NHRA NEWS: PADIAN NAMED PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER FOR NHRA

GLENDORA, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2006)- Michael Padian has been named public relations manager for the National Hot Rod Association, NHRA Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal announced today.

Padian will make the transition from media relations manager to the newly created position of public relations manager.

"Michael has demonstrated great potential during the last year of publicizing the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series," Vestal said. "He has the skills and desire to expand his responsibilities and will devote more of his time to expanding relationships with national media outlets, both traditional and non-traditional."

In his new position, Padian will work closely with national media outlets to create awareness and cultivate interest for a variety of national level story opportunities. He will continue to provide advance media work for several NHRA POWERade Series events, and will be a familiar face around NHRA media centers across the country. In addition, he will oversee publicity programs for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

"This is a very exciting time for NHRA," Padian said. "I look forward to the challenge of creating more awareness for the sport on a national scale."

Prior to joining the NHRA Communications Dept. in March 2005, Padian spent nearly a decade as a sports writer and editor at daily newspapers in Maryland and Connecticut. During that time, he covered a variety of sports, including NASCAR and IRL, and most prominently was responsible for coverage of University of Connecticut men's basketball. He received a bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Maryland. A native of Torrance, Calif., he and wife Kathy and their daughter, Riley, live in Redondo Beach.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the 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. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 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 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, and the NHRA Street Legal Program presented by AAA. The NHRA also offers the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.