Wed, 4 Dec 2002, 02:39 PM CARQUEST Named Title Sponsor of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Event at

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

GLENDORA, Calif. -- Pacific Raceways CARQUEST Auto Parts, a Raleigh, N.C.-based retailer 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 the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Pacific Raceways, it was announced today by National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) officials.

The CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals will be held July 25-27 at the scenic quarter-mile facility located just south of Seattle in Kent, Wash. The $1.8 million race, which will be televised by ESPN2, is the 14th of 23 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series for 2003.

"We couldn't be happier than to be sponsoring the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Seattle," said Scott Ginsburg, CARQUEST Director of Advertising. "The Northwest is a great market for us and we are looking forward to working with the Fiorito family and hosting a great NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at the refurbished Pacific Raceways." It is the first NHRA event sponsorship involvement for CARQUEST Auto Parts, who also recently announced primary sponsorship for John Mitchell's Top Fuel dragster which will be driven by Paul Romine full-time on the NHRA POWERade tour in 2003. The company also will provide sponsorship for the Pro Mod entry driven by Scott Ray, which will compete exclusively in NHRA's Pro Mod exhibition series.

"It's gratifying to see a progressive company like CARQUEST Auto Parts increase its presence in the motorsports community by becoming the title sponsor of this very important event in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series," said Bob Wagner, NHRA vice president of sales and business development. "With a partner like CARQUEST Auto Parts, we're certain that this event -- the marquee auto racing event in the Northwest -- will continue to enjoy tremendous success well into the future. As one of the stops on the grueling three-week Western Swing, there will be plenty of drama and intrigue on the track as teams chase valuable NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series points."

CARQUEST, committed to providing auto parts and services of the highest quality and greatest value to its customers, began in 1974 with 100 auto parts stores. Today there are nearly 4,000 CARQUEST Auto Parts Stores serving North America. CARQUEST supplies the professional automotive service repair industry with replacement parts, tools and equipment. CARQUEST auto parts also are available to motorists who choose to do their own repairs although due to the advanced technology in today's automotive vehicles, it is CARQUEST's recommendation that repairs be done by professional automotive service technicians. Any CARQUEST Auto Parts Store will be happy to recommend qualified repair centers. For the location of the nearest CARQUEST Auto Parts Stores nearest you, call (800) 492-PART, or use the online store locator at www.CARQUEST.com.

Pacific Raceways sits south of Seattle and is the premier motorsports facility in the Northwest. The multi-purpose facility, in operation since 1960 and currently undergoing an extensive rebuilding process, features a quarter-mile drag strip and 2.25-mile road course carved out of the natural wooded-terrain. Pacific Raceways is located on 320 acres in Washington's King County, just off Highway 18 in Kent, Wash.

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 more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 130 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 Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.