GLENDORA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2012) — NHRA announced today an expansion of its long-standing relationship with the Automobile Club of Southern California, as the company has agreed to become the title-rights sponsor of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis. The inaugural event will take place Sept. 28-30 and is the third of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship.
“The Automobile Club of Southern California has grown to become a very significant and important partner of NHRA,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “The race entitlement provides a tremendous platform for AAA Missouri to market its insurance and member services to NHRA’s loyal fan base in the greater St. Louis area.”
The Auto Club is entrenched in NHRA Drag Racing at all levels of the sport. The relationship also includes naming rights for Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, entitlement rights of the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals held at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, entitlement of the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas, sponsorship of the Auto Club Road to the Future Award annually recognizing the sport’s professional rookie of the year, and presenting sponsorships of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Ky., and the popular California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.
In addition, Auto Club is presenting sponsor of the NHRA Safety Safari presented by AAA and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA.
As part of the title rights at Gateway Motorsports Park, AAA Insurance will receive exclusive promotional opportunities around the event, as well as broadcast elements, display space and signage on-site at the event, pre-event customer activities, and corporate hospitality.
“It has been gratifying to watch this relationship grow the way it has over the past 17 years, especially now that it includes some of our other motor clubs, such as AAA Missouri, which serves the area around Gateway Motorsports Park,” said Tom McKernan, Auto Club, CEO. “There is a close alignment between the objectives of the Auto Club, AAA Missouri, and the NHRA. We each place a premium on quality service, and we use our brand and resources to promote automotive and driver safety on the track and in the community.”
“We are proud to have a top-caliber company like AAA Insurance as the title rights sponsor of the NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park this fall,” said Curtis Francois, owner of Gateway Motorsports Park. “This year, we are poised to offer one of the most exciting, diverse and inclusive racing schedules motorsports enthusiasts have ever seen, and AAA Insurance will be a welcome partner for our NHRA event.”
