NHRA NEWS: NHRA ANNOUNCES LIMIT ON PROFESSIONAL TEAM OWNERSHIP IN POWERADE SERIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NHRA Communications Dept., (626) 914-4761

NHRA ANNOUNCES LIMIT ON PROFESSIONAL TEAM OWNERSHIP 

IN NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES

 

Team Ownership Limited to Four Teams in Each Professional Category

 

GLENDORA, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2006) - NHRA announced a limit on the number
of cars one owner group can field in each of the four professional
categories that make up the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.  Effective
immediately, owner groups will be limited to four teams per professional
category, currently comprised of the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and
Pro Stock Motorcycle classes.    

The sport of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing is currently experiencing
unprecedented investment and the world's largest motorsports sanctioning
body believes that for the continued growth and popularity of the sport,
a rule on the number of professional teams owned by one owner group is
necessary.  

"It is in the best interest of the sport to limit the number of teams
owned by one owner group," said Graham Light, senior vice president of
racing operations, NHRA.   

The definition of an owner group is any affiliated individual or
individuals who have a direct or indirect form or amount of common,
joint or shared control, ownership, financing, management or revenue
sharing from a competing vehicle's performance. 

The new rule is designed to preserve the competition in the current
16-car field format utilized in all four professional categories,
reducing potential threats to racing competition.

In addition, the rule has been created to reduce barriers for entry into
the sport, opening the door for current teams, as well as new teams, to
secure funding from companies who see the value of participation in NHRA
and the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.  

Currently, under the definition of an owner group, there are no owner
groups that exceed the four-team limit in 2006 in any of the four
professional categories.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body
for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23
national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA has
80,000 racers and members nationwide and 140 member tracks.
NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition
opportunities for drivers of all levels. NHRA develops the stars of
tomorrow by offering the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Xplod Sport
Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the Street Legal
Program presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr.
Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

 

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