O'FALLON, MO (August 1, 2011) – The Top Sportsman class in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) continues to grow at an incredible rate.
On Friday, the world's premier eighth-mile drag racing league announced that Summit Racing Equipment will be sponsoring the new Top Sportsman class for the rest of the 2011 ADRL season.
The class, now called the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class, made its official debut in July at the Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
"We feel the addition of the Top Sportsman class to the ADRL line up is a natural fit," said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing Equipment's Motorsports and Events Manager. "The Top Sportsman racers we have spoken with are extremely excited to be a part of the ADRL show and Summit Racing is excited to continue our support of sportsman racing with the official sponsorship of the class.
The ADRL held four and six-car Top Sportsman exhibitions at two earlier races this season before officially adding the popular class for full-bodied cars to the thrilling two-day racing show in July.
The debut was a rousing success, as 19 cars thrilled the packed U.S. 131 Motorsports Park crowd with tremendous side-by-side racing.
"We've already received great support from the competitors with excellent car counts and incredible interest from Top Sportsman drivers," ADRL Executive Vice President Jeff Fortune said.
"They are thrilled to be included at the top level of doorslammer racing that the ADRL provides and we are just excited to have them racing with us. Drivers in our other classes were extremely happy to have them racing in the ADRL, too, as it only adds to the great show they put on.
"With full Top Sportsman fields for the rest of the season, we are ecstatic to have Summit Racing Equipment on board as the official sponsor of the class."
Summit Racing will be providing a Top Sportsman class decal for all participants to display on the front fender of the cars to show their support of the ARDL and the class. Summit Racing will also offer contingency payouts for event wins or runner-up finishes, drivers must use the Summit Racing rear tire covers and display the official contingency decal to be eligible. These items are available at the ADRL membership trailer at each event.
Summit Racing Equipment, the world's leading supplier of high performance automotive parts, is the official high-performance source of the ADRL and a major contingency sponsor.
The company also sponsors the ADRL's Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags V, which takes place Sept. 23-24 at Summit Motorsports Park, the Extreme Pro Stock team of Pete Berner, Pro Nitrous driver Rickie Jones and Top Sportsman racer Marco Abruzzi.
The sixth stop on the 2011 ADRL Tour takes place on Aug. 12-13 at Virginia Motorsports Park in Petersburg, Va.
