THE NHRA

The NHRA is the world’s largest motorsports organization with 80,000 members, over 300,000 participants, 140 NHRA member tracks and 5,000 plus events annually.  This organization sanctions the fastest racers in the world in four professional classes, including Valerie Thompson Racing, Pro Stock Motorcycle. 

 

While Pro-Stock Motorcycles cover a quarter-mile distance in less than 7.00 seconds, at more than 190 mph, the NHRA is moving just as fast in popularity with auto racing fans. Second only to NASCAR in terms of attendance, fan appeal, and sponsorship commitment, NHRA is moving quickly into mainstream America.

The NHRA Drag Racing Opportunity

 NHRA Drag Racing is the second most popular form of Motorsports in America

 

  • A coast-to-coast, 10-month platform with 24 championship series races (17 PSM) from February to November reaching 37 of the top 50 DMA’s
  • 20 million Americans nationally are devoted fans of NHRA Drag Racing    
  • An elusive young male target - devoted fans are 2x as likely to be men 12-29
  • Brand loyal consumers – 30% more likely to consider an NHRA sponsor’s brand
  • The opportunity to showcase your products, have one-on-one consumer contact, and deliver first-class corporate hospitality in an exciting team-inclusive sports environment
  • High-level brand exposure through online media – NHRA.com generates 2.8 million unique hits per year
  • All access pit area for spectators throughout entire weekend without needing any credentials or VIP passes. Drivers are actively engaging fans while they work in their pits – signing autographs and taking pictures
     
  • Nitro Alley – an interactive, social and sponsor-friendly environment 
  • Race format allows for maximum sponsor interaction, 8-10 hours per day for three days with consumers
  • Authentic and approachable format for brand activation – Product sampling, customer feedback and registration

ESPN2 Television Coverage

 

  • Exclusive television agreement - 8th consecutive year of strategic partnership through 2011
  • Extensive coverage on ESPN2 – 150 hours of original HD programming
     
  • 21 of 24 NHRA Drag Racing Series events air during prime time and reach more than 96 million households

ESPN2 International Coverage

  • All NHRA races aired on ESPN Deportes
  • Distributed to 111 countries through ESPN International - over 60 hours of programming on TSN, an all-sports TV network in Canada
  • Available to troops via Armed Forces Network (AFN) and the U.S. Navy’s Direct-to-Sailor (DTS) TV service

 

NHRA’s growing roster of mainstream Sponsors

NHRA Professional Drag Racing presents races in virtually every major market in the United States, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and in recent years has added impressively to its inventory of Fortune 500 and/or mainstream sponsors, which include UPS, Caterpillar, the U.S. Army, Harley-Davidson, Wyndham Resorts, BrandSource, NAPA Auto Parts, and Motorcraft.  Other sponsors include General Motors, GMC, Pontiac, Fram, Budweiser and Motel 6.  Additional Coca-Cola North America brands affiliated with NHRA include Coca-Cola, POWERade, and Dasani. 

 

Beginning in 2009, the season-opening NHRA Winter Nationals will kick off the new NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, launching what is arguably one of the strongest synergies between brand and sport in the sports and entertainment industry.

 

The association between NHRA and Coca-Cola North America, with support from Coca-Cola Enterprises, represents one of the longest-running series sponsorships in motorsports, and the move to Full Throttle marks the lead sports-marketing association for the beverage company's lead energy drink.

 

2009 NHRA Full Throttle Series Schedule

Feb. 5-8

Pomona, CA

NHRA Winter Nationals

Feb. 20-22 

Phoenix, AZ

Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals

March 12-15

Gainesville, FL (PSM)

ACDelco NHRA Gator Nationals

March 27-29

Houston, TX (PSM)

O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals

April 2-5

Las Vegas, NV

Summit Racing NHRA Nationals

April 16-19

Atlanta, GA (PSM)

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals

May 1-3

Madison, IL (PSM)

O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals

May 15-17

Bristol, TN

O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

May 29-31

Topeka, KS

O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals

June 4-7

Chicago, IL  (PSM)

NHRA Route 66 Nationals

June 11-14

Englishtown, NJ  (PSM)

NHRA Super Nationals

June 25-28

Norwalk, OH (PSM)

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

July 10-12

Denver, CO (PSM)

Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals

July 17-19

Seattle, WA

Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals

July 24-26

Sonoma, CA  (PSM)

Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals

Aug. 13-16

Brainerd, MN (PSM)

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals

Aug. 20-23

Reading, PA  (PSM)

Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals

Sept. 2-7

Indianapolis, IN  (PSM)

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals

Sept. 17-20

Concord, NC  (PSM)

NHRA Nationals

Sept. 24-27

Dallas, TX (PSM)

O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals

Oct. 2-4

Memphis, TN  (PSM)

O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals

Oct. 9-11

Richmond, VA

Virginia NHRA Nationals

Oct. 29-Nov. 1

Las Vegas, NV  (PSM)

ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals

Nov. 12-15

Pomona, CA  (PSM)

Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals

(PSM) ~ Pro Stock Motorcycle Events