GLENDORA, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2011) – NHRA announced today that O’Reilly Auto Parts has agreed to multi-year deals to become the title rights sponsor of the 14th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Route 66 Nationals, July 7-10 near Chicago and the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, Aug. 5-7 near Seattle. With the addition of these two events, O’Reilly Auto Parts now enjoys title right sponsorship of five events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Route 66 Nationals is the 11th of 22 races in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule, and takes place at the impressive Route 66 Raceway at Joliet, Ill. The event recently moved from its traditional early June date to the month of July.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash. is the 14th of 22 races on the schedule and is the final stop on the grueling NHRA Western Swing, a three-races-in-three-weeks marathon in the heat of the summer months that also includes stops in Denver and Sonoma, Calif. NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing is the only major motorsport to visit the Pacific Northwest.
“We’re excited and happy to have O’Reilly Auto Parts as the title sponsor for two very important races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series,” said Tony Driscoll, vice president, sales and business development, NHRA. “O’Reilly Auto Parts has been such a strong supporter of NHRA Drag Racing throughout the years, and to have the company featured as the title sponsor of five events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, shows the commitment and support that they share for NHRA Championship Drag Racing.”
In addition to sponsorship of these two events, the auto parts giant maintains title rights for three additional NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events: the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, and the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.
“O’Reilly Auto Parts is excited to strengthen our support with the NHRA Community, specifically reaching out to our customers in Seattle and Chicago,” said Wes Wise, O’Reilly Auto parts Director of Marketing. “Sponsoring NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events around the country consistently delivers positive returns, and with our conversion of the Schuck’s Auto Supply in Seattle and the Murray’s Discount Auto Parts in Chicago to O’Reilly Auto Parts, we look forward to delivering excellent customer service to those areas and growing our relationship with NHRA fans.”
