MIAMI — Tire Group International's (TGI) Cosmo tire brand has launched a motorsports division to represent its sponsorship of the Whiskey Garage Drift series in New Mexico.
Independent wholesale distributor TGI also released an eye-of-the tiger logo.
The Whiskey Garage Drift series originally was an apparel company that racer Dan Brockett — aka "Officer Dan" — started in 2009 to help fund his drifting "hobby."
At the same time, he decided he wanted to take over running drift events in the Albuquerque area and merged both things together. To this day business on the merchandise side is still running and he sells shirts, caps, decals, etc. at other events as well.
Cosmo Motorsports has three drivers as members of its race family, each competing in various levels from amateur to professional.
The Cosmo drivers are:
- Mr. Brockett, who is based in New Mexico, has competed in two full seasons of Formula Drift as a Pro and Pro 2 driver. He is featured in several drifting documentaries and videos, including the YouTube series, "2020 Drift Week USA Extravaganza," put on by LoneStar Drift.
Cosmo Tires will be his exclusive sponsor for the 2020 season.
"Keeping these events grassroots only (non pro-am or licensing events) fits in perfectly with Cosmo's drive to be more involved with the grassroots drift community" Mr. Brockett said.
- Austin Barto, from Colorado Springs, Colo.
Mr. Barto, who competed in numerous events in 2019, is focused on obtaining his Pro 2 drift license in 2020.
"Being a part of Cosmo's team and representing such a high-quality product is a blessing," Mr. Barto said. "I look forward to continuing to spread the word about Cosmo's high quality tires."
- Randy Noa of Florida.
Mr. Noa, the youngest driver for Cosmo, has been driving for nine years. TGI said Mr. Noa is focused on growing its drift racing presence in the state of Florida. "I am stoked to be part of the Cosmo family and look forward to continued success," he said.
TGI, Florida's largest independent tire wholesaler, distributes more than 30 brands of tires, including Astro, Cosmo, Duramas, Industar, Luna and Orion; and represents many other brands including MRF, Cooper, Mastercraft, Sumitomo, Achilles, GT Radial, Atturo, Kumho, Atlas, Dick Cepek, Kenda and Mickey Thompson.