GLENDORA, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2012) – NHRA announced today the first official doubleheader NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in history, the week following the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz.
The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series doubleheader will consist of a standard race on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 23-24, followed by a regional NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event featuring Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25-26.
“This format provides a huge benefit to the sportsman racer,” said division director Mike Rice, of NHRA’s Division 7. “Specifically, it helps reduce travel costs by allowing racers to compete in two races in one weekend. And, for those sportsman racers that decide to race in the NHRA Arizona Nationals the previous weekend, it provides an opportunity to compete in three points events in a 10-day window. I would like to thank Charlie Allen and his team at Firebird International Raceway for their assistance and willingness to make this concept become a reality for the sportsman racers.”
NHRA has never officially scheduled a doubleheader Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. However, it has happened out of necessity, due to rain reschedules. If proven successful and a financial benefit to the racer as it is intended, the doubleheader concept could be implemented at other events in the future.