Raceway
CARQUEST Auto Parts, a Raleigh, N.C.-based company specializing in auto parts
and quality automotive services with stores throughout North America, has signed
a multi-year agreement to become the title sponsor of one of two NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series events at Route 66 Raceway, it was announced today by
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) officials.
The CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66 will be held Sept. 25-28 at the
state-of-the-art quarter-mile facility located just south of Chicago in Joliet,
Ill. The $1.8 million race, which will be televised by ESPN2, is the 20th of 23
events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series for 2003.
"We are proud to be sponsoring the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66
Raceway," said Scott Ginsburg, CARQUEST director of advertising. "Chicagoland is
a great market for us and we are looking forward to hosting drag racing fans at
the great Route 66 facility."
It is the second NHRA event sponsorship involvement for CARQUEST Auto Parts,
which earlier this year became the title sponsor for the CARQUEST NHRA Northwest
Nationals at Seattle. Route 66 Raceway also hosts the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
each spring.
"We're pleased that CARQUEST Auto Parts has decided to increase its presence
with NHRA by becoming the title sponsor of this key event in the NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series," said Bob Wagner, NHRA vice president of sales and business
development.
"CARQUEST has quickly established itself as a premier business partner with the
NHRA through a variety of marketing and advertising initiatives and has clearly
positioned itself as one of motorsports' leading marketers through innovative
use of national event titles and multiple team sponsorships with the NHRA."
CARQUEST also is the title sponsor for John Mitchell's Top Fuel dragster, driven
by Paul Romine. The company also provides sponsorship for the Pro Mod entry
driven by Scott Ray, which competes exclusively in NHRA's Pro Mod exhibition
series.
