Sun, 16 Nov 2008, 02:48 PM O'Reilly Auto Parts Adds to it's Stable of NHRA Title Sponsorships with Entitlement of

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

GLENDORA, Calif. -- Prestigious Winternationals O'Reilly Auto Parts, one of the largest specialty retailers of automotive aftermarket parts, has leveraged its recent acquisition of Checker, Schuck's, Kragen and Murray's to strengthen its complement of NHRA title sponsorships.

Beginning in 2009, the rapidly expanding company will be the title sponsor of the Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals (in Pomona, Feb. 5-8).

"As we transition into the exciting new era of NHRA Full Throttle Series drag racing beginning in 2009, we are pleased to expand O'Reilly Auto Parts' involvement with NHRA through their entitlement of our season-opener and one of the most storied events on the tour," said NHRA senior vice president, sales & marketing, Gary Darcy.

The Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals, NHRA's traditional season-opening race, will be held at the Southern California home of drag racing, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, and will mark the official start of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series era.

It will mark the 49th running of the Winternationals, the second longest tenured event on the NHRA Full Throttle Series behind only the U.S. Nationals, which will be run for the 55th time in 2009.

"We are excited to continue and expand our great relationship with NHRA" said Doug Ruble, vice president of marketing and advertising for O'Reilly Auto Parts. "As NHRA continues to build its profile and extend its reach in the motorsports community, we want to maintain our status as a major corporate presence. As our past marketing initiatives have demonstrated, NHRA is a perfect place for our company to do business."

In addition, O'Reilly continues its existing title sponsorships in Dallas (O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals), Topeka (O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals), St. Louis (O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals), Houston (O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals) and Memphis (O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals), bringing the total number of races it sponsors to six.