they just built in Indiana.”