Thu, 6 Nov 2003, 02:39 PM O'Reilly Named Title Sponsor of NHRA's National Event at Bristol Dragway

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

LAS VEGAS -- O'Reilly Auto Parts, one of the nation's largest specialty automotive retailers, has signed an agreement to become the title sponsor of the annual NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Bristol Dragway, it was announced today at the SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The O'Reilly Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals will be held April 30 - May 2 at the state-of-the-art quarter-mile facility in Bristol, Tenn. The $1.2 million race, which will be televised on the ESPN family of networks, is the sixth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series for 2004.

"O'Reilly Auto Parts is extremely excited to have the opportunity to expand our sponsorship within the NHRA POWERade Series," said Ron Byerly, vice president of advertising and marketing for O'Reilly Auto Parts. "We've enjoyed our relationship with the NHRA and all of the tracks we have partnered with over the years and we certainly welcome a new relationship with Bristol Dragway. We look forward to increased opportunities to expose our customers to the excitement of NHRA Drag Racing."

Bristol Dragway was the site of the two NHRA All-Star events prior to the track joining the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule in 2001 to host one of the 23 national events.

"We're extremely happy to have O'Reilly Auto Parts as a new partner at the dragway," said Jeff Byrd, president of Bristol Dragway. "O'Reilly joined us last year at the speedway as the sponsor of our truck series event and we're thrilled that they've expanded their involvement with us. We couldn't be more pleased to have them come on board as the title sponsor of our NHRA event."

The commitment increases O'Reilly's major presence in NHRA Drag Racing as an event title sponsor. The company also is the title sponsor of the O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in mid April, the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka on Memorial Day weekend, the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park in late September and the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas in October. O'Reilly also is the title sponsor for the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League, which offers youths ages 8-17 a place and format to start drag racing.

"We're pleased that O'Reilly 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. "O'Reilly continues to establish 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 event sponsorships with the NHRA."