NHRA: Pep Boys named title sponsor of 50th Anniversary Nationals at Pomona
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 30, 2001
GLENDORA, Calif. - Pep Boys Parts, Tires, Accessories, and Service has reached an agreement with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) to become the title sponsor of the NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals, the first nighttime drag race in Southern California in more than 20 years. American Racing Custom Wheels has agreed to provide support to the race as presenting sponsor.
The Pep Boys NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals presented by American Racing Wheels will be held July 5-7 at historic Pomona Raceway. The $2 million race, which will be televised by ESPN2, is the 13th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series for 2001.
The Pep Boys NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals will feature qualifying runs on Thursday and Friday with final eliminations on Saturday night. A special curfew has been arranged to run the vehicles until 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and until 10 p.m. on Saturday.
The unique event will feature a full compliment of professional racing, with national points at stake in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. In addition, all sportsman categories, including Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car, will compete.
Adding to the historical flavor of the event will be an eight-car qualified field of front-engine top fuel dragsters. Other nostalgia vehicles will be featured in exhibition formats, including fuel altereds and gas coupes. In addition, a variety of fireworks and laser light shows will be featured throughout the weekend.
"We're thrilled to be involved with NHRA and look forward to a great relationship," said Nick Ruttenberg, Pep Boys' director of presence marketing. "With the deep, tradition-rich history of the NHRA, it was an easy decision for Pep Boys to become part of this event."
This is the first association in NHRA drag racing for Pep Boys, who have recently decided to increase their involvement in motorsports.
"This special event was designed to celebrate the past 50 years of NHRA drag racing," said Bob Wagner, NHRA vice president of sales and business development. "Pep Boys has been around since 1921, and American Racing since 1956, so we're proud to have companies with such tradition connected to this race to help celebrate the storied history of the NHRA."
American Racing Wheels has been involved in motorsports since its inception in 1956. Along with providing sponsorship to Top Fuel drivers Darrell Russell, Don Lampus and Pro Stock driver Tom Hammonds, American Racing Wheels is also involved with Joe Amato Racing, Orleans Motorsports, Hartman Offshore Racing and the Wheel America Tour.
"Night drag racing is the original extreme sport," said Scott Hughes, motorsports manager for Los Angeles-based American Racing Wheels, "The NHRA's 50th birthday race will be historic -- it will be a true Southern California night racing event, conjuring up memories of Lion's Drag Strip, where it all started."
Based in Philadelphia, Pep Boys Parts, Tires, Accessories, Service has more than 23,000 employees and operates 628 stores in 36 states and Puerto Rico. Pep Boys is the only aftermarket retail and service chain in the national capable of serving all four segments of the automotive aftermarket: the do-it-yourself, do-it-for-me, buy-for-resale and replacement tires. Pep Boys provides a wide variety of services to its customers that include engine and electrical diagnostic services, computerized wheel alignment and balancing, air conditioning service, fuel injection service, emissions system service, brake service, steering and suspension service, and tire, battery and accessory installation service.
When American Racing began manufacturing magnesium drag racing wheels in 1956, its roots were totally in motorsports. Today American Racing is one of the largest aftermarket and original equipment wheel manufacturers in the world, owned by
Noranda, Inc., an international natural resources company. With over 2,500 employees and seven manufacturing plants, American Racing's custom wheels are sold in over fifty-five countries around the world.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.
Text provided by Anthony Vestal
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery .