NHRA News: Summit to sponsor Atlanta NHRA event (04/22/2002)

Summit to sponsor NHRA POWERade Series event at Atlanta Dragway

04/22/2002

Summit Racing Equipment, an industry leader in distribution of auto racing parts and equipment through catalogs and the Internet, has signed a multi-year agreement with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) to become the title sponsor of the NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing Series event at Atlanta Dragway, officials from the world's largest motorsports sanctioning organization announced today.

The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac will be held May 2-5 at the Commerce, Ga.-based quarter-mile facility. The $1.8 million race, which will be televised by ESPN2, is the seventh of 23 events in the NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing Series for 2002.

"We are very excited about this new marketing program, " said Skooter Peaco, motorsports manager for Summit Racing Equipment. "The Southern Nationals has a long tradition in the South and we feel that this will be an excellent way to further develop our customer base and interact with existing customers in that region of the country."

It is the third NHRA event sponsorship involvement for Summit Racing Equipment, who also is the title sponsor for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in early April. In addition, the company also is a presenting sponsor of the Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio.

"The third NHRA event sponsorship means we can now interact with our Northern customers at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing in Columbus, our Western customers at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas and now the South with the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac," Peaco added. "Obviously we are very pleased to grow our relationship with presenting sponsor Pontiac in this new venture. With Atlanta being the home of the Coca-Cola Corporation, I'm sure this event will become the premier NHRA event in the South because of the POWERADE sponsorship and Coca-Cola's presence in the market. We're certain that this long-term commitment to NHRA will benefit all parties, including the dedicated racers and fans."

The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac is the marquee event at Atlanta Dragway, one of five drag racing facilities in the U.S. owned and operated by the NHRA.

"We're proud to bring Summit Racing Equipment into our family as the title sponsor for our biggest annual event, and a very important stop on the 23-race NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing Series tour," said Craig Armstrong, Atlanta Dragway general manager. "We realize this event generates a lot of excitement in the drag racing community and as a 22nd annual event, has a rich history in NHRA competition. We're certain that Summit Racing Equipment's alliance with the event will only strengthen and enhance the overall experience."

The event sponsorship increases Summit Racing Equipment's involvement with the NHRA. In addition to the three NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing Series event sponsorships, the company also is the title sponsor for two important NHRA Drag Racing Series', including the NHRA Summit Sport Compact Series, a nationwide touring series for sport compact and import sedans, and the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the premier grassroots program featured weekly at all NHRA member tracks. Summit Racing also is the primary sponsor for the Pontiac Grand Am driven by Mark Pawuk in Pro Stock competition, as well as the primary sponsor for the '69 Camaro driven by talented Super Stock racer Dan Fletcher, the Super Comp/Super Gas entries of Mark Horton and the Pro Modified team of Jim Oddy & Fred Hahn. Finally, Summit Racing Equipment is the Official Automotive Mail Order Catalog of the NHRA.

"It's gratifying to see a progressive company like Summit Racing Equipment expand their commitment to the NHRA by becoming the title sponsor for this very important NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing Series event, sure to be a pivotal race as NHRA professional category teams chase valuable championship points," said Bob Wagner, NHRA vice president of sales and business development. "Summit Racing Equipment continues to be an outstanding partner in growing our fan base and certainly has demonstrated a keen ability to effectively utilize a variety of NHRA inventory, including national event sponsorships, race team sponsorships and NHRA race series sponsorships, as a part of its overall marketing strategy."

Summit Racing Equipment, the industry's largest direct marketer of performance automotive and truck equipment, is based in Tallmadge, Ohio with warehouses in Tallmadge and Sparks, Nev. Founded in 1968, Summit Racing markets products through mail order catalogs and the Internet at http://www.SummitRacing.com.

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