@NHRA • @LucasOil • @Route66Raceway • GLENDORA, Calif. (July 7, 2015) – NHRA announced today that Lucas Oil has signed an agreement to become title rights sponsor of the 13th stop in the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago.
"We are excited to sponsor the Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire at Route 66 Raceway," said Forrest Lucas, founder and owner, Lucas Oil. "Chicago is a fantastic market and this event is one of the premier stops on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. We look forward to this exciting partnership for one of the most thrilling races of the season."
Route 66 Raceway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and is the sister track to Chicagoland Speedway. Originally founded by nine local Joliet entrepreneurs, Route 66 Raceway's visionary leadership developed the first true "stadium of drag racing".
"We are thrilled to welcome Lucas Oil and General Tire as the title sponsors to our 2015 NHRA Nationals event," said Scott Paddock, Route 66 Raceway president. "Lucas Oil has been a valued partner of the NHRA for several years, and we are excited to partner with them in a new and expanded capacity as they experience two nights of nitro and record-setting run times in Route 66 Raceway's True Stadium of Drag Racing."
The Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire will take place July 9-12, and is the 13th stop in the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season. The event features Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories, as well as competitors in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
As title sponsor, Lucas Oil will have extensive on-site visibility as well as commercial inventory in the ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts of the event.
"We are thrilled to have Lucas Oil onboard as title rights sponsors of this popular event in Chicago," said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. "Lucas Oil has been a vital partner with NHRA Drag Racing and we are always looking for ways to grow our positive relationship with them."
Lucas Oil has been heavily involved with NHRA Drag Racing for years. In addition to the sponsorship of the Chicago event, Lucas Oil is the official oil of NHRA, the title rights sponsor of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. and the title rights sponsor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA's sportsman racing series.
Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. has been a regular stop on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour since 1997. The facility also houses a half-mile dirt oval track in addition to Chicagoland Speedway, a 1.5-mile D-shaped tri-oval.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
From: NHRA Communications Dept
{fcomment}