LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Meritor, Inc. (NYSE: MTOR) is the executive title sponsor of the Meritor ChampTruck World Series(®) for the 2015 season, marking the return of big-rig truck racing to major U.S. racetracks for the first time since 1993. The announcement was made at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

Spearheaded by ChumpCar International founder and CEO John Condren, the Meritor ChampTruck World Series debuts April 24 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey with professional and amateur teams competing in two-axle, Class-8 trucks at speeds up to 100 mph.

"Our partnership with ChampTruck is an opportunity to bring this great sports entertainment back home again," said Krista Sohm, vice president, Marketing & Communications for Meritor.

Condren added: "ChampTruck is all about 'Real Racing - Real Tracks - and Real Big Trucks.'(®) It's all about bringing back the real excitement of racing by opening events to independent operators and large fleets, and making it fan-friendly and family-affordable with immediate access to the trucks, the drivers and teams. Together with Meritor, we'll be working to establish a fan base for truck racing at big-time venues and on national TV."

Any conventional or cab-over truck that's at least 5 years old can race in the Meritor ChampTruck World Series. Drivers earn and accumulate points for the national championship event in the fall.

Meritor has sponsored truck racing in Europe and South America since 2010. "Semi truck racing has been popular in Europe for more than 25 years, and big-rig racing has the same potential to bring excitement to racing venues across the United States," Sohm said.

The Meritor DriveForce(TM) Tour, which includes an interactive walk-through product display trailer, will be present at select events. Meritor will offer track-side hospitality for customers.

In addition to the debut at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the Meritor ChampTruck World Series will take place at the following tracks, many of which host NASCAR events:


    --  Thunderhill Raceway, Willows, California, May 22 through May 24
    --  Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado, May 29 through May
        31
    --  Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina, July 2 through July 4
    --  Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Illinois, July 17 through July 19
    --  Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia, Aug. 6 through Aug. 9
    --  Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 28 through Aug. 29
    --  Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings, Nebraska, Sept. 11 through Sept. 13
    --  Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon, Oct. 2 through Oct. 4

The 2015 Meritor ChampTruck Series National Championship race will be held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Oct. 30 through Nov. 1.

About Meritor
Meritor, Inc. is a leading global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets. With more than a 100-year legacy of providing innovative products that offer superior performance, efficiency and reliability, the company serves commercial truck, trailer, off-highway, defense, specialty and aftermarket customers around the world. Meritor is based in Troy, Mich., United States, and is made up of more than 9,000 diverse employees who apply their knowledge and skills in manufacturing facilities, engineering centers, joint ventures, distribution centers and global offices in 18 countries. Common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MTOR. For important information, visit the company's website at meritor.com.

About ChampTruck International LLC
ChampTruck International LLC (dba ChampTruck World Series) was developed to bring big-rig truck racing back to the U.S.A after a 20-year absence. To avoid the expensive errors of the past, ChampTruck's rules require trucks to remain stock, thereby limiting costs. To maximize the series profile the Series has secured iconic, world-class tracks for its events. ChampTruck was developed as a cost-effective and affordable professional racing series for small-to-large fleet-based trucking companies, as well as independent owner-operators. Rules and information about the series can be found at www.champtruck.us.com.

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SOURCE Meritor, Inc.