Jackson Inks Ten-Year Michelin IMSA Extension

Jackson will continue to be the exclusive Michelin race tire distributor for IMSA, having announced a ten-year contract extension.

Under the Jackson umbrella, JXN Race Shop will be responsible for transporting, mounting and selling every Michelin race tire used across IMSA-sanctioned championships, including the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Michelin Pilot Challenge, VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Mustang Challenge North America.

“They are the logical partner for Michelin, not only in delivering best-in-class marketing services, but in understanding the realities of motorsports at every level,” said Michelin North America director of motorsports Raymond Cotton.

“Their deep knowledge of our brand, our fans, and the competitive landscape allows us to tell more compelling stories and connect with audiences in meaningful ways.”

IMSA President John Doonan emphasized the importance of that role as part of the series’ long-term partnership with Michelin.

“One critical ingredient in the success of our long-term partnership with Michelin, which we recently extended through 2035, has been Jackson Marketing Group (JMG),” said Doonan.

“World-class auto manufacturer partners, and the racing teams that execute programs for them, rely heavily on the professionalism, process, and flawless execution of the Jackson team.

“All of us at IMSA are thrilled that we will continue to work with Jackson over the next decade through their long-term partnership with Michelin that now fully aligns with ours.”

IMSA teams have voiced their support in the continued Jackson-Michelin partnership.

“The support we get from Jackson allows our program to operate at a higher level,” said Action Express Racing director of team operations Chris Mitchum.

“They go beyond the logistical support of transporting wheels and tires, supporting private testing and truly partner with IMSA teams to meet individual needs, including technical knowledge that we count on at every event.

“We are able to rely on a bond that has been built over many years, and this consistency has aided in all of our championship efforts.”

For Winward Racing’s Chris Brook, who oversees tires and fuel for the team’s GTD, GTD Pro and GS efforts, the pressure surrounding tire prep is eased by Jackson’s systems and people.

“It’s very well organized on Jackson’s part,” said Brook. “They have the ability to transport all of the wheels for our teams… the system in place makes it all very seamless.

“Having the tire in the correct position and evenly mounted directly correlates to the balancing of the tire and wheel combination.

“With the current group, I have complete trust with Jackson as a whole.”

Michelin Pilot Challenge team Baker Racing, meanwhile, believes Jackson’s team provides “incredible stress relief.”

“Time management is crucial within an IMSA paddock,” said team manager Chelsea Giffin. “Being able to have Jackson’s team eliminating a massive portion of those to-do list items is an incredible stress relief.”

Giffin points to Jackson’s behind-the-scenes checks, such as identifying bent wheels, as critical.

“In the right situation, had that not been caught, the results could be catastrophic,” she said. “In my humble opinion, they are literally saving lives and potentially millions of dollars in assets.”

AXR’s Michum added: “For us, it’s like Christmas every time we show up at the track and our tire racks have mounted wheels ready to go.”