2016 was another highly successful season for the Driveline Division of Jasper Engines & Transmissions. All told, six of the top eight drivers in the 2016 NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series final points standings drove cars equipped with JASPER products. Sprint Cup Series cars equipped with JASPER products accounted for 23 wins, 93 top-five finishes, 170 top-ten finishes, and earned 26 pole position starts in 2016.
NASCAR® Xfinity Series Drivers using JASPER products accounted for 19 wins in 2016, including Series Champion, Daniel Suarez.
“Overall, our 2016 went real well,” said Terry DeKemper, JASPER Driveline Division Manager. “We were extremely busy with a lot of gear changes, but our season went smoothly, with no major issues. It’s truly a testament to the strength and durability of our driveline products.”
Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick, along with Furniture Row Racing driver, Martin Truex Jr, used the single-rail version of the JASPER 4-Speed Transmission in 2016, which allows a single external rail to rotate and move two internal forks to engage the four forward gears.
Joe Gibbs Racing drivers used a JASPER three-rail 4-Speed Transmission. They included: Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth in the NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series, and NASCAR® Xfinity Series drivers Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones and Matt Tifft. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth were also among Joe Gibbs Racing drivers in the NASCAR® Xfinity Series using JASPER products in 2016.
DeKemper also announced the JASPER Driveline Division will supply 4-Speed Transmissions to Erik Jones, who moves to Furniture Row Racing and will drive the #77 Toyota for the 2017 NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series season. Furniture Row Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing will continue to use JASPER transmissions for their drivers next season.
“With the #77 team coming on board with JASPER next year, and the other teams using more of our product, it can only be good news for JASPER,” said DeKemper. “Our success can be attributed to our engineering staff and Associates within the department with many years’ experience, all working together to produce a great overall product.”