NHRA (LAS VEGAS) - SPORT FWD BRINGS DRIVERS OUT

No other head-to-head category in the NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series will have more cars competing in the Las Vegas NHRA Sport Compact Nationals this weekend, July 13-14, than UrbanRacer.Com Sport FWD.

This has been historically true due to the close proximity of teams in the western region of the United States. Utah, Texas and California all have a large contingent coming to battle it out with those drivers from the rest of the country.

One driver who is excited to be making the trip to Vegas is Tyler Hara from Monterey Park, Calif. Hara, in his Intrinsic Performance Honda Civic, finished in the quarterfinals last year and was second in the final standings of the first West Region Sportsman Championship. He accomplished the finish by winning the NHRA Sport Compact World Finals in Pomona, Calif. last November.

“Coming off the win in Pomona last year, I am optimistic about my chances in Vegas,” said Hara. “I have a different setup this year due to rule changes, but I should be ready. In the West we all know each other and get along, so we know what to expect from each other. I just need to go out there and race.”

Hara feels that the new structure last year for the sportsman racers being able to win a championship has been positive. It has provided opportunities where previously it was limited.

“The Regional Sportsman Championships are definitely good,” Hara said. “It is good for the class because it has brought in new sponsorship. This has produced credibility for the category and the sponsors are noticing. It has also helped to increase the racer turnout.”

Something new in Las Vegas this year is the NHRA Sport Compact Sportsman Alley presented by UrbanRacer.Com. This interactive area at the track is where Hara and several others will be pitted with their cars. The fans of UrbanRacer.Com Sport FWD racing will be able to talk to and ask questions of the drivers, crews and sponsors of the series. All of this is to provide the opportunity for anyone who may be interested in racing to learn what they need to know to get out to the track.

“Sportsman Alley will be good to let fans have exposure to the category,” said Hara. We can talk with the fans and they will be able to see the prep needed for the cars. It is hoped that this will bring in new racers.”

Hara would like to thank all of the sponsors who have helped him get his car to the track: IPS, AEM, Port Flow Design, ATP Turbo, and Street Image.

“A big thank you goes to UrbanRacer.com for their sponsorship of the category,” Hara said.

While the quickest side-by-side sport compact racing in the world is happening on the track, fans will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities in the pit and the entertainment area. The NHRA Xplōd Stylefest will include the NHRA Tuner Car Show, which offers the best sport compact show cars, the Modified Magazine NHRA Bikini Xhibition, concerts by today’s hottest artists and other extreme sports exhibitions.

NHRA is the premier sanctioning body for sport compact drag racing. It is presenting the 11-race NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series at nine tracks across the country from March through October.

The series is highlighted by its five championship classes (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor). In addition, and at all eight of the stand-alone NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series events, the NHRA Xplōd Stylefest showcases a compliment of the lifestyle and entertainment elements synonymous with today’s sport compact scene. More information is available at nhrasportcompact.com.

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 POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members 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 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.