RTR Vehicles Drift Team Announces O’Reilly Auto Parts as Title Partner for James Deane’s 2026 Formula Drift Season

RTR Vehicles Drift Team Announces O’Reilly Auto Parts as Title Partner and Extended Pennzoil Partnership for James Deane’s 2026 Formula Drift Season

CONCORD, NC – RTR Vehicles Drift Team is proud to announce a major partnership evolution for the 2026 Formula Drift season, introducing O’Reilly Auto Parts as title partner and confirming an extended relationship with longtime partner Pennzoil for reigning champion James Deane and the Drift Team.

The announcement was revealed live in true RTR fashion during a coordinated partner launch at O’Reilly Auto Parts’ Leadership Conference, where the 2026 O’Reilly Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD was unveiled. The reveal was shared simultaneously with fans worldwide through digital channels, bringing together two brands deeply rooted in enthusiast culture and performance while reinforcing RTR Vehicles’ commitment to long-term excellence at the highest level of professional drifting.

“I am pumped for James Deane and the RTR Vehicles Drift Team to be welcoming O’Reilly to the fun,” said Vaughn Gittin Jr., President and Founder of RTR Vehicles and two-time Formula Drift Champion. “We pride ourselves on aligning with brands that support and understand enthusiast culture. This partnership brings together longtime partner Pennzoil, the makers of the liquid gold we trust to deliver protection and reliability across our motorsports efforts, and automotive retail giant O’Reilly in a multiyear deal supporting James’s Formula Drift program. I cannot wait to see the success and excitement that comes from these epic brands joining forces.”

Pennzoil enters its eleventh year partnering with the RTR Vehicles Drift Team, continuing a relationship built on performance, trust, and shared passion. With O’Reilly Auto Parts joining as title partner, the program gains additional reach and momentum through O’Reilly’s network of more than 6,500 stores and 93,000 very passionate team members across North America.

“We’re beyond excited to team up with O’Reilly Auto Parts and the RTR Vehicles Drift Team,” said Bree Sandlin, Vice President of Retail Sales for Shell Lubricants. “Our continued partnership with RTR is all about performance, passion, and pushing limits, and with James Deane behind the wheel of the O’Reilly Pennzoil Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD, fans can expect peak performance. We can’t wait to kick off the 2026 season together.”

The new partnership brings with it a striking, partner-led livery design. Embracing O’Reilly Auto Parts’ signature red, white, and green color palette, the 2026 livery blends O’Reilly’s heritage with Deane’s Irish upbringing through the use of green as a defining accent. The result is a menacing and purposeful visual identity for the 2026 O’Reilly Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD, as Deane targets an unprecedented sixth Formula Drift Championship and his third consecutive title with RTR.

Beyond the visual transformation, the partnership evolution reflects a focused and intentional approach within the RTR Motorsports program heading into the 2026 season.

“The 2026 livery represents more than a new look,” said Cody Pennell, RTR Motorsports Team Manager. “It reflects the direction of our program as a whole. We’ve been deliberate in how we’ve refined our structure, our execution, and our approach, and that foundation allows us to build stronger partnerships and show up prepared to compete at the highest level.”

With a refined competitive platform and a clear operational focus, the team enters 2026 aligned on consistency, performance, and long-term growth as James Deane begins his title defense.

The next opportunity to see the O’Reilly Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD in person will be April 10–11 in Long Beach, California, as James Deane and Ben Hobson kick off the 2026 Formula Drift season.