POMONA, Calif. (Jan 12, 2012) – As the 61st season of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing readies to begin with the 52nd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Feb. 9-12, the focus shifts from honoring our NHRA Legends to the Nitro Generation. The Nitro Generation isn’t just one generation; it’s all the generations of fans, drivers and teams that have shared their passion for the NHRA with their families and friends of all ages.
If you have the Nitro Gene then you will be more than happy to kick of the 2012 season by honoring the families that make NHRA Drag Racing what it is today in a very special track walk featuring some of the most familiar faces in the NHRA Sunday morning before prerace ceremonies. Many families of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series that were featured in “2012 NHRA Full Throttle Real Families Calendar” will be participating in the Track Walk Sunday to kick off the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries. The defending winners of the event that will be broadcast on ESPN2 include Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock).
This year’s calendar, which was put together by two-time Full Throttle Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon’s wife Andrea, features many families that compete in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series including the Aranas, Coughlins, Enders, Grays, Johnsons, Kraweics, Lines, Nobiles, Smiths, Bernsteins, Capps, Dixons, Forces, Hights, Lucas, Pedregons, Tascas, Vandergriffs and Worshams. This limited edition 19-month calendar will be available for purchase at the Winternationals as well as www.TonyPedregon.com.
“I am very excited to participate in the Track Walk at the Winternationals and create further awareness and funding for children’s cancer through sales of the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Real Families Calendar,” Andrea said. “This is an awesome opportunity from the NHRA that will definitely help my charity reach our fundraising goal. Many of my friends featured in the calendar are looking forward to joining me for the event and will be bringing their family as well.”
All of the proceeds raised from the sales of the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Real Families Calendar that features many of the families involved in the great sport of NHRA Drag Racing will benefit children’s cancer research. Andrea established her non-profit charity to channel her passion for helping others who are affected by unfortunate circumstances. The Andrea Pedregon Charity Foundation, Inc., “A Spark Of Hope,” has financially supported charities such as Smile Train and Locks of Love through trackside events including live auctions and “The Real Housewives of NHRA Drag Racing” 2011 calendar that raised more than $40,000 for melanoma research.
“All of the support I receive for my events and projects comes directly from drag racing fans , drivers and sponsors,” Andrea said. “It always amazes me how much we can give back as a community.”
The NHRA prides itself on being a family-oriented sport and thanks to many great families involved in the sport of NHRA Drag Racing, like the Pedregons and the rest of Nitro Generation; it is something that the NHRA can continue to do.
Earlier in the weekend, after the Friday qualifying session, The Night of Champions will be held at the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum and will showcase a handful of the sport’s toughest competitors. The evening will feature a question and answer session and an autograph session with the drivers. It is free to the public and starts at six o’clock p.m. Please visit museum.nhra.com for details.
Throughout the weekend there will also be a display of Nostalgia Cacklefest Cars, a display of all the 2011 Twilight cruise winners from the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum, and a Junior Dragster Display in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League.
The 52nd Annual NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries will mark the beginning of the NHRA’s 20-city tour across the USA. The NHRA will crisscross the country in an effort to spread the Nitro Gene to rookie fans and veteran fans alike, while competitors focus on the 17-race regular season in hopes of qualifying for the Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoff where the top ten competitors battle it out for the 2012 Full Throttle championship.
