GLENDORA, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2010) – NHRA announced today that AAA Texas will become the title rights sponsor of the 26th annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, Sept. 22-25, 2011.
The AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals is the second of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s playoff-style format to determine the world champions in each of its four Full Throttle Series classes.
“AAA Texas has been associated with the Texas Motorplex since 1998, and we have enjoyed reaching out to race fans at such an iconic location,” said Tom McKernan, CEO of Automobile Club of Southern California and President and CEO of AAA Texas. “There is a close alignment between the objectives of our organization and those of NHRA and the Texas Motorplex. We each place a premium on quality service, and leverage our brand and resources to promote automotive safety. It is because of these shared objectives that we are proud to have AAA Texas join Billy Meyer and his team to help bring exciting NHRA racing to Texas fans for many years to come.”
The commitment strengthens AAA Texas’ participation in NHRA championship drag racing and provides expanded visibility in the Texas market. Its sister motor club and AAA’s largest affiliate, the Automobile Club of Southern California, is title sponsor of the annual NHRA Finals each November, as well as title sponsor for historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, host of the season-opening and season-ending races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The company also sponsors the Auto Club “Road to the Future” award, annually recognizing the sport’s professional rookie of the year, is presenting sponsor of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, and presenting sponsor of the popular California Hot Rod Reunion held at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. In addition, Automobile Club of Southern California is presenting sponsor of the NHRA Safety Safari and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA.
“We are pleased that AAA Texas continues to strengthen its involvement with NHRA through its entitlement of the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “We look forward to continuing to build upon our great relationship.”
Texas Motorplex debuted as the sport’s first super track in the late 1980s and continues to operate today as one of the fastest facilities in the NHRA Full Throttle Series. The all-concrete dragstrip is owned by former Funny Car driver Billy Meyer.
“AAA Texas has an amazing presence in the state and I couldn’t be happier with our new partner,” said Gabrielle Stevenson, Texas Motorplex general manager. “Texas Motorplex has an incredibly loyal fan base that has supported NHRA championship drag racing for 25 years and now we are partnered with an organization that has proven to be a champion supporter of motorsports in Texas and will only add to the excitement of this event for years to come.”
