Strutmasters
{{Infobox company
| logo = Strutmasters Logo.png
| type = Private
| industry = Auto parts
| founded = 1999
| founder = Chip Lofton
| hq_location = Roxboro, North Carolina
| website = {{URL|https://strutmasters.com/}}
}}
Strutmasters is an American automotive parts manufacturer that specializes in suspension parts. It was founded by Chip Lofton in 1999 and is headquartered in Roxboro, North Carolina.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2019 |title=Strustmasters Backing Foley Lewis Racing |url=https://www.speedsport.com/uncategorized/strutmasters-backing-foley-lewis-racing/ |website=speedsport}}{{Cite web |date=2019-10-29 |title=A FAN OF THE UNDERDOG, LOFTON MAKING HIS MARK IN DRAG RACING |url=https://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/a-fan-of-the-underdog-lofton-making-his-mark-in-drag-racing |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=competitionplus.com |language=en}} Strutmasters invented an air-to-coil suspension conversion kits.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=How Strutmasters Turned a Breakdown Into a Breakthrough |url=https://www.automoblog.com/strutmasters-suspension-company/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=www.automoblog.com |language=en-US}}
History
Chip Lofton founded Strutmasters in 1999. Lofton initially began operations for Strutmasters in a barn on his goat farm after receiving requests to convert cars to a conventional suspension after he fixed the same issue on his Lincoln Continental. Lofton went on to move operations for Strutmasters into a factory and eventually into a modern facility in Roxboro.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=After-Effects of Cobalt Poisoning to Sideline Key Nhra Sponsor Chip Lofton |url=https://competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/after-effects-of-cobalt-poisoning-to-sideline-key-nhra-sponsor-chip-lofton |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=competitionplus |language=en}}
Strutmasters sponsored the No. 17 truck driven by Timothy Peters in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series from 2009 to 2012.{{Cite web |title=Camping World Truck Series Owner DeLoach Calls Timothy Peters ‘Breath Of Fresh Air’ {{!}} The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/keepingpace/2009/aug/10/camping-world-truck-series-owner-deloach-calls-timothy-peters-breath-fresh-air/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=www.spokesman.com}}{{Cite web |title=Timothy Peters Signs with Red Horse Racing, Joined by His Crew Chief and Sponsor |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/196535-timothy-peters-chad-kenderick-and-strutmasterscom-have-a-new-home |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2012-11-14 |title=Truckin' Thursdays: The Secret To Red Horse Racing's 2012 Success |url=https://frontstretch.com/2012/11/14/truckin-thursdays-the-secret-to-red-horse-racings-2012-success/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=frontstretch.com |language=en-US}}
In 2015, Strutmasters sponsored the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Strutmasters.com 199 at Bowman Gray Stadium.{{Cite web |title=NASCAR Confirms Major 2025 Cup Series Calendar Change With Return Of Historic Track |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/motorsports/nascar-confirms-major-2025-cup-series-calendar-change-with-return-of-historic-track/ar-AA1p13va |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=www.msn.com}}
In 2019, Strutmasters signed on as a major associate sponsor for NHRA Top Fuel racer Doug Foley. In the same year, the company also signed on as a sponsor for professional Pro Fuel motorcycle racer Janette Thornley.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-18 |title=Strutmasters.com Backs Janette Thornley's Pro Fuel Harley Drag Bike |url=https://www.cycledrag.com/strutmasters-com-backs-janette-thornleys-pro-fuel-harley-drag-bike |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Drag Bike News |language=en-US}}
Strutmasters also became the co-primary sponsor for NHRA Top Fuel’s Stringer Performance team and its driver, Clay Millican, replacing Great Clips as the racing team's sponsor.{{Cite web |title=Strutmasters.com to become co-primary sponsor of Clay Millican driven Top Fuel Dragster in 2019 |url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2018/strutmasterscom-become-co-primary-sponsor-clay-millican-driven-top-fuel-dragster-2019 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=NHRA |language=en}} Strutmasters also joined Nitro Funny Car driver Dave Richards as a sponsor for the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-08 |title=STRUTMASTERS JOINS AS SPONSOR FOR DAVE RICHARDS {{!}} Competition Plus |url=https://competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/strutmasters-joins-sponsor-for-dave-richards |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=competitionplus |language=en}}
Strutmasters sponsored former NHRA Pro Stock champion Bo Butner for the 2020 season of NHRA's Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.{{Cite web |title=Bo Butner and Strutmasters partner in Pro Stock for 2020 |url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2019/bo-butner-and-strutmasters-partner-pro-stock-2020 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=NHRA |language=en}} Lofton sold Strutmasters in August 2020, remaining as a partner in the company.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=NHRA Super-Sponsor Chip Lofton To Step Back After Three-Year Cobalt-Poisoning Battle |url=https://www.dragzine.com/news/nhra-sponsor-chip-lofton-to-step-back-after-three-year-illness/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Dragzine |language=en-US}}
A year later, he would step back from his business projects due to contracting cobalt poisoning. Strutmasters has also funded NHRA race car drivers such as Pro Modified racer Wally Stroupe, and Top Fuel racers Justin Ashley, Lex Joon, and Audrey Worm.
Strutmasters also sponsored NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle racer Scotty Pollacheck.{{Cite web |title=Indy champ Scotty Pollacheck to carry Denso/Strutmasters into the new season |url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2021/indy-champ-scotty-pollacheck-carry-densostrutmasters-new-season |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=NHRA |language=en}}
Products
Strutmasters specializes in manufacturing air-to-non-air suspension conversion kits. Strutmasters also offers solutions for fixing failed complex air, magnetic, electronic, and hydraulic suspension systems.The company also sells parts for specific car brands and models. It also sells suspension conversion kits for motorcycles.
Strutmasters assembles its kits in-house at its Roxboro headquarters. The company also packages DIY instructions with its products and hosts video tutorials for suspension replacement on its website.