Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

Primedia, NHRA announce ten events Import series 2002

National Hot Rod Association Announces Strategic Alliance With Primedia Inc. LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2001) - The National Hot Rod Association announced today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center ...

National Hot Rod Association Announces Strategic Alliance With Primedia Inc.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2001) - The National Hot Rod Association announced today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center that it has entered into a strategic alliance with PRIMEDIA, Inc., owner and operator of the National Import Racing Association (NIRA), to expand its current NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series schedule to 10 events in 2002.

The relationship allows both companies to focus on the strengths they currently bring to the import drag racing scene: NHRA, the operations, sponsorship and marketing side of the equation, and PRIMEDIA, its global publishing empire.

"Although this year's inaugural NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series was a success, we forged this new alliance with PRIMEDIA to further enhance NHRA's position in the import drag racing segment and continue to build on the momentum that we developed last year," said Tom Compton, president of NHRA. "With the support of PRIMEDIA, we can expand our Summit Import Drag Racing Series into one of the major motorsports series to be reckoned with nationally."

Under this agreement, NHRA, NIRA and PRIMEDIA will join forces to significantly strengthen the NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series to make it the most dominant player in the import scene.

The 10-race series, which will be featured at some of the finest drag racing facilities in the country, begins at Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla. on April 13-14 and concludes with the Finals at historic Pomona (Calif.) Raceway on Oct. 26-27. Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. will host two events (May 4-5 and Oct. 5-6). Other event locations include Atco (N.J.) Raceway (May 18-19); Houston Raceway Park, (June 1-2); Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.(June 15-16); the Texas Motorplex in Dallas (Aug. 3-4); Woodburn (Ore.) Dragstrip (Aug. 17-18); and Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. (Sept. 7-8).

"This was a logical step in PRIMEDIA's business objectives to continue an active role in the import drag racing world while relying on NHRA to provide the vast experience of event planning, operation and marketing to the category," said Craig Nickerson, president and chief executive officer of the PRIMEDIA Automotive Enthusiast Group. "We believe this alliance will further the effort of import drag racers nationwide to make the sport even bigger than it is today."

In addition, it was announced that the classes currently contested in the NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series will remain, with the rules modified to accept all vehicles, with some modification, currently categorized in the NIRA series. The complete 2002 NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series Rulebook will be available, online, by mid-November.

A year-end championship bonus fund of $120,000 is guaranteed, as well as purses at each event and an extensive contingency program. All 10 races will be aired on ESPN2. A television schedule will be announced later this year.

PRIMEDIA, Inc. brings with it in this alliance the power of the most popular enthusiast magazines in the industry including: Euro Tuner, Import Tuner, Sport Compact Car, Hot Rod, Super Street, Custom Rodder, Drag Racing USA, GM High Tech Performance/High-Tech Performance, Popular Hot Rodding, Street Rodder, Turbo & High Tech Performance.

Last year, the NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series consistently featured the biggest names in professional import drag racing. R.J. Simrock, from El Cajon, Calif., earned the 2001 NHRA Summit Import Series Pro category championship, while Craig Paisley, from Hicksville, N.Y., drove his Toyota Supra to championship honors in the Modified category.

"Summit Racing originally joined forces with NHRA to help build a world class organization for import racers," said Skooter Peaco, motorsports manager for Summit Racing Equipment. "With PRIMEDIA joining our partnership, this alliance elevates the NHRA Summit Import Series to unprecedented heights and opens up a wealth of opportunities for participants, sponsors and fans. PRIMEDIA's efforts will not only enhance our ability to reach import enthusiasts worldwide, but also allow us to make the stars of the Summit Import Series into household names. We are more excited than ever about the future of our series and we just can't wait for Gainesville."

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 140 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 Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Import 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.

PRIMEDIA, with 2000 sales of $1.7 billion, is a targeted media company with print, video and Internet businesses focused on consumer and business-to-business audiences. Some key businesses include Seventeen, New York, Chicago, Fly Fisherman, Channel One Network and 16 other specialty satellite television and TV distribution services, Horticulture, Modern Bride, American Baby, IntelliChoice, Telephony, About.com, and Films for the Humanities & Sciences. The Company owns and operates more than 1,000 Web sites and other Internet properties.

-NHRA-

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Goodguys 2002 Schedule
Next article Goodguys Famoso season finale race results

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA