Saturday, November 10, 2012

NHRA NEWS: LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES RETURNS FOR 12TH SEASON IN 2013

GLENDORA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2012) – The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will return for its 12th season with 45 events taking place across the United States during the 2013 racing season. Three double events, two events taking place during the course of the weekend and the return to Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, will highlight the rich and diverse schedule. The 2013 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season will kick-off at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville in February and will conclude at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in November.

During the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series there will be 24 regional events featuring the 250-mph Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes. There will be a minimum of six events in each of the seven NHRA divisions.

Regional, divisional and national championship points and a purse of more than $500,000 in seven categories will be up for grabs during the course of the racing season. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also includes three sportsman-focused national events: the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals; the JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals; and the JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals.

Adding to the excitement of 10 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events across the country will be the addition of the newly created NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Championship Motorcycle Series. Top Fuel, Pro Gas, Draggin’ Bagger, V-Rod, and Hot Street will all compete during the course of the weekend with a total purse of $152,800 among the five classes.

“The core of NHRA drag racing is the grassroots racers that compete in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series,” said Forrest Lucas, owner and CEO of Lucas Oil Products. “It’s important for the long-term health of drag racing to support these talented drivers and teams, which is one of the main reasons we continue to back this series. Many of these racers also benefit from our products, which further strengthens the bond between Lucas Oil and the competitors out there giving it their all every weekend.”

Bonus programs available to competitors in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series include the $100,000 JEGS Allstars, and the NHRA Perfectly Strange Performance Award, in which a total of $45,000 is up for grabs throughout. Individual divisions may also have additional bonus programs available to racers.
Some prominent graduates of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series who have gone on to successful careers in the NHRA Full Throttle Series include Brandon Bernstein, Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon, Courtney Force, Alexis DeJoria, and Jeg Coughlin.

Headquartered in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products was founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil has established itself as one of the fastest-growing lubrication product lines in the consumer automotive aftermarket. The Lucas Oil product line features engine oils, greases, gear lubes and problem-solving additives for everyday cars and trucks. In addition, Lucas Oil continues to be directly involved in the American racing industry at all levels through multiple vehicle sponsorships and racing events. More information on Lucas Oil Products can be found by visiting www.LucasOil.com.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 23 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. 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 Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 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.


2013 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Schedule

Northeast Division
April 12-13                           Virginia Motorsports Park                                            Petersburg, Va.               
May 24-26                           Maple Grove Raceway                                                  Reading, Pa.                      
June 14-16                          Lebanon Valley Dragway                                              West Lebanon, N.Y.       
July 19-21                            New England Dragway                                                   Epping, N.H.      
Aug. 2-4                               Atco Raceway                                                                    Atco, N.J.                            
Aug. 16-18                           Cecil County Dragway                                                    Rising Sun, Md.
Sept. 6-8                              Old Bridge Twp. Raceway Park                                   Englishtown, N.J.            

Southeast Division                                                         
Feb. 15-17                           Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville                             Gainesville, Fla.
March 8-10                         South Georgia Motorsports Park                              Cecil, Ga.                            
May 23-24                           Atlanta Dragway                                                               Commerce, Ga.               
May 25-26                           Atlanta Dragway                                                               Commerce, Ga.               
Sept. 20-21                         Bristol Dragway                                                                 Bristol, Tenn.                    
Oct. 11-13                            Silver Dollar Raceway                                                     Reynolds, Ga.                   
                                                               
North Central Division                                                 
April 26-28                           Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis                             Brownsburg, Ind.
May 17-19                           Summit Motorsports Park                                            Norwalk, Ohio
June 7-9                               Route 66 Raceway                                                           Joliet, Ill.                             
July 19-21                            National Trail Raceway                                                   Columbus, Ohio               
July 27-28                            Mid-Michigan Motorplex                                             Stanton, Mich.                 
Aug. 23-25                           Beech Bend Raceway Park                                           Bowling Green, Ky.        
                               
South Central Division                                                 
March 1-3                            Royal Purple Raceway                                                    Baytown, Texas               
April 19-21                           Texas Motorplex                                                              Ennis, Texas      
June 8-9                               No Problem Raceway                                                     Belle Rose, La.  
June 21-23                          Tulsa Raceway Park                                                         Tulsa, Okla.        
Sept. 13-15                         Royal Purple Raceway                                                    Baytown, Texas               
Oct. 4-6                                Thunder Valley Raceway Park                                    Noble, Okla.
                                                               
West Central Division                                                  
May 4-5                                SRCA Dragstrip                                                                  Great Bend, Kan.            
June 1-2                               Brainerd International Raceway                                Brainerd, Minn.               
June 14-16                          Bandimere Speedway                                                   Denver
June 21-22                          Cordova Dragway Park                                                  Cordova, Ill.
Aug. 23-24                           Heartland Park Topeka                                                  Topeka, Kan.
Sept. 6-8                              Tri-State Raceway                                                            Earlville, Iowa   
                                               
Northwest Division                                                       
April 26-28                           Firebird Raceway                                                             Boise, Idaho                      
May 24-25                           Spokane County Raceway                                            Spokane, Wash.              
June 14-16                          Mission Raceway                                                             Mission, B.C.     
July 12-14                            Woodburn Dragstrip                                                       Woodburn, Ore.              
Aug. 15-16                           Pacific Raceways                                                              Kent, Wash.                      
Aug. 17-18                           Pacific Raceways                                                              Kent, Wash.      
                                                               
Pacific Division                                                
Feb. 28-Mar. 1                   Firebird International Raceway                                  Chandler, Ariz. 
March 2-3                            Firebird International Raceway                                  Chandler, Ariz. 
March 29-31                       The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway                Las Vegas           
June 8-9                               Top Gun Raceway                                                            Fallon, Nev.                       
July 19-21                            Sonoma Raceway                                                            Sonoma, Calif.  
Sept. 27-29                         Rocky Mountain Raceways                                          Salt Lake City     
Oct. 31-Nov. 3                   The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway                Las Vegas           


2013 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Regional Schedule

East Region
Feb. 15-17                           Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville                             Gainesville, Fla.
April 12-13                           Virginia Motorsports Park                                            Petersburg, Va.               
May 24-26                           Maple Grove Raceway                                                  Reading, Pa.                      
June 14-16                          Lebanon Valley Dragway                                              West Lebanon, N.Y.       
July 19-21                            New England Dragway                                                   Epping, N.H.      
Aug. 16-18                           Cecil County Dragway                                                    Rising Sun, Md.
                                                                                                               
North Central Region                                                    
April 26-28                           Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis                             Brownsburg, Ind.            
May 17-19                           Summit Motorsports Park                                            Norwalk, Ohio
June 7-9                               Route 66 Raceway                                                           Joliet, Ill.                             
June 21-22                          Cordova Dragway Park                                                  Cordova, Ill.
July 19-21                            National Trail Raceway                                                   Columbus, Ohio               
Aug. 23-25                           Beech Bend Raceway Park                                           Bowling Green, Ky.        

Central Region                                                 
March 1-3                            Royal Purple Raceway                                                    Baytown, Texas               
June 21-23                          Tulsa Raceway Park                                                         Tulsa, Okla.        
June 14-16                          Bandimere Speedway                                                   Denver
Aug. 23-24                           Heartland Park Topeka                                                  Topeka, Kan.
Sept. 6-8                              Tri-State Raceway                                                            Earlville, Iowa   
Oct. 4-6                                Thunder Valley Raceway Park                                    Noble, Okla.
                                                                                               
West Region     
March 2-3                            Firebird International Raceway                                  Chandler, Ariz. 
March 29-31                       The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway                Las Vegas           
June 14-16                          Mission Raceway                                                             Mission, B.C.     
July 12-14                            Woodburn Dragstrip                                                       Woodburn, Ore.              
Aug. 17-18                           Pacific Raceways                                                              Kent, Wash.      
Oct. 31-Nov. 3                   The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway                Las Vegas